Professor of Chemistry

Ref ORU 2.1.1-02596/2022

We are looking for a professor of Chemistry for a permanent position at the School of Science and Technology.

Subject area

The subject area for this position is Chemistry.

Background

Örebro University is a modern university offering a range of subjects and prestigious professional degree programs. The university has around 1,600 employees and 15,000 students. Specifically, the current position is placed at the MTM (Man-Technology-Environment) Research Centre at School of Science and Technology. The major ambition of MTM is to create fundamental understanding of the behavior of organic and inorganic pollutants in the environment. MTM is using state-of-the-art technology to analyze speciation, fate, behavior, and health effects of persistent organic pollutants, trace elements and new and emerging pollutants, including per- and polyfluorinated chemicals, endocrine disruptors, and plastics including plastic additives in all parts of the biosphere and technosphere. It has state-of-the-art facilities and methodologies for extraction, separation and detection of elements and organic compounds including several mass spectrometric instruments coupled to chromatographic systems (GC-HRMS, GC-OrbitrapMS, multiple GC-MS, UHPLC-QqQMS and UHPLC-QTOFMS instruments, GC-QqQMS, GC-QTOFMS, UPLC2-MS, quad ICP-MS, high res ICP-MS). Örebro university has undergraduate programs in chemistry, biology and environmental science and graduate programs in chemistry with focus on environmental forensics.

Duties and responsibilities

As a rule, a professor at Örebro University spends the bulk of their working hours on research. They are also expected to work actively to bring in external research grants to the subject, take overall responsibility for its research activities, and monitor developments within the subject field internationally. A professor is expected to be involved at all three levels of higher education and to communicate and collaborate around their own and the department’s research activities.

A professor is moreover expected, within the scope of their employment, to make themselves available for executive and administrative assignments at the university. A professor is also expected to lead and develop research and education.

The candidate should complement the expertise already present in chemistry at Örebro university. The aim of this position is to strengthen fundamental and experimental research in environmental chemistry by contributing to one or several of the following broad fields of research (1) contaminant transport, transformation and redistribution processes in the environment, (2) source apportionment (environmental forensics), (3) effects of use of secondary resources and sustainable and innovative recycling strategies, and (4) development of innovative reclamation processes for trace elements and/or organic contaminants.

Qualifications and assessment criteria

A person who has demonstrated both research and teaching expertise is qualified for employment as a professor, and when assessed, as much attention is to be given to the applicant’s teaching expertise as to their research expertise. The assessment is also to consider the applicant’s qualifications and experience from collaboration with the wider community, of which the university is a part, as well as national and international experience and mobility. In addition, the applicant’s suitability for the position and their leadership skills will be assessed. Suitability refers to the applicant demonstrating the personal qualities required to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities at hand; to be able to cooperate with other members of staff; and to contribute to the development of university operations.

Research expertise

The applicant’s research expertise is assessed based on national and international standing and recognition in the scientific community. Research expertise is demonstrated through independent research contributions that significantly exceed the requirements for appointment as a docent, in terms of both quality and quantity and number of publications and citations in accordance with the disciplinary traditions of the post applied for.

Further evidence of recognition is provided by the ability to lead and develop research as well as through supervision of doctoral students. It is desirable that an applicant has been principal supervisor to at least two doctoral students who have successfully defended their theses. Research expertise also encompasses being/having been the principal researcher of projects with grants awarded in competition and appointments to positions of trust within academia.

Teaching expertise

The completion of courses equivalent to 10 weeks of study in teaching and learning in higher education is a general qualification requirement for permanent employment as a professor at Örebro University. Örebro University may also assess whether other experience of teaching in higher education meets this assessment criterion. A professor who on appointment lacks training in teaching and learning in higher education or equivalent expertise undertakes to complete the requisite training course(s) within two years of their appointment. Appointment as a professor also requires that the applicant has completed training in supervising doctoral students.

At Örebro University, teaching expertise is assessed in the categories teaching approach, teaching approach in practice, and professional development as a teacher. Applicants’ teaching qualifications shall be documented in accordance with Örebro University’s template for teaching portfolios and clearly relate to the values set out in Örebro University’s educational philosophy.

