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Professor/Associate Professor in atmospheric and space physics

Employer
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Location
Trondheim (By) (NO)
Closing date
Sep 6, 2019

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Discipline
Atmospheric Sciences, Earth and Space Science Informatics, Space Physics
Career Level
Faculty
Education Level
PhD
Job Type
Tenure Track
Relocation Cost
No Relocation
Sector Type
Academia

At NTNU, creating knowledge for a better world is the vision that unites our 7 000 employees and 40 000 students. We are looking for dedicated employees to join us.

About the position

The Department of Physics at NTNU announces an open position as Professor/Associate Professor in physics within the field of atmospheric and space physics. The focus will be on experimental and/or modelling studies of the middle and upper atmosphere and its coupling to regions above and below. The Professor/Associate Professor will be based in the Physics Department within the Atmospheric and Environmental Physics (AEP) group, which collaborates closely with both international and Norwegian research groups.

Currently the department has an active atmospheric researchprogramme that includes optical and radio remote sensing of the atmospheric environment and, though our collaborations, whole-atmosphere modelling. On-site facilities include an advanced meteor radar system for studies of gravity-wave momentum flux near the mesopause as well as optical spectroscopy of the airglow. The AEP group makes extensive use of satellite remote sensing measurements and are members of the science teams for several NASA and European satellite projects. Through our participation in the Research Council of Norway (RCN) Birkeland Centre of Excellence in Space Science (BCSS), studies of the impact of dynamics on the ionosphere as well as the effects of space weather on the atmosphere have been undertaken. The AEP group are active users of data from the SuperDARN radar network and the EISCAT incoherent scatter radar systems. Additionally, research into the effects of middle–atmospheric dynamics on infrasound propagation are underway as a part of RCN-funded follow-on to the EU Horizon 2020 programme ARISE-2.

The Department of Physics is currently expanding from a size of 150 in 2017 aiming for a size of 250-300 employees in a few years’ time. Building a creative environment with a well-balanced research group structure and a large international and national impact. It has activity in solid-state physics/material physics, soft/complex media physics, physics of porous media, biopolymer physics, medical physics, astro-particle physics, statistical physics, optics, atmospheric physics and university didactics. The Department recruits the best physics students in Norway and offers many courses in physics for other study programs at NTNU.

The position reports to Head of Department.

Main duties and responsibilities

The successful candidate will take a leading role in developing atmospheric and space physics and setting up a strong research programme in synergy with existing experimental and theoretical activity within the department. To optimize these synergetic efforts, we are seeking a candidate whose primary competence is within atmospheric and space physics with specialization in either experimental remote-sensing or whole-atmosphere modelling.

The Professor/Associate Professor will have a specific responsibility for teaching courses within energy and environmental physics as well as atmospheric physics, but must also be able to teach general courses in physics at bachelor level. Furthermore, the applicant is expected to supervise master students, research fellows and doctoral candidates in his/her discipline and to take part in the departmental administrative work.

The candidate should contribute actively to the further development of national and international collaborations of the atmospheric physics group and the department.

The Professor/Associate Professor will be responsible, together with other academic staff, for managing and developing the department and the activities within research, teaching and outreach.

 

Qualification requirements

Candidates must hold a master’s degree and a PhD relevant for research within atmospheric and space physics. Candidates must also document strong research activities in experimental or modelling studies associated with the energetics, dynamics and chemistry of the middle atmosphere and its coupling to regions above and below.

Candidates qualifying for Professor must document research of high, international quality, showing both breadth and depth. Research activity and output must demonstrate an independent research profile and the ability to take up new research issues. Continuous research activity is a prerequisite for professorial positions.

In the evaluation, emphasis will be placed on publication of research results in recognized international journals within the subject area. The greatest emphasis is placed on academic work undertaken during the past five years, excluding statutory leave.

Pedagogical skills and qualifications will be assessed in the evaluation. Candidates must have a commitment and a vision for teaching and outreach. This includes development of teaching materials, involvement in course and study programme development and governance, as well as supervision of students at all levels. Accordingly, didactical skills, qualifications and potential will be evaluated based on documented experience in teaching, outreach, course and study programme management, supervision of doctoral and master students and related work.

The candidate must demonstrate the ability to initiate and lead research programmes, and show a clear potential for attracting externally-funded research and scholarships, both independently and in collaboration with colleagues at the department, the faculty and NTNU through national and European funding sources. Hiring levels (Associate Professor and Professor) will be based on documented scientific accomplishments, teaching qualifications and future potential.

