Associate Senior Lecturer in Additive Manufacturing for the Life Sciences

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 54,000 students, more than 7,500 employees and a turnover of around SEK 8 billion.

The Department of Medical Cell Biology has a strong international research environment. The department has more than 110 employees, of which about 30 are doctoral students, 10 postdoctoral fellows, and 40 researchers, teachers and professors. The department has a long tradition of successful research in cell biology, physiology, immunology, pharmacology, neurobiology and tumor biology and related technology development. Advanced live-cell and in-vivo microscopy imaging, electrophysiology, animal disease and islet transplantation models, stem cell differentiation, organoid cultures, 3D-bioprinting and additive manufacturing for life science applications such as microfluidics are examples of cutting-edge methodologies available within the department.

Description of subject area of the position
New additive manufacturing technologies are changing the world, and in the life sciences this enables innovative research and development, such as the manufacturing of new types of high-quality research tools, advanced cell culture models, diagnostic systems, drug formulations, personalised implants, and, in the long term, tissues for transplantation. Additive manufacturing - including bioprinting - for life scienc applications is a rapidly expanding research field with enormous potential for adding new opportunities for basic research, drug development, diagnostics, and manufacturing of patient-specific implants. Additive manufacturing has recently emerged as an attractive technology for creation of advanced three-dimensional cell culture models for in vitro studies in the context of basic research and drug testing, and characterization of the biocompatibility of new materials and implants.

Duties
The position includes research, teaching and administration. Teaching duties include course responsibility and course administration as well as teaching and supervision, primarily of second- and third-cycle students. Post-doctoral supervision may also be included. Typical teaching topics can be additive manufacturing, bioprinting and bioengineering for life science applications. It is also expected that the holder will follow developments within the subject area and the development of the society in general that is relevant to the position. Duties may include a certain amount of budget responsibility as well as general project management. Collaboration with industry and participation in public outreach activities are expected.

Appointment Period
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 merits in bioprinting and additive manufacturing for life science applications and associated biological characterization, such as cells in bioprinted hydrogels or systems generated using additive manufacturing for the study of cells or biomolecules.

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. According to section 38 AR, the research expertise must be of good quality and promise good prospects of an academic career in the relevant subject area for the position. 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 and leadership skill are significant to the position and will be assigned weight. The ability to collaborate with the surrounding community and to inform the public about research and development will be considered.

Administrative skill 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. Skill 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. See Section 28 AR and Section 13 GA.

Leadership skill is demonstrated through the ability to lead operations and employees, make decisions, assume responsibility and motivate and provide others with the conditions necessary to attain common goals. The ability to coordinate the group and contribute to generating commitment, participation and job satisfaction and the ability to manage conflicts are further examples of demonstrated skill. See Sections 30-31 AR and Section 13 GA.

When assessing collaborative skill, experience with and skill in education and outreach, editorships and other activities related to knowledge exchange between the University and the surrounding community, as well as experience with innovation and entrepreneurship, shall be of significance. See Section 14 GA.

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

All qualifications must be documented so that both quality and degree can be assessed. 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 an appointment if it is determined following a qualitative assessment that two applicants of different gender have equal or approximately equal qualifications and if either gender is under-represented (comprises less than 40% within the relevant category of posts and in the relevant workplace). The applicant's parental leave, part-time work relating to care of children, or the like, will be regarded as qualifying work experience.

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

During the evaluation of submitted applications, international referees may be used. In this event, the University may need to send applications that are written in Swedish to a qualified translator.

Starting date: January 1, 2023 or as otherwise agreed.

For further information about the position, please contact: The Head of Department, Associate Professor Johan Kreuger johan.kreuger@mcb.uu.se.

Please submit your application by October 31, 2022 at the latest. UFV-PA 2022/1863.

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.