Ledig stilling ved UiT Norges arktiske universitet

Tenure-Track Associate Professor in Space Physics

Deadline: 02.02.2020

The position

UiT The Arctic University of Norway (UiT) has a tenure-track position as Associate Professor available and hosted by the Department of Physics and Technology. The appointment is for a period of 6 years. We offer a competitive start- up package to the successful applicant.

UiT The Arctic University of Norway

UiT is a multi-campus research university 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.

We are looking for a talented candidate with a great scientific potential, to strengthen and further develop the existing research at the Department of Physics and Technology. To support the candidate, we will contribute with an attractive start-up package including financial support and doctoral positions. Normally, tenure-track positions are for candidates who obtained their PhD within the last five years. The workplace will be at UiT - The Arctic University of Norway (UiT), campus Tromsø.

The position’s affiliation

The position as tenure-track associate professor in space physics is attached to the Department of Physics and Technology and the research group Space Physics.

The Faculty of Science and Technology consists of the following departments: Department of Chemistry, Department of Computer Science, Department of Engineering and Safety, Department of Geosciences, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, and Department of Physics and Technology.

The Department of Physics and Technology consists of six research groups: (1) Earth Observation, (2) Energy and Climate, (3) Complex Systems Modelling, (4) Machine Learning, (5) Space Physics and (6) Ultrasound, Microwaves and Optics. The department provides education on the Bachelor, Master, and PhD levels, and comprises 23 permanent scientific positions and a technical/administrative staff of 11 persons.

Space physics research at the department addresses the Earth's upper atmosphere, the ionosphere and the magnetosphere and related plasma physics. For this position we are looking for a candidate who actively carries out research within the profile of the space physics group and beyond to expand and strengthen it further. The tenure-track associate professor position will have a particular focus on the EISCAT_3D radar infrastructure now under construction.

The position’s field of research (or work)

The Space Physics research group uses radar and radio remote sensing techniques, optical observations and laboratory experiments on space plasma processes, is involved in planetary radar observations and space debris studies, carries out measurements from rockets, and is involved with satellite and space probe missions.

The experimental projects employ the facilities of the EISCAT Scientific Association near Tromsø and on Svalbard, rocket observations from Andøya Space Center, observations with lidar, radar and cameras, and plasma laboratory studies. The space physics group also collaborates with the UiT operated Tromsø Geophysical Observatory and the Norwegian Centre for Space Weather including instrument development and space weather activities. The research at the department also includes atmospheric and plasma research and research on miniaturized sensor development with the possibility of internal collaborations. UiT plays an important role in developing the advanced incoherent scatter radar EISCAT_3D, which will become a major part of the science infrastructure in Northern Norway.

UiT has in its vicinity one of the best conditions for optical studies of the polar atmosphere and it is surrounded by one of the best infrastructures for studies of the high-latitude upper atmosphere. Tromsø is also conveniently located for observational projects carried out from Svalbard and the successful candidate has an excellent opportunity for leading research with the new advanced radar system EISCAT_3D.

The successful applicant must participate in the teaching of basic physics and space physics courses to students from undergraduate to postgraduate levels, including providing supervision of master and doctoral thesis projects. Commitment to internationally high standard for teaching quality, recruitment and public outreach activities is expected.

Participation in cooperative projects with national and international research groups is expected including research within the national space programme and supporting the establishment and utilization of the EISCAT_3D infrastructure as an integral part of the research and teaching on an international level.

Contact

Further information about the position is available by contacting:

  • Head of Administration Geir Antonsen, Department of Physics and Technology; Phone: (+47) 776 45 476, email geir.antonsen@uit.no
  • Project coordinator Inger Solheim, Department of Physics and Technology; Phone: (+47) 776 44 465, email Inger.solheim@uit.no

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.
  • Must have a proven record of original independent research in fields like auroral, ionospheric, or magnetospheric physics (or magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling), have experience in analysis of radar data or modeling and numerical simulations, and work on an internationally competitive level. The assessment will emphasize scientific publications in internationally recognized 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 the tenure-track period.
  • Should outline the ability to attract external funding. We expect you to secure substantial additional funding through national or international grants.
  • Documented mobility and participation in international research networks is advantageous
  • Documented experience with project management, student supervision, and outreach activities is advantageous.

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. 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, E3D and the university as a whole.

