Professor/Associate Professor of Veterinary Medicine or Zoology

Through research, education and social engagement, Nord University contributes to the creation of a sustainable future.

In cooperation with society, business and industry in Northern and Central Norway, our 11,500 students and 1,350 staff promote innovative solutions and knowledge-based practice, both locally and internationally.

Nord University has four strategic focus areas: blue and green growth, sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship, societal security, and health, welfare and education.

Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture (FBA) educates people with the aim of promoting sustainable and innovative development to meet global challenges in food production, climate and environment. The faculty is an international arena for education, research and knowledge dissemination, with employees and students from 31 different countries.

The faculty offers a PhD in Aquatic Biosciences. FBA has 900 students and 165 employees in Bodø and Steinkjer. The professional community is organised into the following divisions: Aquaculture, Ecology, Genomics and Animal Science, Production and Welfare and Algae and microbial biotechnology.

Read more: www.nord.no/en/fba

The Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture (FBA) at Nord University is advertising a permanent full-time position as a Professor/Associate Professor of Veterinary Medicine or Zoology. The position will be embedded in the Animal Production and Welfare division and  will primarily be teaching and supervising students on the  Bachelor’s Veterinary nursing study programme and the Joint Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science (Veterinary Medicine). Animal Science provides candidates with automatic admission to veterinary studies at our partner university UVMP in Kosice, Slovakia. The office location for the position is Bodø.

The new staff member is expected to perform research in the relevant disciplines and provide research-based teaching relating to these study programmes. The fields of research which are particularly relevant are physiology, cellular biology, immunology, microbiology, parasitology and nutrition. We expect the candidate to develop research projects and strengthen the research portfolio in close collaboration with members of the faculty. Key infrastructure at the Faculty includes amongst other a platform for high-throughput DNA sequencing, zebrafish and cell research facilities. The research infrastructure also includes wet lab facilities for research with Tilapia as well as marine species such as Atlantic salmon and wolffish. Research on terrestrial animals can be done in collaboration with the high schools Mære and Skjetlein in Trøndelag.   

The position will be allocated teaching tasks and course responsibilities.  Relevant areas include preclinical subjects, such as anatomy, physiology, ethology and nutrition, as well as paraclinical subjects such as microbiology, immunology, pharmacology and pathology for all student groups, and clinical subjects for students on the veterinary nursing programme. Depending on the academic profile, the successful candidate shall be able to teach, have course responsibility and provide supervision at Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD level at the Faculty. Those who are appointed are expected to focus on research-based teaching and student-active learning methods, and to help with developing study programmes and course portfolios. The holder of the position may also be assigned study programme responsibilities, as well as teaching assignments on other study programmes and campuses in accordance with the Faculty’s requirements.

We would like to have applicants with clinical experience of small animal practice in order to contribute towards strengthening the clinical approach on our theoretical courses.

The holder of the position shall contribute towards the development of research projects and applications for external funding, and help to develop existing research collaboration with our national and international partners.

Nord University focuses on pedagogy in teaching, and it is assumed that the successful candidates will contribute towards strengthening the pedagogical focus of the Faculty.

In addition to teaching and research, the position also includes administrative work relating to teaching, research and knowledge transfer. Duties are adapted to suit the Faculty's requirements and the employee's expertise.

• Teaching at all levels
• Supervision of Bachelor’s, Master’s and doctoral students
•  Develop research projects and applications for external funding, and help to develop existing research collaboration with our national and international partners
• It is assumed that the successful applicant will join their colleagues in contributing towards the development of the academic environment in pedagogy at the Faculty

 Appointment as Professor:

• Professorial competence in veterinary medicine or zoology in the fields of physiology, cell biology, immunology, microbiology, parasitology or nutrition is required. The qualification basis for the professorial position is a scientific level which complies with international standards in the relevant field
• Adequate educational competence is a requirement for the position. In addition to the basic skills in respect of the planning, implementation, evaluation and development of teaching and supervision which apply the position of an associate professor, applicants must provide documentary proof of the following: quality development in teaching and supervision, broad supervisory experience and joint professional development of educational quality. As a result of the 1 September 2019 regulatory amendments, Nord University has adopted its own provisions relating to skills pertaining to educational competence, cf. Nord’s website  for further details

