Ledig stilling ved UiT Norges arktiske universitet
Associate professor in Marine Microbial Biotechnology and Bioprospecting
Deadline 31.03.2019
Associate professor in Marine Microbial Biotechnology and Bioprospecting
UiT - The Arctic University of Norway (UiT) has an Associate Professor position available within Marine Microbial Biotechnology and Bioprospecting, hosted by the Department of Norwegian College of Fishery Science (NCFS) and affiliated to CANS (CANS). The position is located to the Marine Bioprospecting research group. 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 the Marine Bioprospecting research group and CANS. The workplace will be at UiT – The Arctic University of Norway (UiT), campus Tromsø.
Further information about the position is available by contacting:
- Professor Klara Stensvåg, Department of Norwegian College of Fishery Science; phone +47 77644512/ +47 41239918, email Klara.stensvag@uit.no
- Associate professor Tor Haug, Department of Norwegian College of Fishery Science; phone +47 77646071, email tor.haug@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 affiliation
The candidate is expected to strengthen research and teaching activities within the Marine Bioprospecting research group at the Department of Norwegian College of Fishery Science (NCFS) in close collaboration with CANS. Active participation in CANS to build interdisciplinary excellence, is required in this position.
NCFS is one out of three departments at the Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics (BFE), UiT. BFE has approximately 470 employees, host 21 research groups involved in international collaborative projects, support study programs at Bachelor's, Master's and PhD levels, and provide access to advanced facilities within marine biotechnology, bioprospecting/drug discovery, genomics, marine biology molecular and environmental biotechnology.
Currently the Marine Bioprospecting research group has two professors, two associated professors and six PhD students working within CANS. The senior scientists cover expertise in natural products isolation, marine microbiology, molecular biotechnology and bioinformatics. The group research targets basic knowledge of marine antimicrobials, their structures and mechanisms of actions towards bacteria or biofilms. We have a close interdisciplinary research collaboration across three faculties and the Clinical Microbiology Department at the University Hospital of North-Norway (UNN).
The field of research
The candidate is expected to join the Marine Bioprospecting group and perform research aimed to detect novel antibacterial molecules produced by marine microorganism with the potential for new 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 Marine Biotechnology and Bioprospecting 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.
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. Special attention will be given to candidate a microbiologist with a strong background in molecular biotechnology, bioinformatics or in silico technologies. We will also consider highly talented candidates with experience in antibiofilm research. Marine background, is advantageous, and experience with microbial biosynthetic pathways or allied disciplines, is also highly evaluated. 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 participate in the teaching of 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 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: http://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.
General
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.