Associate Senior Lecturer (DDLS Fellow) in data-driven research in epidemiology & infection biology

The Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University

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 Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology (IMBIM) at Uppsala University constitutes a broad international environment for research and education. Research at IMBIM is conducted within three collaborative and partially integrated sections: cancer, infections and immunity and genetics and genomics. A more detailed description is available at http://www.imbim.uu.se/forskningsomraden/.

General description of the DDLS Fellows programme

The SciLifeLab & Wallenberg National Program for Data-Driven Life Science (DDLS) is a 12-year initiative financed by a gift of SEK 3.1 billion from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. The mission of the programme is to recruit and train the next generation of researchers in data-driven life science and create globally leading expertise in computational and computer science for the life sciences in Sweden.

Thirty-nine outstanding young group leaders will be recruited to the programme as DDLS Fellows. More than 210 post-doctoral fellows will be hired and a graduate school will be established for 260 PhD students in academic and industry.  The programme is being coordinated by SciLifeLab, a national research infrastructure and a hub for interdisciplinary life sciences. All of the DDLS Fellows will be recruited to one of the 11 participating host universities/organisations and will thus be linked both to strong, local research environments and the national DDLS programme. The DDLS programme promotes interdisciplinary collaboration and interaction with industry, healthcare and other national and international partners, such as WASP, in order to bridge the life sciences and computer science.

The DDLS programme will focus on four strategic areas of data-driven life science research: Cell and Molecular Biology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Precision Medicine and Diagnostics and Epidemiology and Infection Biology. We are now seeking 20 young group leaders who would like to join us as our first DDLS Fellows.

Each DDLS Fellow will receive a recruitment package of SEK 17 million, which is intended to cover five years of the Fellow’s salary, two doctoral students, two post-doc positions and ongoing costs. The Fellows positions are temporary, with an opportunity for promotion at the respective host university/organisation.

The future of life sciences is data-driven. Will you be leading that change with us? Apply now!

Description of the subject area: The subject area refers to research that uses big data derived from experiments, clinical practice or pathogen monitoring in innovative ways to change our understanding of pathogens, their interactions with hosts and the environment and how they are transferred in populations. 

The prioritised area covers computational analysis or predictive modelling of pathogen-host systems where multi-dimensional experimental data are available at the genome level, as well as the use of genetic, clinical and public health data at the population level from pathogen studies and biobanks.

The position as an associate senior lecturer (DDLS Fellow) is with the section of Infection and Immunity at IMBIM, but  data-driven research in epidemiology and infection biology is expected to bridge to IMBIM’s general theme of genetic and phenotypic variation and evolution.  Based on an integrated approach, advanced cellular and molecular biological techniques will be applied, along with medically relevant modelling systems, imaging technology, genomics and bioinformatics, to perform comprehensive analyses of host-pathogen and pathogen-pathogen interactions and post-infection immunological and inflammatory sequelae. Functional and comparative “omics” will be used to analyse differences in sensitivity and transmission at the individual and population levels.

Duties: The position includes research, teaching and administration. Duties include engaging in research with a strong experimental basis that reinforces and augments ongoing research in the subject area at the department. Responsibility for developing, coordinating and delivering teaching at the first, second and third-cycle levels in your own and closely related fields of research is included. Administrative duties and internal and external representative assignments may be required. It also includes following development in the holder’s own subject and the development of society in general.

Term of employment: Employment as an associate senior lecturer is a six-year career-development position. If there is special reason, however, the term of employment may be renewed for no more than two years. An associate senior lecturer may apply and be considered for promotion. If the associate senior lecturer is assessed as suitable and meets the requirements for promotion, they shall be promoted and employed as a senior lecturer under an indefinite contract.

Qualifications: According to chapter 4, section 4a of the Higher Education Ordinance, a person who has been awarded a PhD or has the corresponding research expertise is qualified for appointment as an associate senior lecturer.  Primary consideration should be given to a person who has been awarded a PhD or achieved the equivalent expertise within five years of the deadline for application. According to section 5 of the Appointment Regulations for Uppsala University (AR), having the personal characteristics required to perform the duties of the post well is a general eligibility requirement for teachers.

The applicant must have a documented ability to teach in Swedish or English. Upon promotion to a higher teaching position, the applicant must demonstrate adequate skills in both Swedish and English to be able to contribute to the university’s internal work. See section 6, AR.

