The Faculty of Social Sciences

The Department of Psychology

Job description

One full-time position as Associate Professor in Health Psychology* is available at the Section of Health, Developmental and Personality Psychology (HUP) of the Department of Psychology (Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Oslo). The HUP Section covers basic and applied research (qualitative and quantitative) and teaching for the Bachelor, Master, Professional (Clinical) and PhD programs in health, developmental and personality psychology and is divided into three main Units: Health Psychology, Developmental Psychology and Personality Psychology. The HUP Section has currently circa 40 national and international permanent and non-permanent staff (speaking a dozen of different mother tongues) and includes a dozen of permanent University Lecturer, Associate Professors and Professors (50% women), and two-dozens of Ph.D. & Post-Doc fellows, and Adjunct Professors 20%.

* Health psychology might be defined as the examination of how biological, psychological, and social factors influence health and illness.

The Department of Psychology is dedicated to advancing our comprehension of the psychological realm and effecting positive change within it. This mission is pursued through cutting-edge basic and applied research, research dissemination and innovation, as well as comprehensive undergraduate and graduate education, and rigorous clinical training, evaluation, and treatment. Central to accomplishing these objectives is the staff, valued as the cornerstone of the Department. Their psychological well-being is paramount. The Department takes a proactive approach in fostering a secure and supportive environment for its employees including for example fostering a harmonious equilibrium between professional and personal lives, championing gender equality, facilitating the integration of international staff, acknowledging professional accomplishments, propelling career development, and safeguarding the diversity of research objects, methods and theories – all of which rank among the Department of Psychology and HUP Section foremost priorities.

More about the position

The appointee will have to contribute to the HUP Section’s research and teaching in Health Psychology and is expected:

• to regularly publish in international peer reviewed journals, present communications to international conferences, apply to external funding (e.g., RCN, EU), disseminate scientific knowledge, and carry out research in accordance with the Open Science standards. Most of these research activities should be within the field of Health psychology.
• to teach Health Psychology in the different programs offered at the Department of Psychology: bachelor, master, professional (clinical) and doctoral (i.e., course coordination, lectures, seminars, supervisions, and exams, etc.).
• to participate to the academic administrative functioning of the HUP Section and the Department of Psychology (boards, committees, ad-hoc working groups, leadership, etc.)

Qualifications (necessary requirements)

• Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian Doctoral degree in Psychology or in a related field.
• Applicants must have a good research record in Health psychology (i.e., Quality, Productivity, Impact, Dissemination, Innovation).
• Applicants must have a good undergraduate and/or graduate teaching record in Health psychology.
• Applicants without a certified University Pedagogy Education are expected to get this certification within the first two years of employment. The Department will support this certification (e.g., coverage of the costs of the courses at the University of Oslo, recognition of the hours of these courses in the departmental teaching accounting system).
• Applicants must have fluent oral and written communication skills in English (equivalent to CEFR Proficient user Level C or equivalent). Applicants who are not fluent in one of the Scandinavian languages (Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish) are expected to learn Norwegian within the first 3 years of employment so they can participate in the functions the position entails (expected proficiency: CEFR Independent user Level B2 or equivalent). The Department will actively support the learning of Norwegian (e.g., coverage of the cost of the courses at the University of Oslo, reduction of teaching and administrative duties, Norwegian coach)
• Applicants must have the relevant personal qualities for the position: (i) to be highly motivated by the position, (ii) to be able to work both independently and to cooperate with others, and (iii) to have high teaching and research ambitions.

Desired additional qualifications (not necessary but would be an advantage)

• Research expertise in sexual health / sexual behaviour.
• Experience in teaching Professional (Clinical) students
• Experience and/ or interest in academic administration

Evaluation of applicants

The applications will be evaluated by two committees:

A. An “Expert committee” responsible of evaluating the written documents and to provide a provisional ranking of the applicants based on their written academic qualifications.

B. A “Nominating committee” responsible of evaluating the overall qualifications of the best qualified applicants (i.e., scientific committee’s report, trial lecture, interview, and reference-checking, English proficiency, Personal qualities, and suitability) and to provide a final ranking of the applicants.

The report of the scientific committee and report of the interview committee will be submitted to the Board of the Department of Psychology normally by the end of the Spring 2024. The expected starting date of the position during the Fall 2024.

In addition to the Educational background, emphasis will be placed on the following criteria in the succeeding order of importance (i.e., I to IV) to evaluate the qualifications of the applicants:

• I. Research record relevant for the position**, Quality and relevance of the three selected publications, and Quality and relevance of the research project. Research expertise in sexual health / sexual behaviour will be considered as advantage.
• II. Teaching record relevant for the position (content, level, form of the teaching, number of students, time span) and Quality of the Trial lecture. Experience in teaching Professional (Clinical) students will be considered as advantage.
• III. English proficiency & Personal qualities (Motivation, Independence and Cooperation, Ambition)
• IV. Experience and interest in academic administration will be considered as advantage

** The following criteria will be used to evaluate the research record relevant for the position:

• Quality: Originality, interest, and diversity of the scientific publications (articles, book chapters, books).
• Productivity: Number and level of the publications as first author and co-author. Number of communications to national and international congresses (keynotes, invited paper or guest lectures, and papers or posters). Successful external grants (as Principal Investigator or Partner).
• Impact: Number of citations (total citations and citations as 1st author), h-index (Google scholar), and Research awards and prizes.
• Dissemination: Number of publications and communications to practitioners and the public (media: radio and tv interviews, articles in newspapers and magazines, etc.)
• Innovation (patent, app)
• Other research record: Leading research projects, International collaborations, Research administration, Referee for national and international research agencies, Reviewer for scientific journals, Journal Editorship (Editor, Associate, Invited Editor), Guest/Invited Researcher/Professor, Member of scientific societies, etc.

