Associate professor in ecology

The Department of Ecology and Environment Science currently has 150 employees. The department’s main duties are undergraduate education, research and collaboration with the surrounding society. The research is conducted in the subject areas ecology, environmental sciences, and earth science. In total, the department is responsible for 300 full-time students in undergraduate education in biology, ecology, earth science, environmental science and environmental health. We are now inviting applicants for one or two positions as an Associate Professor in Ecology who has research and teaching experience in the subject area. Last day to apply is February 01, 2023.

Duties

The applicant is expected to conduct research and teach in our courses within the field of Ecology (courses with a focus on terrestrial ecology, species identification and systematics of plants, fungi, and animals, and conservation biology). The applicant is expected to conduct research related to the department’s research activities in the field of Ecology. Supervision of doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows can be included in the tasks. The teaching duties include teaching and course development work at both undergraduate and advanced level as well as supervision and examination of degree projects.

During an initial period of 3 years, the position will include 50% research and 50% teaching. After this initial period, the distribution between research and teaching may change.

The employment requires the ability to teach in Swedish. Anyone who does not have that ability at the time of employment is expected to acquire it within two years from the date of employment.

Eligibility requirements

According to Chapter 4, Section 4 of the Higher Education Ordinance, a person shall be qualified for appointment as Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor if he or she within an area has demonstrated educational expertise and holds a doctorate or has attained equivalent academic competence or other professional skills relevant with regard to the subject area of the appointment.

Excellent level of proficiency in both spoken and written English is a requirement.

Assessment criteria and their weight

The assessment criteria for appointment as an associate professor/senior lecturer shall be the degree of the expertise required as a qualification for employment. As much attention shall be given to the assessment of teaching expertise as to the assessment of scientific expertise.

In the selection of candidates, the merits will be weighted according to the following:

The degree of scientific and pedagogical skills shall, in the first place and to an equal extent, apply as basis for assessment for employment. Secondly, emphasis will be placed on administrative and other skills relevant to the duties included in the employment.

Scientific expertise

Scientific expertise shall be demonstrated through independent scientific productivity. The criteria for assessment are:

• breadth and depth of research – quality and scope
• originality of research
• productivity
• contributions to the international research community
• assignments within the research community
• the ability to competitively obtain external research funding
• collaboration with the surrounding society

The scientific expertise must relate to the subject area of Ecology.

Pedagogical expertise

The pedagogical expertise for employment as associate professor should be demonstrated by documented experience of teaching with scientific foundation at university level. The criteria for evaluation are:

• an ability to plan, implement and evaluate teaching and an ability to supervise and examine students at every level of education
• an ability to vary teaching methods and examination formats in relation to anticipated study results and the nature of the subject
• experience of collaboration with the surrounding society in planning and implementation of education
• participation in the development of learning environments, teaching aids and study resources
• a reflective approach to student learning and one’s own role as a teacher

Pedagogical expertise can be attained through education in university pedagogy, other education of relevance for teaching at a university level, or documented and proven experience teaching at the university level.

Pedagogical skills must refer to the subject area of ecology with a focus on terrestrial ecology, species identification and systematics of plants, fungi, and animals, and conservation biology. Documented experience of other teaching in biology and supervision of degree projects are meriting. Documented pedagogical education for higher education is also a merit.

Further qualifications

A general basis for assessment for all teaching categories is both good cooperative skills and the expertise and suitability in general required to complete the work duties satisfactorily.

Administrative skills should refer to the ability to develop and lead activities and staff at the university as well as the ability to create collaboration between research and education at all levels. Well-documented ability to lead, organize and develop teaching or research activities is an advantage. The applicant should have a documented ability to work, communicate and collaborate within the academy in a flexible way and collaborate with society. It is of great importance that the applicant has a good ability to cooperate, and shows initiative and a high degree of independence.

Further details

As an employee at Umeå University, you’re offered a wide variety of benefits that promote a good work-life balance; read more about benefits here: https://www.umu.se/en/work-with-us/benefits/ .

Application

Applications should be made via the e-recruitment system Varbi (https://umu.varbi.com/en/what:job/jobID:578801/type:job/where:4/apply:1 ) and be received no later than 2023-02-01. When you apply, we ask you to answer questions in Varbi. These questions replace a cover letter from you.

Find detailed information about how to apply, instructions for what to include in the application, as well as how to describe scientific or artistic and educational activities, and links to the application templates here: https://www.umu.se/en/work-with-us/open-positions/associate-professor-in-ecology_578801/ .

More information

Further information about the position can be obtained from Professor Jon Moen (head of department, 090-786 96 47, [email protected] ).

More about the employer

Umeå University is one of Sweden’s largest institutions of higher education with over 37,000 students and 4,800 faculty and staff. We are characterised by world-leading research in several scientific fields and a multitude of educations ranked highly in international comparison. Umeå University is also the site of the pioneering discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 genetic scissors – a revolution in genetic engineering that has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

At Umeå University, everything is nearby. Our cohesive campus environment makes it easy to meet, collaborate and exchange knowledge, which promotes a dynamic and open culture where we rejoice in each other’s successes.

Are you interested in knowing more about Umeå University as a workplace read more at https://www.umu.se/en/work-with-us/ .