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Other requirements:

The successful applicant will be expected to deliver high-quality teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and undertake supervision of Masters and Doctoral candidates. Evaluation of these skills will be based on documented experience and relevant teaching qualifications. Applicants with teaching experience at university level are preferred. Quality and breadth of the teaching qualifications will be evaluated. 

Those who do not have formal qualifications in teaching at university level and who cannot provide documentation of equivalent qualifications must complete an approved pedagogical development programme within two years of appointment. Uniped at NTNU offers qualifying courses. 

It is a prerequisite that within three years of appointment, new employees who do not speak a Scandinavian language can demonstrate skills in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language equivalent to level three in the course for Norwegian for speakers of other languages at the Department of Language and Literature at NTNU.

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Please see the Regulations concerning appointment and promotion to teaching and research posts for general criteria for the position. NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment - DORA.

Personal characteristics

  • Being a team-player
  • Quality oriented
  • Taking initiative
  • Motivate students and co-workers

In the assessment of the best qualified applicant, education, experience and personal suitability will be emphasized, as well as motivation for the position.

We offer 

Salary and conditions

The position as Professor/Associate Professor comes with a starting package for new research staff, opportunities for mentoring and is remunerated according to the Norwegian State salary scale. There is a 2% deduction for an obligatory premium to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund. Members of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund are offered a generous pension for life and access to favorable housing loan and insurance schemes.

The person appointed must live in a location enabling him/her to be present at and available to the institution. Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life. With a population of 200,000, Trondheim is a small city by international standards with low crime rates and little pollution. It also has easy access to a beautiful countryside with mountains and a dramatic coastline as well as good airway connections to mayor cities in northern Europe.

Norway, like other Scandinavian countries, has generous conditions regarding both maternity and paternity leave. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available.

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criterias in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU. After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

About the application

The application and description of the academic works to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English.  

The application must include: 

  • CV including list of publications with bibliographical references, and contact details for three referees 
  • Testimonials and certificates
  • The most relevant publications – published or unpublished – that has relevance to the evaluation of the applicant’s qualifications (maximum 10)
  • Research plan (maximum 10 pages), divided into:
    •  A statement of the research interests of the candidate (maximum 5 lines)
    •  A statement on long term research goals in a 10-15 year perspective, which includes a discussion on connection to previous work, outlines possible collaborations and includes a rough plan on how funding should be achieved for these activities (not more than 2 pages).
    •  A 5-year plan outlining actual research to be performed and possible funding schemes for these plans (not more than 7 pages).
  • Description of teaching qualifications based on a list of factors ("Documentation of applicant’s teaching qualifications in connection with appointment to an academic position at NTNU") 
  • Other documents which the applicant would like to present 
  • If relevant, a list of supervised projects with information on funding agency, years of duration and the funds received
  • Details of projects for which you have been project manager, with information about funding, duration and size 

Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint works, you must attach a brief description of your participation

When the application deadline has passed, a shortlisting committee will evaluate all applications. The best qualified applicants will then be considered by an external appointments panel and the most suitable applicants will be invited to interview and to deliver a lecture to undergraduate students.
 

General information

A good work environment is characterized by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, functional capacity or cultural background. NTNU wishes to increase the proportion of women in its academic positions, and women are therefore encouraged to apply. Initatives aimed at increasing the proportion of women in higher academic positions, including starting packages, mentoring programmes and qualification fellowships may be applicable for female candidates.

Under the Freedom of Information Act (offentleglova), information about the applicant may be made public even if the applicant has requested not to have their name entered on the list of applicants.

General questions about the position can be directed to the Head of Department, Prof. Erik Wahlström. Specific questions about the Atmospheric and Environmental Physics group to Prof. Patrick Espy, or Prof. Robert Hibbins.

Submit your application with your CV, diplomas and certificates via jobbnorge.no (IDsearch 172765). Applicants invited for interview must bring certified copies of certificates and diplomas. Mark the application with reference number: 78/2019.

Deadline for applications: 10.09.2019

NTNU - knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

The Faculty of Natural Sciences

The Faculty of Natural Sciences is a key player in national and international research and education programmes in natural sciences and technology. Our research focuses on global challenges in the areas of energy, climate, the environment, food, water, health and welfare. The Faculty consists of eight departments as well as the Faculty Administration.

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