Tenure-track position as Assistant Professor in mathematics, science, or technology education, with a focus on higher education - Befattningen är under tillsättning eller redan tillsatt, och det är inte längre möjligt att lämna in en ansökan

The Department of Science and Mathematics Education is looking for an Assistant Professor in mathematics, science, or technology education, with a focus on higher education. The employment is limited in time to six years and consists of 75% research and 25% teaching. Last application date 2021-09-30.

Duties

The employment is limited in time to six years and consists of 75% for developing your scientific merits and 25% for developing your pedagogical merits.

The development of scientific merits includes conducting research in mathematic, science, or technology education, focusing on higher education and also to contribute to the continued development of the research environment. The research can be conducted under the guidance of senior researchers in the research environment and/or more independently. The Assistant Professor is expected to actively seek external funding for research activities.

The development of pedagogical merits may include teaching and development work at all educational levels at the university, as well as in higher education pedagogy. Supervision of doctoral students and postdocs may also be included.

This position is a "tenure-track", which makes it possible to develop and establish long-term research activities. An Assistant Professor has the right, upon request, to be considered for promotion to Associate Professor.

Eligibility requirements

According to Chapter 4, Section 4 of the Higher Education Ordinance: A person qualified for appointment as an Assistant professor is a person who has been awarded a PhD or has the corresponding research expertise. Primary consideration should be given to a person who has been awarded a PhD or achieved the equivalent expertise within five years prior to the deadline for application for employment as an Assistant professor. However, a person who has been awarded a PhD or achieved the equivalent expertise at an earlier date may also be considered if there are exceptional circumstances. Exceptional circumstances are sick leave, parental leave or other similar circumstances.

Good knowledge of English is required, both in speech and writing.

Assessment criteria and their weight

The assessment criteria for appointment as an Assistant professor shall be the degree of such expertise required as a qualification for employment.

In the selection of candidates, the degree of research expertise shall be decisive. In addition, the degree of educational expertise as well as administrative and other competences of importance shall be taken into account with regard to the subject content of the employment and the duties to be included in the employment. Moreover, the degree of skill for development and leading activities and personnel at the university as well as the ability to cooperate and interact with the surrounding society and inform about research and development work will be considered.

Scientific expertise

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

• Breadth and depth of research – quality and extent
• Originality in research
• Productivity
• Contributions to the international research community
• Commissions of trust within the research community
• Ability to competitively obtain research funding
• Collaboration with the surrounding community

Scientific expertise shall be in the fields of mathematics, science, or technology education, where research with a focus on higher education is particularly advantageous. The description of the research that is intended to be conducted within the employment, in particular with regard to how the research can contribute to the continued development of the research environment, must be given great importance in the selection among the applicants.

Pedagogical expertise

The criteria for evaluation of pedagogical expertise are:

• ability to plan, implement and evaluate teaching and an ability to supervise and examine students at every level of education
• ability to vary teaching methods and examination forms 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
• experience of planning, implementing and evaluating teaching in higher education pedagogy
• experience of teaching in Swedish or English

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.

Further details

Applicants who do not speak Swedish at the time of employment are expected to learn the language in order to be able to teach in Swedish at least during the latter part of the employment.

More information

The Department of Science and Mathematics Education currently has approximately 45 employees and the department is strong in both research and education. Research and postgraduate education are in science, technology, and mathematics education, as well as pedagogical work and there is an active seminar culture. The education is in teacher education towards mathematics, science, technology, and the core of educational science. Teacher education and educational science research is also carried out at many other departments at the university, and this is organized and supported by Umeå School of Education. The department has bright and newly renovated premises that are centrally located on campus. We who work at the department think it is important to work for a good working environment and unity.

Reed more about the department here.

Application

The application should preferably be written in English, and include the following items:

1. A personal cover letter, including contact information
2. Certified copies of relevant university degrees and diplomas
3. Copies of five research publications relevant to the position, numbered according to the publication list
4. Attachments to a pedagogical portfolio (see p. 3.6 in Umu Application form)
5. Certificates or documents from appraisals from e.g. the Head of Department, Director of Studies, colleagues, external assessors and students.

6. CV/Umu Application form

   Fill in the application form (word). Submit it attached to your application in the Varbi system as your CV.

See instructions for what to include in the application, as well as how to describe scientific and educational activities (pdf)

Applications should be made via e-recruitment system Varbi and be received no later than 2021-09-30.

Applying for promotion to Associate professor

As assistant professor, upon request, can be promoted to Associate professor if he or she meets the requirements for employment as an Associate professor and upon review is determined to meet the qualifications for such employment according to the evaluation criteria that shall be applied for promotion to Associate professor. This promotion entails a permanent position as Associate professor.

The application for promotion shall be submitted six months before the fixed-term appointment ends. If an Assistant professor after evaluation is not promoted, the fixed-term appointment ends.

Established criteria for promotion can be found in the employment profile decided by the dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology on June 23, 2021.

Umeå University is one of Sweden’s largest institutions of higher education with over 34,000 students and 4,000 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.