Qualification requirements for the position as Associate Professor:

  • Norwegian doctoral degree in subject area concerned or a corresponding foreign doctoral degree recognised as equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree, or
  • Competence at a corresponding level documented by academic work of the same scope and quality
  • Documented teaching competence

At UiT we put emphasis on the quality, relevance and significance of the research work and not on where the work is published, in accordance with the principles of The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA).

Moderate gender quota: UiT wishes to increase the proportion of females in academic positions. In cases where two or more applicants are found to be approximately equally qualified, female applicants will be given priority.

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 must have acquired basic skills in planning, conducting, evaluating and developing teaching and guidance.

All applicants must document their teaching competence:

  • Applicants who have completed education or courses designed to provide teaching competence for teaching at universities and colleges, equivalent to a minimum of 200 hours, must attach diploma and curriculum for the completed course.
  • Other applicants shall describe, assess and document their competence as a teacher and supervisor. Practice as a teacher and supervisor in higher education is required, often combined with relevant courses and seminars. The skills must be documented in the form of a teaching portfolio. Experience with teaching and supervision in higher education corresponding to two years in a full-time position of is required.

If you lack formal teaching qualifications, you must participate in the formal pedagogical training program to qualify for a permanent position. You must develop an approved teaching portfolio before the final tenure assessment.

The tenure track programme

The overall purpose of the review system is to ensure and maintain the high academic standards of the university’s senior faculty staff. To help meet these standards, we offer you two mentors.

In the tenure-track programme, you will be subject to two types of reviews during the tenure-track period:

  • a mid-career assessment after at most 4 years
  • a final tenure assessment after 6 years

Given a positive outcome of the final tenure assessment, you will be appointed to a permanent full-time position as professor. UiT assess professorial competence according to our own and national regulations. UiT follows national guidelines for professorial promotion when evaluating candidates for professorships.

To obtain a permanent position after the tenure period it will be considered as an important criterion that you have obtained external financing of your own research during the tenure period.

Moreover, in addition to the general requirements for qualification as a full professor, the following requirements are set for permanent appointment in this position:

  • You should, in the tenure period, demonstrate scientific quality through publications in internationally recognized peer-reviewed journals and have an increasing citation rate.
  • You should, in the tenure period, demonstrate visibility through international collaboration in terms of common research projects, publications, and exchange activities.
  • You should, in the tenure period, demonstrate devotion to education by developing courses and course material, and arrange seminars.
  • You should, in the tenure period, demonstrate good academic leadership
  • You should, in the tenure period, achieve an approved teaching portfolio
  • You should, in the tenure period, obtain Norwegian language skills documented by Bergenstesten (level B2)

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 and certificates, applicants are asked to provide the names, email addresses and phone number of at least three (3) contacts to provide letters of recommendation.
  • Documented teaching competence (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.
  • Academic works, up to ten. The doctoral thesis is regarded as one work.

Documentation have to be in English or a Scandinavian language. We only accept applications sent via www.jobbnorge.no.

We offer

Anything you want to highlight, for example:

  • A competitive start-up package including two PhD positions and operational funds.
  • A challenging and stimulating working environment.
  • Mentorship and administrative support.
  • Support on applications for externally funded research projects.
  • Good welfare arrangements for employees
  • 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.

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 and Postdoctoral Research Fellows will facilitate achievement of the required teaching experience for qualification as full professor. 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

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, supervision and project management, popularization/ dissemination of research, your experience in obtaining external research grants, and policy and administration work will also be evaluated.

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

The allocation of working hours is flexible and allocated on a case-by-case basis. In general, professors (and dosent)/associate professors will spend an equal amount of time on teaching and research and development work/ førstelektor (associate professor) will spend up to 30 % of their time on research and 70 % for teaching/assistant professors will spend up to 20 % of their time on research and 80 % for teaching/ a høgskolelærer (University College Teacher) will spend 90 % of their time on teaching, after time spent on other duties has been deducted. As a norm, the time resources spent on administrative duties constitutes 5 % for academic staff.

The appointment is made in accordance with State regulations and guidelines at UiT. At our website, you will find more information for applicants.

A good work environment is characterized by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, functional capacity or cultural background. UiT and will emphasize making the necessary adaptations to the working conditions for employees with reduced functional ability

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.

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