Job description

A full-time position at the Associate Professor level is available in the Research group for Soft Matter, which is part the Section for Chemical Life Science at the Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo.

We are looking for a potential scientific leader with clear research visions, educational and administrative skills and abilities to establish and lead research projects of international standard.

The right candidate will play a key role in expanding chemical life science research and education at UiO. The candidate is expected to carry out research activities related to organic polymer synthesis to bridge soft matter with biochemistry and biomedicine.

Specifically, the person hired must be well qualified with expertise in polymerization techniques, chemical modification methods and characterization of macromolecules.

General information about the position:

Applicants must document academic qualifications in their field, equivalent to an Associate Professor position.

The successful applicant must be able to teach at all levels and to supervise Master and PhD students.

The successful applicant may furthermore be required to take on other teaching duties and administrative tasks upon request from the Department of Chemistry or the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences.

Qualification requirements

The successful candidate must have completed a PhD in chemistry or a closely related field and possess documented qualifications within polymer synthesis. Moreover, the candidate must document experience in teaching and education, research supervision and leadership.

• The successful applicant must have a strong scientific track record documenting significant experience in polymer synthesis and characterization, in particular controlled polymerization methods

• The research focus must be related to the Life Sciences and complement current research within biochemistry, soft matter and physical chemistry within the Section

• Scientific qualifications will play a major role, and the main emphasis will be on the candidate's scientific production and trends from the last five years. It is required that the candidate has international experience and is able to carry out high-quality research that includes international collaborations

• Pedagogical qualifications and teaching and supervision experience at all levels will be an important factor in the evaluation process, and should be well documented in a teaching portfolio.

The applicant should describe her/his qualifications in view of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) framework which includes:

• Focus on student learning
• A clear development over time
• A researching approach
• A collegial attitude and practice

A potential successful candidate who at the time of appointment cannot document sufficient teaching qualifications (minimum formal requirement is a 200-hr pedagogical programme) will be required to obtain such qualifications within a two-year period.

The successful applicant must have fluent oral and written communication skills in English and in a Scandinavian language, and be able to teach in English and Norwegian (or in another Scandinavian language). If an appointee is not fluent in a Scandinavian language, she/he will be required to learn sufficient Norwegian within a two-year period to be able to participate actively in all functions the position may involve.

Desirable qualifications:

• A track record in the acquisition of research grants (national and international) is a clear advantage
• Experience in cross-disciplinary collaboration and collaboration with industry is an advantage
• International network, outreach activities, collegiality, and the ability to create a good working environment will be part of the evaluation
• The person appointed will be requested to take on some administrative duties. In this context, experience in administrative management and demonstrated organizational skills will be an advantage

Personal skills

• Ability to create and contribute to a well-functioning, inclusive and productive research environment
• Networking skills, ability to collaborate and conduct scientific leadership
• Ability to cooperate and communicate well with other members of staff

The successful candidate should have an international profile with respect to the above criteria. The candidate for this position will be selected based on excellence and fit with the desired research profile

We offer

• Salary NOK 648 700 - 714 000,- per annum depending on qualifications in a position as Associate Professor (position code 1011)

• A professionally stimulating work environment

• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement, in addition to Oslo's family-friendly environment with its rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

• The opportunity to apply for promotion to full professorship at a later stage

• The Associate Professor will have the opportunity to apply for promotion to a position as Professor at a later date

How to apply

The application must include:

• Application letter (including a motivation for applying for this position) in English. The letter (or a separate research position paper) shall also describe the applicant's vision and scientific ambitions for the nearest future
• A research plan describing the applicant’s scientific ambitions for the position and integration into ongoing research/teaching activities at the Department (max 10 pages)
• A detailed CV, including a complete list of education, previous and current positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience, project acquisition and coordination experience, and other qualifying activities
• Copies of educational certificates, PhD diploma, transcript of records and letters of recommendation
• A complete list of publications and academic merits and awards (if not included in the CV)
• Full text of up to 10 selected scientific publications the applicant wishes to include in the evaluation
• A document discussing the importance, interrelation, and relevance of the selected papers for this position
• Educational portfolio of 3-6 pages documenting educational competence and experience, including a reflection note in which your own teaching practice and view of learning is anchored in the SoTL framework (focus on student learning, development over time, a researching approach and a collegial attitude and practice)
• List of reference persons: 2-4 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number)

The application with attachments must be submitted in our electronic recruiting system; please follow the link "Apply for this job".

Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language).

Formal regulations

As a general rule an interview will be used in the appointment process, usually supplemented with a trial teaching session. The basis for assessment will be the scientific production of the applicant, the teaching portfolio, pedagogical and educational qualifications, the applicant’s qualifications within leadership and administration, other qualifications as well as general personal suitability for the position. In ranking the competent applicants, the full range of qualifications will be considered and explicitly assessed.

Rules for appointments to associate professorships, check here.

Rules for the assessment and weighting of pedagogical competence for appointments to permanent academic posts which include teaching duties, check here.

According to the Norwegian Freedom and Information Act (Offentleglova), information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

The University of Oslo aims to achieve a balanced gender composition in the workforce and to recruit people with ethnic minority backgrounds. Women are encouraged to apply.

The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results, see here.

In addition, the University of Oslo aims for its employees to reflect the diversity of the population to the greatest degree possible. We therefore encourage qualified applicants with disabilities or gaps in their CV to apply for the position. The University of Oslo will adapt the workplace to suit employees with disabilities. Applicants who indicate that they have disabilities or gaps in their CV are made aware that this information may be used for statistical purposes.

Contactinformation

For further information please contact:

• Professor Reidar Lund (Leader of Soft Matter group), e-mail: reidar.lund@kjemi.uio.no; tel.: +47 228 55508
• Professor Ute Krengel (Section leader), e-mail: ute.krengel@kjemi.uio.no; tel.: +47 228 55461

For technical questions regarding our recruitment system JobbNorge please contact:

• HR Advisor Olga Holmlund, e-mail: olga.holmlund@mn.uio.no

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