The assessment of applicant’s teaching expertise is based on the breadth and scope of various forms of working and teaching at the bachelor’s, master’s and/or doctoral levels, including experience of individual supervision at various levels, in addition to doctoral supervision. In addition, applicants’ ability to develop, plan, implement and evaluate teaching and examination formats is assessed, as is their ability to contribute to the pedagogical development of teaching, such as preparing teaching material, learning aids and/or governance documents for teaching. The assessment of teaching expertise is further based on applicants’ experience of management and leadership responsibilities at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels that have actively promoted student learning. Applicants’ ability to link teaching to research and contribute to a scientific approach in their teaching will also be assessed.

Collaboration and public engagement skills

The ability to interact with the surrounding society is an important part of a professor’s role and it requires a good understanding of various societal processes and the impact of university activities on these. Assessment of collaboration and public engagement skills looks at three aspects: the ability to communicate, the ability to collaborate with the surrounding society, and the ability to facilitate utilisation of the university’s research. Applicants are expected to present national and international external relations and collaborations. The ability to communicate research and science is to be considered along with the ability to conduct research in collaboration with the wider community and the ability to utilise research so that it benefits society.

Leadership skills

In assessing leadership and administrative skills, the applicant’s qualifications and experience from leadership roles within education and research are to be considered, such as a proven ability to lead activities and staff, and an ability to organise and lead research projects, research teams and/or study programmes. Experience of serving in academic positions of trust, such as faculty assignments or appointments with government research funding bodies will also be considered. Assessment criteria includes also experience in academic leadership (at unit/department/university level or equivalent) as well as assignments as a member of national and international committees, working groups or assignments in other areas of relevance. Depending on the specialisation and duties of the appointment, qualifications obtained outside the higher education sector may also be considered.

Suitability

Suitability refers to the applicant having the personal qualities required to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities at hand, to cooperate with other members of staff, and to drive the development of the operations in question. Applicants are also expected to have the ability to make research-ethical considerations and to follow good research practice.

Other assessment criteria

Very good communication skills (orally, and in writing), in Swedish and English, are mandatory. If this requirement is not fulfilled for one of the languages recruitment is still possible if you work actively to acquire the necessary language skills to be able to teach in both Swedish and English within two years.

Information

This is a permanent full-time position. At Örebro University, salary depends on the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience.

For more information about the position, contact Head of School Mattias Bäckström, +46 19 30 39 65, email: mattias.backstrom@oru.se, or Head of Subject in Chemistry Tuulia Hyötyläinen, +46 19 30 34 87, email: tuulia.hyotylainen@oru.se.

At Örebro University, we expect each member of staff to be open to development and change; take responsibility for their work and performance; demonstrate a keen interest in collaboration and contribute to development; as well as show respect for others by adopting a constructive and professional approach.

Örebro University actively pursues equal opportunities and gender equality as well as a work environment characterised by openness, trust and respect. We value the qualities that diversity adds to our operations.

Application

The application is made online. Click the button “Apply” to begin the application procedure.

For the application to be complete, the following electronic documents must be included:

• Covering letter, outlining how you believe you can contribute to the continued development of Örebro University
• CV with a relevant description of your overall qualifications and experience
• Teaching portfolio (as instructed in Örebro University’s guidelines)
• Research portfolio
• Publication list
• Relevant scientific publications (maximum of 10 and in full-text format)
• Copies of relevant course/degree certificates and references verifying eligibility and criteria met

Only documents written in Swedish, English, Norwegian and Danish can be reviewed.

More information for applicants will be found at out career site: https://www.oru.se/english/working-at-orebro-university/jobs-and-vacancies/applicants-and-external-experts/

The application deadline is 2023-10-16. We look forward to receiving your application!

After the application deadline, no supplements can be made electronically. If you have scientific publications that cannot be attached electronically to the application, you will, once the external experts have been appointed, receive instructions on how the missing publications can be submitted.

We decline any contact with advertisers or recruitment agencies in the recruitment process.

As directed by the National Archives of Sweden (Riksarkivet), we are required to deposit one file copy of the application documents, excluding publications, for a period of two years after the appointment decision has gained legal force.

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