Achievements will be weighed against career stage and adjusted for parental and sick leaves, and professional breaks.

Personal suitability for the position will also be given great emphasis in the evaluation.

We offer

• Salary from kr. 720 100 to 870 900 per annum depending on competencies, in the position of Associate Professor (code 1011) Excellent pension schemes in Statens Pensjonskasse
• Career development and opportunity to apply for promotion to a position as Professor at a later date
• Exciting tasks in a prestigious institution with an important research, educational and social mission.
• A stable employment with flexible working hours, good welfare schemes, the opportunity for training during working hours, cabin rent, kindergarten, sport activities, events and more.
• Personal research funds according to yearly rates at PSI

Career development at PSI

The Department of Psychology wants to facilitate future career opportunities for PhD students, postdocs and associate professors at the Department. We follow UiO's personnel policy, which requires the individual leader to actively follow up his or her employees, among other things by ensuring the individual's opportunity for development at work.

UiOs competance development offer

Diversity and gender equality

Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.The Department of Psychology shall work actively for equality, ensure equal opportunities and rights, and prevent discrimination.

Gender equality initiativ at UiO

• Career development for female associate professors

Gender equality initiatives at the Department of Psychology 

• Action plan for gender equality, diversity and inclusion at the Department of Psychology 2022-2025 

How to apply

The application must include:

• Letter of application explaining the motivation for applying and how the applicant’s research, teaching, and eventually administrative qualifications are relevant for the position, as well as any other relevant information.
• A CV summarizing personal information, educations, positions, research qualifications, teaching qualifications, and eventually administrative qualifications, and any other relevant information (e.g., number and duration of parental and sick leaves and career breaks).
• A complete List of scientific publications (in press or published) and communications (including h-index, total number of citations and number of citations as 1st author): (i) peer-reviewed scientific articles (including number of citations of each of article) (ii) peer-reviewed scientific book chapters, (iii) peer-reviewed scientific books, (iv) other publications, (v) scientific keynotes, invited papers and guest lectures, (vi) scientific papers and posters to conferences, (vii) other communications, and (viii) contribution to knowledge dissemination (radio and tv interviews and interventions, podcast for a large audience, articles and editorials in magazines and newspapers, etc.)
• Three relevant first authored international peer-reviewed scientific publications in English (at least two articles) in Health psychology.
• 3-page research project in Health psychology describing one of their future research projects relevant for the position (including a presentation of the scientific originality and interest, social implications, methodological correctness, ethical appropriateness, feasibility, risk factors, and a plan for research dissemination and acquisition of external funding). The 3-page limit is adamant.
• Applicants must provide a 3-page document describing their different teaching competence and experience in Health psychology at different levels (i.e., bachelor, master / professional (clinical), ph.d.): Course coordination, lecture, seminar, exam, supervision, teaching administration, etc. (including some figures such as the number of students and time span). The 3-page limit is adamant.
• Copies of educational certificates in English or in one of the Scandinavian languages (academic transcripts only) including of any certifications of University Pedagogy Education.
• A list of three references (name, affiliation, relation to candidate, e-mail, and phone number). If possible, one should be a graduate student or a Ph.d. fellow, one a colleague / collaborator, and one a leader). No letter of reference should be included in the application.

The application with attachments must be submitted in our electronic recruiting system. International applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English except for the educational certificates which might also be also in one of the Scandinavian languages.

Contact information

• Head of Section: Professor Francisco Pons, email: francisco.pons@psykologi.uio.no
• HR adviser: Joan Garcia, e-mail: joan.garcia@psykologi.uio.no

Formal regulations

Please refer to the Rules for Appointments to Professorships and Associate Professorships at the University of Oslo, the Guide for Applicants and Members of the Assessment Committee and Rules for practicing the requirement for basic pedagogical competence at the University of Oslo.

Pursuant to section 25(2) of the Freedom of Information Act, information concerning the applicant may be made public, even if the applicant has requested not to appear on the list of applicants.

If there are no qualified applicants for a permanent position, the appointing authority may consider appointment to a temporary lower position for up to three years, cf. Section 6-5 of the University and University College Act.

The University of Oslo has a transfer agreement with all employees that is intended to secure the rights to all research results etc.

Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview.

(i) At least one applicant from each gender will have to be considered qualified by the scientific committee. If not, the position will be re- announced.

(ii) At least one qualified applicant from each gender will be invited for a trial lecture and interview by the interview committee whatever their ranking by the scientific committee.

Residence in the greater Oslo area is expected.

Apply for position