Associate Professor in New Testament Exegesis - Befattningen är under tillsättning eller redan tillsatt, och det är inte längre möjligt att lämna in en ansökan

The Department of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies belongs to Umeå University's Faculty of Arts and Humanities and has about 110 employees. The department gathers researchers, teachers, and students in the fields of Archaeology, Environmental Archaeology, Philosophy, History, History and Education, History of Science and Ideas, Religious Studies, and Theology under the same roof. We also have two national resources within the department's area of operation, the Environmental Archaeology Laboratory and the Strategic Environmental Archaeology Database (SEAD).

We are currently looking for an Associate Professor in New Testament Exegesis. The position is full-time and permanent.

Tasks

Teaching takes place on campus and on online courses. The position includes teaching and examination in the following areas: New Testament Greek: basic course, basic course elements in exegesis/Biblical studies, the master's course Gender, Sexuality, and the Bible, as well as other master's courses in New Testament exegesis, both with a linguistic and non-linguistic focus. It also involves supervising thesis work at the bachelor's and master's levels in exegesis/Biblical studies.

Teaching in English may occur. Teaching in other areas of theology and religious studies may also occur. 

During the first two years of the employment, the position includes 40% skill development and 60% teaching/administration. After the initial two years, the position includes 80% teaching/administration and 20% skill development. Skill development time is normally allocated to research and work with applications for external research grants and associate professors are expected to contribute to the development of the subject area by actively applying for external research funding. Apart from teaching, administrative tasks related to teaching as well as staff and planning meetings and meetings regarding the subject area are included in the employment.

Qualification requirements 

A person who has demonstrated teaching expertise and holds a doctorate in religious studies/theology with focus on New Testament exegesis or has attained equivalent academic competence or other professional expertise relevant with regard to the subject area and the duties included in the position, will be considered qualified for the position.

The ability to teach in Swedish (or another Scandinavian language) within two years from the start of employment is a requirement for the position. The ability to teach in English is also a requirement for the position.

Assessment criteria  

The assessment criteria include Research and educational expertise in New Testament exegesis, experience of administrative activities and development work, good ability to work with others and other qualifications considered essential for the successful completion of the job tasks.

Research expertise must have been demonstrated by independent research production. The criteria for assessing research expertise are:  

• breadth and depth of research - quality and scope
• originality of research
• productivity
• contributions to the international research community
• assignments, posts and appointments in the research community
• the ability to obtain external research funding in competition
• ability to collaborate and engage with the winder community

Teaching expertise must have been demonstrated through documented experience of teaching on a research basis within higher education. The criteria for assessing educational expertise are:  

• an ability to plan, implement and evaluate teaching and an ability to supervise and assess students at all levels of education
• an ability to vary teaching methods and examination formats in relation to intended learning outcomes  and the nature of the subject
• experience of collaboration with the  wider community in planning and implementing  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

Teaching expertise can be obtained through teacher training for higher education, other training relevant for teaching higher education and/or documented, proven experience of teaching in higher education.

Weighting the assessment criteria against each other

Particular importance will be given to research and teaching expertise. In comparing these two assessment criteria, equal importance will be given to both of them.

In the assessment of research  expertise, particular importance will be placed on research skills in the field of New Testament exegesis. Research competence in Old Testament exegesis is not required to be eligible but is considered a merit, and therefore, importance will be given to research skills in this area. 

In the assessment of research  expertise, particular importance will also be placed on peer-reviewed research publications.

The teaching focus is on courses in New Testament exegesis with instruction in the Greek language. Therefore, teaching expertise in New Testament exegesis will be given special importance. 

Teaching in the Greek language is conducted on courses with Swedish as the language of instruction, and therefore in the evaluation of teaching expertise particular importance will be placed on the ability to teach in Swedish. 

Teaching about gender, sexuality, and the Bible is included in the position, therefore importance will be given to the teaching expertise in this area. 

Experience in teaching Old Testament exegesis and the Hebrew language is not necessary to be eligible, but it is considered a merit, and therefore, importance will be given to teaching expertise in this area. 

Planning and conducting teaching and examinations are largely done in teaching teams, therefore importance will be given to good ability to work with other and other qualifications essential for the successful completion of job tasks.

Additionally, importance will be placed on the applicant's skill in administrative activities and development work.

The qualification and assessment criteria can be found in the Appointments procedure for teachers at Umeå University at Umeå University: https://www.umu.se/en/legal-framework/human-resources-equal-opportunities-and-work-environment/appointments-procedure-for-teachers-at-umea-university2/ 

Application

Applications will be submitted via Umeå University’s e-recruitment system Varbi and must be received no later than January 8th, 2024.

Information regarding the documents to be attached to the application can be found in the Guidelines for applications for employment and promotion at Umeå University’s Faculty of Arts and Humanities: : https://www.aurora.umu.se/globalassets/dokument/enheter/humfak/for-vara-anstallda/personalfragor/guidelines-for-applications_employment_promotion_faculty-of-arts-ads-published-from-190923.pdf

Please note that digital copies of publications should be attached to the application. For this position, no project plan is required.

Other Information

The position is full-time and permanent. The starting date is January 1, 2025, or by agreement. The workplace is Umeå. High presence in the environment is required to carry out teaching, participate in planning meetings, and fulfill other duties included in the position. For more information about the position, please contact Subject Coordinator Thomas Girmalm at 090-786 78 21, thomas.girmalm@umu.se, or Head of Department Jonas Nilsson at 090-786 99 90, jonas.nilsson@umu.se. 

For more information about the department, please visit: https://www.umu.se/en/department-of-historical-philosophical-and-religious-studies/ 

We welcome your application!