Ledig stilling ved UiT Norges arktiske universitet

Associate professor in Infection Biology

Deadline 31.03.2019

UiT The Arctic University of Norway

UiT The Arctic University of Norway is a multi-campus research univeristy in Norway and the northernmost university of the world. Our central location in the High North, our broad and diverse research and study portfolio, and our interdisciplinary qualities make us uniquely suited to meet the challenges of the future. At UiT you can explore global issues from a close-up perspective.


Credibility, academic freedom, closeness, creativity and commitment shall be hallmarks of the relationship between our employees, between our employees and our students and between UiT and our partners.

About the position

UiT - The Arctic University of Norway (UiT) has an Associate Professor position available within Bacterial Infection Biology, hosted by the Department of Medical Biology (IMB) and affiliated to 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 is located to the Research group for Host-Microbe Interactions (HMI). Currently, HMI has three professors, one associate professor, several post docs and PhD students, and two technical positions working within 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 strengthen and further develop the current research activities within HMI and CANS. The workplace will be at UiT – The Arctic University of Norway (UiT), campus Tromsø.

The position`s affiliation

The candidate is expected to strengthen research and teaching activities within HMI in close collaboration with CANS. Active participation in CANS to build interdisciplinary excellence, is required in this position. IMB is one of ten departments at the Faculty of Health Sciences. IMB has approximately 180 employees, host 14 research groups involved in international collaborative projects, runs study programs at Bachelor, Master and PhD levels, and provides access to state of the art core facilities within bioimaging (microscopy and preclinical-PET), proteomics, metabolomics, genomics, bioinformatics, and clinical research. The Faculty also provides access to a modern research facility for both large and small research animals.

Currently, HMI consists of three professors, one associate professor and several post docs and PhD students working within CANS. The senior scientists cover expertise in molecular and clinical bacteriology as well as eukaryote molecular cell biology. Our research objectives target fundamental aspects of resistance biology, the molecular epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and interactions between bacteria, antibiotics and humans. We have a close interdisciplinary research collaboration across three faculties and with the Clinical Microbiology Department at the University Hospital of North-Norway (UNN).

Contacts

Further information about the position is available by contacting:

  • Professor Johanna E Sollid, Department of Medical Biology; Phone +47 77644663, email Johanna.e.sollid@uit.no
  • Associate professor Gunbjørg Svineng, Head of Department of Medical Biology; Phone +47 77646757, email gunbjorg.svineng@uit.no

The field of research

The candidate is expected to join the HMI research group, and perform research within the basic understanding of interactions between bacteria, antibiotics/drugs and humans. The focus for this position will be on bacterial virulence factors, function and host interaction partners with the potential to engender new concepts in antibacterial strategies.

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.

Qualification requirements

The candidate must:

  • Document a Norwegian doctoral degree or a corresponding foreign doctoral degree, or competence at a corresponding level documented by academic work of the same scope and quality.
  • Document a high international standard in the field of Bacterial Infection Biology and experience in executing independent original research. The assessment will emphasise scientific publications in internationally recognised peer review journals.
  • 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.
  • Must have a strong educational background in Microbiology or affiliated subjects.

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 seek an infection biology scientist with a strong background in host-bacteria interactions and experienced with animal models. We will also consider highly talented candidates with limited experience in microbiology if they can document relevant expertise in inflammation and other host responses caused by bacterial infections. 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 qualification

You must be able to teach in the field of microbiology 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 Result website for basic pedagogical competence.

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 find 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 Norway: Welcome to UiT

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.

General 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 has HR policy objectives that emphasize diversity, and encourages all qualified applicants to apply regardless of their age, gender, functional ability and national or ethnic background. The university is an IW (Inclusive Workplace) enterprise, and emphasize making the necessary adaptations to the working conditions for employees with reduced functional ability.

We process personal data 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.

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