Professor of Chemistry

Published: 2024-05-02

The Department of Chemistry - Ångström conducts research and education in the chemistry field. The department has more than 270 employees and has a turnover of 300 million SEK. At the department's six programs, we conduct very successful research of a high international standard. We have a large number of externally funded research projects, often with international cooperation and we see continued good growth in our subject area. The department has education assignments in engineering programs and master's programs. More information is available on our website.

One international project with outstanding significance at Uppsala University and the department is the coordination of Battery2030+. Battery2030+ is the EU commission efforts to ensure a strong and long-term European battery knowledge-base within fundamental research on a number of important aspects of the technology area that batteries constitute. The project is critical to render Europe internationally competitive in battery research and technology. It is within this context of commitment towards Battery2030+ that Uppsala University now seeks to add a new professor, which will also maintain the university´s position nationally and internationally as a leading research and educational facility in the field.     

Description of subject area of the employment:

The Department of Chemistry – Ångström Laboratory has for many years hosted an environment focused on research and development of materials and their applications within the energy storage area: the Ångström Advanced Battery Centre. The centre involves ca. 100 employees. We develop novel electrode and electrolyte materials, characterize them, evaluate and improve them with respect to battery performance, and study fundamental chemical processes and properties using both experimental and computational techniques. The research is, as such, both fundamental and applied, and encompass much collaboration with other academia and industry.

This position is strongly associated with the involvement in Battery2030+ and its coordination. The role as representative for Battery2030+ involves representing the academic research and technology area in a broader international context, against decision makers, authorities, industry and academia. This, in turn, requires in-depth knowledge of Li-ion batteries and next-generation battery chemistries, as well as of different parts of the battery value chain. The conditions for industry and academia must be understood and respected, associated with infrastructure, research finance, and educational needs. This role means to aid the European battery research to reach a globally world-leading and competitive position.  

Duties: 

• As professor you represent your subject. With the title follow responsibility for the content, development and quality of this subject in both research and undergraduate and graduate education.
• Research, teaching and administration. Supervision and teaching at third-cycle level and teaching at first- and second-cycle level. Teaching duties include course responsibility and course administration.
• Information about research and development and participation in the planning of research projects.
• Follow developments within the subject area and the development of society in general that is important for the work at the university.
• Initially the position involves leading international meetings within different parts of Battery2030+ and coordination between European research projects in the battery area. The position also involves leading a team locally at Uppsala University with project manager, communication officer and other administrative staff connected to Battery2030+.

Qualifications Required:

• Research Expertise and Teaching Expertise. It is necessary that the pedagogical skills, the research expertise and the professional skills are relevant to the content of the employment and the tasks that will be included in the employment.
• Applicants must have completed teacher training of relevance to operations at the University, comprising ten weeks, or have acquired the equivalent knowledge. If special circumstances apply, this training for teachers in higher education may be completed during the first two years of employment.
• Documented ability to teach in Swedish or English is a requirement unless special reasons prevail.
• Personal capabilities necessary to carry out fully the duties of the appointment.

Assessment Criteria/Ranking of applicants that fulfil the above-mentioned qualifications required

The ranking of eligible applicants will be based primarily on research and teaching expertise, of which weight will be primarily given to research expertise.

Research Expertise comprises research merits. In addition to academic merits, research merits from other activities, including technology development, may also be taken into account including research merits obtained outside the academy, which includes for example technology development and innovation ability. In assessing research expertise research quality must be the prime consideration. The scope of research, primarily in regard to depth and breadth, must also be afforded consideration. In assessing research expertise special weight will be attached to research merits in materials chemistry, electrochemistry and the interplay between these disciplines within battery cells. Significant research experience will be necessary regarding Li-ion batteries and/or next-generation battery chemistries (for example, Li-metal, Na-ion, solid-state batteries, Li-S, Li-oxygen, organic batteries and multivalent systems).

Furthermore, consideration must be given to the capacity to plan, initiate, lead, and develop research and education in the third cycle, the ability to acquire funding for research in competition, as well as the demonstrated capacity to interact with others both within academia and in the wider community.

Teaching Expertise comprises educational and teaching qualifications. This expertise can have been achieved outside the academy through supervision, internal training, mentoring programs, etc. In assessing teaching expertise teaching quality must be the prime consideration. The scope of teaching experience, in terms of both breadth and depth, must also be afforded consideration. When assessing teaching skills, particular attention will be paid to the ability to teach electrochemistry or materials chemistry.

Furthermore, consideration must be given to the capacity to plan, initiate, lead, and develop teaching and instruction, as well as the ability to connect research to teaching in respect to research in the subject at hand, subject didactics, as well as teaching and learning in higher education. The ability to interact concerning issues of teaching and learning in higher education with actors inside and outside the University is also included in teaching expertise.

Administrative Expertise is important for the employment and will be given very high consideration. Administrative expertise is demonstrated, for example, through the capacity to plan, organise, and prioritise work in an efficient and task-related manner as well as through the ability to assign and observe time frames. Expertise includes overall operational planning and the capacity to manage resources in a way that reflects operational priorities as well as the ability to work in a structured manner based on an awareness of goals and quality. Administrative expertise also includes entrepreneurship.

Management Expertise is important and will be afforded very high consideration. Management expertise is demonstrated through the capacity to lead operations and personnel, make decisions, take responsibility, and motivate others, providing them with what is needed for the efficient achievement of common goals. The abilities to coordinate the group and help create a sense of involvement, participation, and enjoyment in work and to deal with conflicts constitute further examples of demonstrated expertise. The ability to lead and develop national and international networks within the battery area, involving both academia and industry. 

Collaboration Expertise is important and will be afforded very high consideration. Collaborative expertise is demonstrated by the ability and skill of planning, organizing and implementing interaction with the surrounding community. Popular publications, public debate and lectures are examples of forms of interaction with the surrounding community.

Other examples of collaboration are patent applications, commercialization and industrial cooperation. The ability to translate knowledge sharing with the surrounding community into activities of importance to the

education's development and quality is part of the collaboration expertise.

All merits must be documented in a manner that makes it possible to assess both quality and scope.

In filling this position the university aims to appoint the applicant who, following a qualitative holistic assessment of her/his competence and expertise, is judged to have the best potential to carry out and develop the relevant duties and to help advance operations.

Further information

In an overall assessment of the applicant’s qualifications, parental leave, part-time work relating to care of children, union assignments, military service, or the like are to be regarded as work experience.

University appointment regulations

Faculty appointment regulations

Instructions for application

About the position
The position is permanent and full-time. Starting date by agreement. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact Professor Daniel Brandell, Daniel.Brandell@kemi.uu.se, +46-18-4713709 or head of department Tim Melander Bowden, Tim-Bowden@kemi.uu.se, +46-18-4713811.

In the event of any disagreement between the English and the Swedish versions of this announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.

Please submit your application by 3 June 2024, UFV-PA 2024/801.

If you are an international candidate, you will find a lot of information about working and living in Sweden at www.uu.se/joinus.

Uppsala University is a broad research university with a strong international position. The ultimate goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a difference in society. Our most important asset is all of our 7,600 employees and 53,000 students who, with curiosity and commitment, make Uppsala University one of Sweden’s most exciting workplaces.

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at Uppsala University
https://uu.se/om-uu/jobba-hos-oss/

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