Associate Professor in Physics with focus on Space Plasma Physics - Befattningen är under tillsättning eller redan tillsatt, och det är inte längre möjligt att lämna in en ansökan

The Department of Physics now intends to recruit an Associate Professor in Physics with a focus on space plasma physics who can build up an independent profile in the field and which well complements the research activity currently conducted in the existing space plasma physics group. The employment is full-time starting 2019-09-16 or by agreement. The deadline for applications is 2019-04-30

Main working activities
The successful candidate is expected to build up a new research activity at Umeå University. The new research activity should complement the research activity in the existing space plasma group. The candidate is expected to conduct research in space plasma physics at an internationally high level, actively seek research funding for the group, collaborate with postdoctoral fellows, and supervise doctoral students and undergraduate projects. Teaching of graduate and undergraduate courses in fundamental physics, as well as space physics and technology are included in the work tasks. The subject area comprises analysis of data from satellite-based instruments and computer simulations of the space plasma environment around solar system objects such as comets and planets.

Qualifications
We are looking for you who have a PhD in Space Physics or Plasma Physics or have equivalent scientific competence.

As a basis for the assessment, the degree of scientific competence must be considered. In addition, the degree of pedagogical competence as well as administrative and other competence of importance with regard to the subject of the employment and the work tasks included in the employment must be considered. Furthermore, the competence to develop and lead activities and staff at the university and the ability to interact with society and to inform about research and development work shall be considered.

The applicant must have a deep understanding of space plasma physics with a focus on space data analysis in solar system physics, which includes the Earth as well as other planets and comets. The subject is highly interdisciplinary and requires good knowledge of plasma simulation technology, analysis of data from satellite-based instruments, space plasma instrumentation and plasma theory. Extensive experience in developing own simulation code is a requirement; Vlasov simulation codes and Particle-in-Cell codes are of particular interest. Experience of test particle codes and other numerical modeling is also a merit. Own experience of research on comet plasma is a requirement. Of particular interest are interfaces in the plasma, such as bow shocks at comets and the boundary layer at the diamagnetic cavity as well as plasma waves at comets. In addition, experience of studies of the layers surrounding the Earth's magnetosphere, that is, the magnetopause, the bow shock, the magnetosheath and the aurora acceleration, is an advantage. Experience of studies of the space environment of other planets, such as Mars and Venus, is also considered a merit.

Concerning experience in analyzing data from space instruments of various kinds, work with instruments that measure electrical and magnetic fields as well as waves in addition to experience from ion-, electron- and neutral particle detectors is a merit.

The degree of scientific competence shall primarily be assessed on the basis of scientific work published in internationally renowned scientific journals that apply a so-called peer review system, published simulation codes and documented ability to attract external research grants in competition.

Pedagogical skills shall relate to the subject area physics, such as basic physics and plasma physics. Documented experience of teaching at undergraduate and advanced levels is a requirement. Documented approved pedagogical courses for university teachers are also meritorious.

Very good English in both writing and speech is a requirement.

Application
• personal letter including contact information
• a CV that contains academic and professional qualifications, including experience in research and teaching and full publication list
• description of scientific activities (see instructions in link below)
• description of educational activities (see instructions in link below)
• description of the development and management of operations and personnel
• description of collaboration with the surrounding society and popular science activities
• a research plan (maximum 5 pages), which describes the research that you wish to conduct within the employment
• certified copies of relevant diplomas
• copies of a maximum of ten research publications of relevance to the employment, numbered in accordance with the publication list
• contact information to two referees

You can find instructions for Umeå University's account of scientific and educational activities here:

https://www.aurora.umu.se/globalassets/dokument/enheter/teknat/for-vara-anstallda/personal-och-organisation/lektorsarenden/instructions-for-applicants-when-applying-for-a-teacher-appointment.pdf

Applications should be made via e-recruitment system Varbi and be received no later than 2019-04-30.

Information
For further information, Head of Department of Physics, Thomas Wågberg, phone 090-786 59 93, e-mail: thomas.wagberg@umu.se.

Welcome with your application!

At the Department of Physics, a strong and expanding research is conducted in several different research subjects, e.g. organic electronics, nanotechnology, photonics, space physics and theoretical physics. The department is part of KBC, the chemical-biological center at Umeå University. We have a strong focus on interdisciplinary research and excellent access to modern instrumentation and infrastructure for analysis.