Professor/Associate professor in biopolymer-based materials

NTNU is a broad-based university with a technical-scientific profile and a focus on professional education. The university is located in three cities with headquarters in Trondheim.

At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 42,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

The Department of Biotechnology and Food Science is seeking a candidate for a position as Professor or Associate Professor in Biotechnology with special emphasis on Biopolymers.

The Professor/Associate Professor will be part of the research group 'Biopolymers and Biopolymer Materials'. The successful candidate is expected to integrate well into the group and contribute to strengthening and complementing our research in the key areas of structure-function relationships, and characterisation of the physico-chemical properties of biopolymers and biopolymer-based materials. The position includes scientific responsibility for the rheology laboratory.

• The candidate will be responsible for teaching and performing research in the field of biopolymer science and biomaterials.
• The successful applicant will be expected to both deliver and develop high-quality teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and undertake supervision of master’s and doctoral candidates. Examples of relevant courses that the applicant is expected to teach are Biopolymers, Biomaterials, Biochemistry, and Biotechnology.
• It is expected that the successful applicant will initiate new research programs and engage extensively in applications for external research funding, e.g., from the Research Council of Norway, European research and educational agencies, the industry sector, and other available resources.
• The position includes scientific responsibility for the rheology laboratory.
• The position also includes administrative work related to managing teaching and research at the department.

Professor: 

To be qualified for a full professorship it is required that you meet the criteria, as outlined in § 1-2 of the regulations concerning appointment and promotion to teaching and research posts 

• your academic work must be within biopolymer sciences 
• you can document relevant research on a high international level in biopolymers, preferentially polysaccharides, their physico-chemical and material/rheological properties. 
• you demonstrate skills in leadership, international scientific collaborations, and the ability to attract external funding.
• In addition to the requirements for basic educational competence, you must also document: 
  • The development of the quality of your own teaching and supervision of students over time 
  • Broad experience as a supervisor, preferably at a master’s/PhD level 
  • Participation in improving the quality of education in a professional environment 

Associate professor: 

You must have the qualifications required for the position of associate professor, as outlined in the regulations concerning appointment and promotion to teaching and research posts , section 1-4.

• Your PhD, or comparable academic work, must be within the field of biopolymer sciences
• You must have research experience within biopolymer science in addition to your PhD
• you can document relevant research on a high international level in biopolymers, preferentially polysaccharides, their physico-chemical and material/rheological properties.
• you have established a network of international scientific collaborations

Applicable to all:  

You must document relevant basic competence in teaching and supervision at a university/higher education-level, as referenced in the Norwegian national Regulations . If this cannot be documented, you will be required to complete an approved course in university pedagogy within two years of commencement. NTNU offers qualifying courses. 

New employees who do not speak a Scandinavian language by appointment is required, within three years, to demonstrate skills in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language equivalent to level three of the course for Norwegian for speakers of other languages at the Department of Language and Literature at NTNU .  

• You have teaching experience from higher education (preferred for associate professor level, required for professor)
• You can document competence within biopolymer chemistry and/or biophysical characterisation methods.
• You have demonstrated strong academic competence
• You have demonstrated ability to attract external funding (preferred for associate professor level, required for professor).
• You have experience with innovation-oriented projects

• Ambition
• Motivation and ability to integrate well and act as a constructive member of our research- and teaching community
• Ability to initiate and participate in multidisciplinary activities
• Ability to initiate new projects
• Interest in pedagogical development

As an Associate Professor / Professor (code 1011 /1013 ) you will be remunerated according to the Basic Agreement for theCivil Service, depending on qualifications and seniority. As required by law, 2% of this salary will be deducted and paid into the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

Employment will be granted in accordance with the principles outlined in the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants , and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of theapplication and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU. Applicants shouldbe aware that there may be changes in the working environment after employment has commenced.

It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution on a daily basis. 

You can find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here .

Your application and supporting documentation must be in English. 

Publications and other scientific work must follow the application. Please note that your application will be considered based solely on information submitted by the application deadline. You must therefore ensure that your application clearly demonstrates how your skills and experience fulfil the criteria specified above.

If, for any reason, you have taken a career break or have had an atypical career and wish to disclose this in your application, the selection committee will take this into account, recognizing that the quantity of your research may be reduced as a result.

Your application must include:

• CV, diplomas, and certificates
• A teaching portfolio, in which your teaching competence is compiled and presented systematically,   (See guidelines for applicants: Documentation of teaching qualifications in applications and appointments to academic positions at NTNU )
• Academic works – published or unpublished – that you wish to be considered during assessment of your application (up to 10 items)
• A description of the scientific/artistic works you consider most relevant, which you particularly wish to be factored into the assessment
• A list of your previous works, with details on where they have been published
• A research plan
• Details of projects for which you have served as project manager, including information on financing, duration, and scope
• Names and contact information for three relevant referees

Joint work will also be considered. If it is difficult to identify your specific input to a joint project, you must include evidence of your contributions.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates. Our assessment of the pedagogical skills will be based on documented pedagogical material, forms of presentation in your academic works, teaching experience, PhD, and Masters supervision, and any other relevant pedagogical background. Both quality and scope will be taken into consideration.

NTNU is obliged by the evaluation criteria for research quality in accordance with The San Fransisco Declaration on Research Assessment – DORA . This means that we will pay particular attention to the quality and academic range demonstrated by your scientific work to date. We will also pay attention to research leadership and participation in research projects. Your scientific work from the last five years will be given the most weight.

Your application will be considered by an expert committee. Candidates of interest will be invited to an interview, and to deliver a trial teaching session.

NTNU believes that inclusion and diversity is a strength. We want our faculty and staff to reflect Norway’s culturally diverse population and we continuously seek to hire the best minds. This enables NTNU to increase productivity and innovation, improve decision making processes, raise employee satisfaction, compete academically with global top-ranking institutions and carry out our social responsibilities within education and research. NTNU emphasizes accessibility and encourages qualified candidates to apply regardless of gender identity, ability status, periods of unemployment or ethnic and cultural background.

NTNU is working actively to increase the number of women employed in scientific positions and has a number of resources to promote equality . 

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.

As an employee at NTNU, you must continually maintain and improve your professional development and be flexible regarding any organizational changes.

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you want to reserve yourself from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation . You will be notified if the reservation is not accepted.

For the sake of transparency, candidates will be given the expert evaluation of their own and other candidates. As an applicant you are considered part of the process and is stipulated to rules of confidentiality.

If you have any questions regarding the position, please contact Professor Berit Strand, e-mail [email protected] , Professor Finn L. Aachmann, e-mail: [email protected] , or Head of the Department Andreas Møllerløkken, e-mail [email protected]

If you think this looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Upon request, you must be able to obtain certified copies of your documentation. 

Application deadline: 01.09.2022

NTNU - knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Biotechnology and Food Science

Our activities contribute to increased exploitation of existing and new ingredients for sustainable food production as well as next-generation energy solutions and medical technology. We educate graduates for a wide range of careers in industry, public administration and academia. The Department of Biotechnology and Food Science  is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Natural Sciences .