Ledig stilling ved UiT Norges arktiske universitet
Associate professor in Computer Science – Bioinformatics and Systems Biology
Deadline 31.03.2019
About the Position
UiT - The Arctic University of Norway (UiT) has an Associate Professor position available within Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, hosted by the Department of Computer Science and affiliated to CANS (CANS). We offer a competitive start-up package to the successful applicant.
We are looking for a highly talented candidate with great scientific potential to establish research on bioinformatics and its application to systems biology in interdisciplinary collaboration with
Further information about the position is available by contacting:
- Head of Department Alexander Horsch; phone +47 7764 6735, e-mail: alexander.horsch@uit.no.
For administrative questions, please contact the Department’s administration; phone +47 7764 4036, email: svein.tore.jensen@uit.no.
CANS
Centre for new antibacterial strategies (CANS) is a new, large strategic interdisciplinary centre at UiT – the Arctic University of Norway for research, education, innovation and dissemination related to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). CANS currently involves fourteen research groups located at three faculties and covers topics within marine bioprospecting – identification and characterization of new antibacterial activities, design and synthesis of new antibiotics and resistance inhibitors, the evolution and molecular epidemiology of AMR, host-microbe-drug interactions as well as antibiotic stewardship. The centre aims to strengthen current activities, but also support new basic research in novel concepts for sustainable antibacterial activities in AMR-prevention and treatment strategies through new permanent and temporary (tenure-track, postdoc and PhD) positions.
The position’s field of research
Research at the Department of Computer Science focuses on fundamental computer systems research, systems software, application software, and system prototype development. We are concerned primarily with technical aspects of computer science systems research of mobile, distributed and parallel systems and applications. The research covers experimental development, application, analysis and testing of models, architectures, and mechanisms for mobile, embedded, distributed and/or parallel applications. Scaling, performance, handling of large feature-rich datasets, heterogeneity, energy-efficiency, autonomy, and componentization are examples of concerns that we address.
The announced position is attached to the Biological Data Processing Systems (BDPS). This research group builds and experimentally evaluates infrastructure systems that support bioinformatics methods. The group designs and implements systems for big data management and processing, machine learning, interactive analysis, and interpretation. The group is primarily interested in improving the scalability and usability of bioinformatics analysis methods and frameworks. The group combines experimental computer science with real problems, applications, and data obtained from our biology collaborators. Active participation in CANS to build interdisciplinary excellence, is required in this position
The field of research
The position is within the intersection of computer science and bioinformatics. The area of research will focus on development and evaluation of methods, systems, and tools that solve key challenges in systems biology. The candidate will lead the computer science research team in CANS with a focus on the evolution and system (molecular) epidemiology of AMR. The research should have a scope and potential to transform AMR surveillance and epidemiology. Some example areas of research are computer systems development for complex data analytics, machine learning method development for epidemiological analyses, developing novel hardware, and large-scale bioinformatics analysis. We welcome competitive candidates’ research perspectives within this frame-work. All candidates must submit a statement of their vision for how they will strengthen this research.
Qualifications
The candidate must:
- Document a Norwegian doctoral degree in Computer Science or a corresponding foreign doctoral degree.
- Document a high international standard in the field of Computer Science – Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, and experience in executing independent original research. The assessment will emphasise scientific publications in internationally recognised peer review channels.
- Possess excellent verbal and written English communication skills. Non-Scandinavian applicants must be willing to learn Norwegian and pass the language exam level B2 (“Bergenstesten” or equivalent) within a three-years period.
- Document ability to attract external funding. We expect you to secure substantial additional funding through national or international grants.
- Document mobility and participation in national/international research network
- Document experience with project management, student supervision, and outreach merits.
The assessment will emphasize scientific excellence and potential, as well as motivation and personal suitability for the position, including ability for communication and collaborative work. We are looking for candidates that demonstrate expertise in either: systems development and software engineering, applied machine learning development for biomedical data, and applied bioinformatics. Commitment to the department’s standard for teaching quality, recruitment and public outreach activities is expected. You must be willing to engage in the ongoing development of the discipline, CANS and the university as a whole.
