Associate Professor of Vertebrate Biodiversity

The Department of Natural History, NTNU University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, invites applications for the following permanent position:

Associate Professor of Vertebrate Biodiversity.

To fill this position, we are seeking excellent scientists within the field of molecular biodiversity of vertebrates, with main emphasis on birds and/or mammals. The successful applicant will be responsible for curating the NTNU University Museum collections of mammals, birds, as well as amphibians and reptiles.

The NTNU University Museum is aiming to be a leading international institution within the field of molecular biodiversity.

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene, and easy access to breath-taking natural landscapes. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world.

We invite both senior and more junior candidates to apply. This means that candidates at all stages in their career post PhD will be considered in light of their achievements, given their level of seniority and time since PhD dissertation.

The position reports to Head of Department.

Main duties and responsibilities

The candidate is expected to conduct leading research within the fields of biosystematics (systematics, biogeography, phylogeography), and/or ecology (with an emphasis on conservation biology) on questions related to vertebrates, primarily mammals and birds. The candidate will be using state-of-the-art genomics and bioinformatics tools in her or his research, and the research should be primarily based on analyses of museum scientific collections.

It is expected that the successful candidate will perform much of her or his research using the NTNU University Museum collections. It is also expected that the successful candidate will contribute to public outreach on vertebrate biodiversity.

The position will have work tasks at the Department according to the guidelines that apply at all times to permanent scientific staff at NTNU University Museum, within the areas: 1) research (47% of the working time), 2) scientific collections, 3) public outreach, 4) teaching at bachelor, master and PhD level including supervision of master and PhD students, and 5) administration, including project management. The position is expected to obtain external funding from national and international funding agencies (including EU) as well as being able to manage large research projects within an international network

Qualification requirements

The position of Associate Professor requires university education at doctoral level in in the fields of systematics, evolutionary biology, ecology and/or population genomics or equivalent. 

Other requirements:

• Experience in working with mammal and/or bird collections.
• Experience in advanced genomics and bioinformatics work within the field of molecular biodiversity.
• Excellence in scientific writing.
• Very good communication skills in English and Norwegian.

It is a prerequisite that new employees who do not speak a Scandinavian language can, within three years of appointment, 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.

Emphasis will be placed on ability and experience in initiating and leading research projects. Strong emphasis will be placed on publication of research results in recognized international journals within the subject area. Particular focus is placed on academic work during the past five years, exclusive statutory leave (depending on the disciplinary tradition).

Desirable requirements:

We are seeking candidates that have several of the following types of experiences:

• Experience in curating scientific animal collections.
• Experience with project management.
• Experience in public outreach.
• Experience in teaching at university level.
• Experience with obtaining externally funded research projects.

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. 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.

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

• Good cooperative skills
• Motivated
• Creative
• Resourceful
• Able to deliver

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 

• exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment 
• an open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues 
• favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund 
• employee benefits 

Salary and conditions

The gross salary for the position of Associate professor code 1011 is normally from NOK  524 200 - 658 300 before tax per year, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2 % is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund. 

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.

The person appointed must live in a location enabling him/her to be present at and available to the institution.

About the application

The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English.

The application must include:

• CV, certificates and diplomas
• Academic works - published or unpublished - that you would like to be considered in the assessment (up to 10 works)
• A description of the academic/artistic works that you regard as most relevant and that you particularly want to be taken into account in the assessment
• Name and address of three referees
• Research plan
• Details of teaching qualifications based on "Documentation of applicant’s teaching qualifications in connection with appointment to an academic position at NTNU"
• Details of the projects you have managed, 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.

Applicants that have had parental leave will, when comparing research output and academic age (time since PhD), be given a deduction equal to the documented number of months on leave. For female applicants this deduction is by default set to 12 months per child, but can be extended if appropriate documentation is included in the application. Please include information about your parental leave in your CV/application if applicable.

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. 

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. 

Questions about the position can be directed to Head of Department Hans K. Stenøien, telephone + 47 91897592, email stenoien@ntnu.no

Submit your application with your CV, diplomas and certificates via jobbnorge.no (ID 170408). Applicants invited for interview must bring certified copies of certificates and diplomas. Mark the application with reference number: 2019/13933. 

Deadline for applications: 04.08.2019 

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NTNU University Museum  

The NTNU University Museum is one of Norway’s leading institutions in protection, conservation, exhibition and research related to natural and cultural material. We are one of Norway’s six university museums. The museum has two departments, a national laboratory for age determination, an exhibition and events section, and an administration.