Appointment as Associate Professor:

•  This requires an academic degree in veterinary medicine, or zoology in the fields of physiology, cell biology, immunology, microbiology, parasitology or nutrition or an equivalent foreign doctorate that has been approved as being equal to a Norwegian PhD, or competence at a corresponding level as documented by scientific/academic work of the same scope and quality
• The candidate must document publications in international peer-reviewed journals. Emphasis will be placed on whether or not applicants have participated in national or international projects, preferably funded via competitive funding
•  Applicants must provide documentary proof to show that they possess basic skills in respect of planning, implementation, evaluation and the development of teaching and supervision. New supplementary provisions for educational expertise came into force on 1 September 2019. For further information, please refer to the University’s website . Any applicants who are unable to provide documentary proof of adequate professional educational competence when employed must acquire such competence over the course of a two-year period. Nord University offers a course on University Pedagogy which covers this requirement

Common to all:

• Teaching will be provided in both Norwegian and English and applicants must therefore have good written and oral communication skills in Norwegian, Swedish or Danish, as well as English
• The positions require highly motivated and dynamic people with good interpersonal skills. Candidates are expected to contribute towards the development of academic collaboration between the Faculty's research groups and to publications and project applications of high quality
• Your application must specify whether or not you wish to be considered for a position as a professor or an associate professor
• Applications must be in English

Research:

• Relevant research and development work
• Publications over the past five years
• Experience of international research networks and projects funded externally

Teaching/pedagogy:

• Experience of teaching and supervision at Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD level from the university and college sector
• Teaching qualifications

Clinical professional experience:

• Clinical experience from small animal clinics
• General knowledge of clinical practice under Norwegian conditions
• Knowledge of the general conditions which apply to Norwegian/Scandinavian clinical veterinary medicine

Personal characteristics:

• Excellent ability to communicate and cooperate with students and colleagues
• Personal qualities that could make a positive contribution towards the working environment

The position is remunerated in accordance with the State salary scale, code 1013 for professors and code 1011 for associate professors. Salary by agreement. A statutory salary deduction is paid into the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

• Advantages within the Government Pension Fund  for loan, insurance, and pension
• Creative and collegial working environment
• A continually evolving workplace
• Flexible working hours
• An active university sports club

The successful applicant must abide by the relevant laws, agreements and instructions that apply for the position. We reserve the right to make changes to the responsibilities and area of work associated with the position that may result from future organizational development and reorganization at Nord University.

The government labour force shall reflect the diversity of the population whenever possible. Nord University therefore encourages qualified candidates with disabilities, gaps in their CVs, immigrant backgrounds or alternative educational, work and life experiences to apply. The university has a moderate gender quota policy in accordance with the local adjustment agreement which falls under the Basic Agreement for the Norwegian Civil Service.

Information about impaired functional abilities or gaps in the CV may be used for anonymised registration purposes.

Further information about the position can be obtained by contacting :

Applicants will be assessed by an expert assessment committee.

Prospective candidates will be summoned for an interview and a trial lecture.

Applications shall be submitted online by 12 December 2022.

Online applications must include:

• Covering letter
• Complete curriculum vitae Copy of diplomas and certificates
• Complete copies of a sample of up to 15 of the applicant’s most relevant publications, and a list of these. Applicants are asked to prioritise the most important five works and comment on the priority. The doctoral thesis must be enclosed as one of these works. Educational CV and reflection note in accordance with supplementary provisions for educational competence
• Documentation of other activity that is considered relevant to the position, and which is to be taken into account in the assessment Contact information of 2-3 reference persons

All documentation that should be taken into account must be uploaded as an attachment to the application. Complete electronic documentation must be submitted by the application deadline.

Following expiry of the application deadline, a public list of applicants will be prepared. Please note that information about the applicant may be published even after the applicant has expressed a desire to be omitted from the list of applicants. Applicants who nevertheless request confidential processing must justify this specifically in their application. In such cases, applicants will be notified prior to publication.

Application deadline: 12. December 2022

Ref. no. 30088701