Associate Professor in Biophysics for Imaging Biological Matter
Uppsala University Department of Physics and Astronomy
Sweden

Associate Professor in Biophysics for Imaging Biological Matter

Published: 2021-06-24

Uppsala University is a comprehensive research-intensive university with a strong international standing. Our ultimate goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a long-term difference in society. Our most important assets are all the individuals whose curiosity and dedication make Uppsala University one of Sweden’s most exciting workplaces. Uppsala University has over 45,000 students, more than 7,000 employees and a turnover of around SEK 7 billion.

The research program in Chemical and Bio-Molecular Physics at the Department of Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, focuses on understanding the fundamental properties and ultrafast processes of matter at the atomic length and time scales of Ångströms and femtoseconds. The program has a leading position in the use of X-ray photon science for probing atoms, molecules and chemical and biomolecular systems. Research within the program addresses fundamental questions concerning the interaction of light and matter and aims at revealing how the properties of a system result from its electronic structure and dynamics with applications in environmental, biophysical and chemical systems.  

Description of subject area of the employment: The selected candidate will work on teaching in physics including biophysics as well as in research within the field of X-ray based biophysics. The research includes experiments at X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) facilities, simulations and model developments for imaging biological matter, both on the single-particle level and for crystalline matter.

Duties:   

• Teaching, research and administration. Teaching duties include course responsibility and course administration and supervision of second- and third-cycle students. Leading role in new master programs at the faculty, specifically in the area of biophysics. 
• Follow developments within the subject area and the development of society in general that is important for the work at the university. 
• The position includes leading and administrative roles within the research program of Chemical and Bio-Molecular Physics, specifically in biomolecular physics regarding the interaction of XFEL radiation with biological matter for imaging application.
• Actively seeking external research funding.

Qualifications Required:

• PhD in physics or have the corresponding research competence or some other professional expertise.                                                                                                                   
• 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 and English is a requirement unless special reasons prevail. The holder is expected to be able to teach in Swedish within two years.
• Applicants must be qualified for management and administrative tasks at higher-education institutions.
• 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 teaching experise. 

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 X-ray based biophysics and developments of related experiments and theoretical modelling. Successful applicants must demonstrate well documented research activities at the boundary between physics and biology, including developments of physical models to describe new experimentally observed phenomena in the interaction of XFEL radiation with biological matter. Experience with experiments at XFEL facilities, in particular in incoherent diffractive imaging and in diffractive imaging, is important, and participation in networks for XFEL science at the European or international level is beneficial. Documented ability to attract external funding for research is essential.  

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. In assessing teaching expertise special weight will be attached to merits in the capacity to plan, initiate, lead, and develop teaching, 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. Documented, solid experience of pedagogic leadership, course responsibility as well as pedagogical development of courses are important. Practical experience in the development of educational programs, such as master programs, as well as experience with internationalization of courses are important skills. Teaching experience in both physics and biology is a merit, as is teaching at all levels at the university, from first year students to master and PhD students.  

Administrative Expertise is important for the employment and will be given high consideration. This includes, in particular, experience with faculty duties and in leading roles. The ability to plan, organise, and prioritise work in an efficient and task-related manner as well as the ability to assign and observe time frames will be considered. Organizing teaching and development of educational programs and courses, both on an administrative and pedagogical level, are merits.  

Management Expertise is important and will be afforded consideration. Management expertise is demonstrated through the capacity to lead operations, take responsibility, and motivate others, providing them with what is needed for the efficient achievement of common goals.  

Collaboration Expertise is important and will be afforded high consideration. Such expertise is demonstrated through capacity to establish and lead collaborations at the national and international levels. 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

For further information about the position, please contact: Prof. Philippe Wernet, phone: +46 72 9999707, e-mail: philippe.wernet@physics.uu.se.

Salary: Individually negotiated salary.

Starting date: As soon as possible or as otherwise agreed.

Type of employment: Permanent full-time position.

Scope of employment: 100 %

Please submit your application by September 15th 2021, UFV-PA 2021/2019.

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

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

Please do not send offers of recruitment or advertising services.

Submit your application through Uppsala University's recruitment system.

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