Teaching qualifications
You must be able to contribute to develop our course portfolio and to teach general courses to students from undergraduate to postgraduate levels, including contributing to supervision of master and doctoral thesis projects.
You can document teaching qualifications by submitting a teaching portfolio, see the website for basic pedagogical competence (www.result.no).
If you lack formal teaching qualifications, you must participate in the formal pedagogical training program to qualify for a permanent position. Then you must develop an approved teaching portfolio within a three-year period. Interim appointment based on lacking documented teaching qualifications can be considered, as described below.
Interim appointment
If there are no fully qualified applicants for the position, we may make an interim appointment to qualify during a period of three years. If the interim appointment is based on lacking teaching qualifications, the applicant must document such qualifications through developing a teaching portfolio within three years. Based on a new application before the three-year period elapses, a permanent appointment shall be made if the new assessment finds the candidate suitably qualified.
We offer
- A competitive start-up package (negotiable).
- A challenging and stimulating working environment.
- Mentorship and administrative support.
- Support on applications for externally funded research projects.
- Good arrangements for pension, insurance and loans in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.
The remuneration for Associate Professor is in accordance with the State salary scale code 1011. A compulsory contribution of 2% to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund will be deducted. In addition to the salary, UiT pays approximately 12.35% directly to the Pension Fund.
Employees in permanent positions as professor/associate professor have the right to apply for a paid sabbatical (research and development).
The position requires participation in teaching and supervision. Taking part in teaching of the department’s regular undergraduate and graduate courses and being involved in supervision of PhD students will facilitate achievement of the required teaching experience for qualification as full professor. In general, a professor/associate professor spend an equal amount of time on teaching and research and development work, after time spent on other duties has been deducted. As a norm, we expect all employees in scientific positions to reserve 5% of their working time for administrative tasks.
More information about moving to Tromsø: uit.no/mobility
Application
Your application must include:
- Application letter
- A vision statement describing planned research activities within the outlined field of research (max 3 pages, in English)
- CV including list of all academic works
- Diplomas and transcripts
- References: applicants are asked to provide the names, email addresses and phone number of at least three (3) contacts to provide letters of recommendation.
- Teaching portfolio of minimum three pages, informing about your work with students. Describe and reflect on your own teaching, and present contributions to development of teaching. It will typically contain teaching philosophy, documentation of teaching activities demonstrating planning, accomplishments and assessment, evaluations of the teaching, and experiences in developing courses and curricula. Attach certificates, reports, and other relevant documents.
- Description of your academic merits, stating which works you consider most important and your contributions.
- Up to ten peer reviewed publications. The doctoral thesis counts as one work.
All documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language and submitted electronically through Jobbnorge.
Assessment
An expert committee will assess the applicants. The main emphasis will be on the submitted scientific work and your potential for excellence in research. Teaching qualifications, popularisation/ dissemination of research, your experience in obtaining external research grants, and policy and administration work is also included.
We will invite the best-qualified applicants to an interview and trial lecture. The interview shall among other things aim to clarify the applicant’s personal suitability and motivation for the position.
Other information
We make appointments in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and guidelines at UiT. At our website, you will find more information for applicants.
UiT wishes to increase the proportion of females in senior research positions. Female applicants get priority, in the event that two or more applicants are approximately equally qualified.
UiT’s HR policy objectives emphasises diversity, and encourages all qualified applicants to apply regardless of gender, functional ability and national or ethnic background. UiT is an will make the necessary adaptations in order to facilitate for employees with reduced functional ability.
We process personal data given in an application or CV in accordance with the Personal Data Act. You may request to not be registered on the public list of applicants, but the University may decide that your name will be made public. You will receive advance notification in the event of such publication.