Tenure-track Assistant Professor in Modelling Plant Stress Responses - Befattningen är under tillsättning eller redan tillsatt, och det är inte längre möjligt att lämna in en ansökan

IceLab and Umeå Plant Science Centre

Umeå University's interdisciplinary research hub, IceLab (Integrated Science Lab, www.icelab.se), has been awarded a grant by the Swedish Research Council to establish a center of excellence: Center for modeling adaptive mechanisms in living systems under stress. At IceLab, we foster multidisciplinary collaborations – focusing on innovative research that integrates theoretical, computational, and empirical work.

Umeå Plant Science Centre, UPSC, is one of the strongest research environments in experimental plant biology in Europe. Here you will have access to state-of-the-art research infrastructure and support from more than two hundred plant researchers. Our research spans from biochemistry and molecular biology to physiology and the ecosystem level (www.upsc.se). We are looking for a person who can bridge these two strong research environments in Umeå.

We invite you to join IceLab and UPSC and be part of a stimulating and supportive community of collaborative-minded scientists working on a panel of interdisciplinary problems. We are looking for a candidate who combines quantitative and computational literacy with domain-specific literacy. We expect the successful candidate to play an important role in consolidating the Center's growth and activities, demonstrating a willingness and ability to collaborate across disciplinary boundaries.

We are now opening a Tenure-track Assistant Professor position in plant stress responses at the Department of Plant Physiology. The position presents a unique opportunity to conduct independent research. Join our supportive environment and work at the forefront of multidisciplinary science. Your research will be instrumental in improving our understanding of the processes that govern the responses of living organisms to environmental change and stress.

Duties

The position is limited to six years, with working hours consisting of 65-75% own research and 25-35% mainly pedagogical qualification. After six years, there is an opportunity for evaluation for promotion to Associate Professor.

The duties include conducting own research in the modeling of plant biology. A focus must be on how the plant reacts and adapts to stress. This part of the research will be conducted in collaboration with other researchers at IceLab and Umeå Plant Science Centre. Teaching at the undergraduate and advanced levels is included and will be coordinated with pedagogical qualification.

The position is part of a larger strategic project focused on organisms’ stress responses. Therefore, the service will be placed both at IceLab and UPSC. The employee is expected to contribute to collaborations across subject boundaries and specifically to increased exchange between IceLab and UPSC.

The position is a part of a large strategic research project focused on how organisms handle stress and changed environmental conditions. You are expected to be instrumental in the cooperation between the two different centers.

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.

The applicant should have experience of conducting plant physiological research including computational methods, with a focus on plant responses to stress or environmental changes.

Assessment criteria

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

Thereafter the degree of pedagogical expertise as well as administrative and other experience of significance with regard to the employment’s research field and the employment tasks that may be included in the position. 

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

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

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.

Other assessment criteria

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.

The criteria for evaluation of administrative expertise are:

• Participation in working groups or committees (department, faculty or university level)
• Experiences of collaboration outside the academy
• Experience of organizing research and educational activities

Assessment criteria and their weight

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. 

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.

We will offer a generous starting package, making it possible to focus on your research from day one.

Application

When you apply, we ask you to answer questions in Varbi. These questions replace a cover letter from you. The application should preferably be written in English, and include the following items:

1. CV/Umu Application form
   Fill in the required application template (word). Submit it attached to your application in the Varbi system as your CV.  The following information must be provided in the application form:
   • basic information (contact details, employment and education history)
   • an account of research experience (including a list of articles published and a brief research plan)
   • an account of pedagogical experience and activities
   • an account of experiences of developing and managing activities and staff
   • an account of experiences regarding interacting with the surrounding society and popularizing science
   • references, including contact details
2. 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. 3.5 in Umu Application form).

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 2024-11-01.

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 10 September 2024.

The Department of Plant Physiology carries out research and postgraduate education in different fields of the plant sciences including, ecology, biochemistry, physiology and development, and genomics. The department is part of the Umeå Plant Science Centre, which hosts close to 200 employees and 30 principal investigators, representing about 42 nationalities. For more information please visit https://www.umu.se/en/department-of-plant-physiology/ and http://www.upsc.se.

IceLab is Umeå University's interdisciplinary research hub (Integrated Science Lab, www.icelab.se). We foster multidisciplinary collaborations and focus on innovative research integrating theoretical, computational, and empirical work.