Assessment criteria: In the selection among more than one qualified applicant, research expertise will be assigned greater weight than teaching expertise. In the assessment of research expertise, particular weight will be assigned to research qualifications that illustrate the applicant’s capacity to make a strong contribution to the development of data-driven research in epidemiology and infection biology. In addition, particular weight will be assigned to research that reinforces, augments and provides the prerequisites for collaboration with other research within the department.

Research expertise refers to research qualifications. In assessing research expertise, research quality must be the primary consideration. The scope of research, primarily in regard to depth and breadth, must also be afforded consideration. 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.  See section 20 AR. See also Section 11 of Guidelines and Assessment Criteria for Recruiting and Promoting Teachers at the Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy (GA).

Teaching expertise refers to teaching qualifications. In assessing teaching expertise, teaching quality must be the prime consideration. The scope of teaching experience, in terms of both breadth and depth, shall be afforded consideration. Furthermore, consideration must be given to the capacity to plan, initiate, lead, and develop teaching, as well as the ability to connect research to teaching based on research in the subject at hand, subject didactics, as well as teaching and learning in higher education. Collaborative teaching capacity and the ability to interact with actors inside and outside the University in relation to issues of teaching and learning in higher education is also included in teaching expertise. See section 22 AR.  See also chapter 12 GA.

The applicant should have completed at least five weeks training in teaching and learning in higher education relevant to the programme, or have equivalent skills. If the applicant was unable to complete such a qualification prior to employment, the qualifying training in teaching and learning in higher education must be completed during the first two years of employment. See section 39 AR.

Assessment criteria, other expertise: Administrative expertise is demonstrated through, for example, the capacity to plan, organise and prioritise work in a suitable and effective manner, as well as the ability to specify and adhere to time frames. This form of expertise includes overall work planning; ability to manage resources in a way that reflects operational priorities; and ability to work in a structured manner and on the basis of an awareness of goals and quality. See also chapter 28 AR. See also chapter 13 GA.

According to section 41 AR, particular weight should be assigned in connection with the employment of an associate senior lecturer to the applicant’s capacity to contribute to the future development of both research and education.

When the University appoints new teachers those applicants will be selected who, following a qualitative holistic assessment of their competence and expertise, are judged to have the best potential to carry out and develop the relevant duties and to help advance operations. See section 4 AR.

All qualifications must be documented to permit assessment of both quality and scope. Personal circumstances (such as parental leave) that may be in the applicant’s favour in the evaluation of qualifications should be stated in the list of qualifications and experience.

The gender equality aspect must be applied in connection with employment if it proves, after qualitative assessment, that two applicants of different genders have equivalent or near-equivalent qualifications and one of the genders is under-represented (accounts for less than 40 percent within the relevant position category and at the relevant workplace). The applicant’s parental leave, part-time work due to care of children or the like will be taken into account as qualifying work experience.

Read More and Apply

Salary: Salary will be set individually.

Starting date: Immediately or as otherwise agreed.

Form of employment: Full time position, temporary, maximum of six years.

Scope of the position: 100 %.

For further information about the position please contact: Dean Karin Forsberg Nilsson, karin.nilsson@igp.uu.se, 018-471 4158, or Head of Department, Professor Catharina Svensson, catharina.svensson@imbim.uu.se: 070-425 03 85.

We welcome your application which should be written in English, no later than 6 September 2021, UFV-PA 2021/2376.

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

Are you considering moving to Sweden to work at Uppsala University? If so, you will find a lot of information about working and living in Sweden at www.uu.se/joinus. You are also welcome to contact International Faculty and Staff Services at ifss@uadm.uu.se.

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

Please do not send offers of recruitment or advertising services.

Submit your application through Uppsala University’s recruitment system.

• Placement: Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology
• Type of employment: Full time , Temporary position longer than 6 months
• Pay: Individual
• Number of positions: 1
• Working hours: 100 %
• Town: Uppsala
• County: Uppsala län
• Country: Sweden
• Union representative:
  • Saco-rådet saco@uadm.uu.se
  • ST/TCO tco@fackorg.uu.se
  • Seko Universitetsklubben seko@uadm.uu.se
• Number of reference: UFV-PA 2021/2376