About the positions

Scandinavia has a strong tradition of comparative physiological research where physiological systems and adaptations have been investigated, often following Krogh’s principle and using non-model organisms. It is the ambition of the Animal Physiology section at the Department of Biology, NTNU, that this tradition of world-leading comparative animal physiology continues with the two Associate Professor positions to be filled. With several new hires, the Animal Physiology section is undergoing significant changes, which creates a unique opportunity to build a novel research environment with ambitious aims. On this occasion, we are aiming to hire two academics with strong research track records addressing any animal group, organ system, or research questions within the fields of comparative physiology, evolutionary physiology, or animal ecophysiology.

The main research goal of the Department of Biology is to understand biological processes and use that knowledge to preserve the environment. The Department takes an interdisciplinary approach to education and research that is deeply rooted in environmental biology. The cross-disciplinary strategic focus areas are climate change, biodiversity, pollution and sustainable use of natural resources. The department consists of 6 sections: multiscale biology, toxicology, animal physiology, marine biology, centre for biodiversity dynamics, and cell and molecular biology. More information about the department can be found at http://www.ntnu.edu/biology.

The positions report to the Head of Department.

Duties of the position

You will be expected to:

• Develop your own independent research program supported by external funding.
• Initiate and/or expand interdisciplinary research projects.
• Build an active research group, including supervision of MSc and PhD candidates.
• Strengthen and complement the department’s research and teaching activities in animal physiology.
• Participate in teaching activities in accordance with the relevant curriculum, and assist in developing teaching programs, including postgraduate courses. You will have responsibility for part of the teaching in introductory and advanced animal and human physiology, with the topics depending upon your interests and expertise.
• Participate in the strategic development and management of the department, the faculty and NTNU.

Essential qualifications, skills and selection criteria

For both positions it is required that you meet the criteria in the Norwegian Regulations concerning appointment and promotion to teaching and research posts section 1-4. The positions are in principle open for all research topics and animal models within the fields of animal physiology, with the exception of medical and aquaculture-related research topics.

Evaluation of competence for teaching and supervision at university/higher education level 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, ref. Regulations. Those who do not have formal qualifications in teaching at the university level and who cannot provide documentation of equivalent qualifications must complete an approved pedagogical development programme (offered by NTNU) within two years of appointment.

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.

Please see the Regulations concerning appointment and promotion to teaching and research posts for general criteria for the position.

The following essential criteria will be used for filtering and ranking candidates:

• Your PhD, or academic work of the same scope and quality, must be within animal physiology
• A minimum of two years of research experience after the PhD is required
• First author publications in journals relevant for the research field
• Potential for building a successful research group
• Teaching and supervision experience in higher education
• Potential to complement and co-operate within the existing Animal Physiology section

Desirable qualifications, skills and selection criteria

The Department focuses on developing integrated research groups where researchers within related fields can establish strong research and teaching units both within the Animal Physiology section, but also with other sections within the Department of Biology and NTNU. It is preferable that the new faculty member has a research profile that is complementary to that of the current staff (i.e. not identical but with potential for collaboration), particularly within animal physiology but also to the rest of the Department of Biology.

The following desirable criteria will also be used for ranking candidates:

• Ability for collaboration across research fields
• Ability to lead their own research program and group, supervise students, PhD fellows and postdocs
• Quantity and quality of publications, with emphasis on those as first and last author
• Ability to initiate projects and attract funding
• Research independence, including publications without PhD supervisors
• Pedagogical training and/or experience in student-centred and active learning methods

Personal characteristics

We are looking for new colleagues who:

• Enjoy leading their own research program and group, supervise students, PhD fellows and postdocs.
• Promote a fun, inclusive, and supportive work environment.
• Are ambitious and open to tackling new scientific challenges.

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
• A generous sabbatical program

The new Associate Professors will be offered a PhD position and a start-up grant. The Department of Biology has excellent animal housing facilities, suitable for performing experiments on terrestrial and limnic animals. Projects that can use these existing facilities are encouraged but not mandatory.

Salary and conditions

The Associate Professor (code 1011) position is remunerated according to the Norwegian State salary scale, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The employment will be made in accordance with the regulations 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 criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU. After the appointment has been made, NTNU reserves the right to modify the area of work. The newly hired Associate Professors will be required to take up residence in Trondheim or in the nearby vicinity.

Application Process

You can find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here.

About the application

The application and supporting documentation must be in English.

Please note that applications are only evaluated based on the information available on the application deadline.  You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above.

If, for any reason, you have taken a career break or have had an atypical career and wish to disclose this in your application, the selection committee will take this into account, recognizing that the quantity of your research may be reduced as a result.

The application must include:

• CV
• Complete publication list
• The six most relevant publications - published or unpublished - that have relevance to the evaluation of qualifications; describe your input in the projects and why the publications were important for you and for the field
• Name and contact details of three potential references
• Research plan (max 5 pages)
• A brief statement of teaching philosophy and experience (max 2 pages)
• 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 or had a major role in, with information about funding, duration and size
• Other documents which you would like to present (e.g. certified copies of relevant certificates or diplomas)

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

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment - DORA. This means that we pay special attention to the quality and professional breadth of these works. We also consider experience from research management and participation in research projects. We place great emphasis on your scientific work from the last five years.

In the assessment of the best-qualified applicant, we will emphasize education, experience and personal suitability as well as your motivation for the position.

To fairly evaluate and compare both junior and more senior researchers, recent research activity will be given more weight in the evaluation than older activities. We place great emphasis on your scientific work from the last five years. Author contributions, article quality, and article impacts will be considered while journal impact factor is less important.

Your application will be considered by an expert committee and the most suitable applicants will be invited to interview and to deliver a lecture.

General information

A good working 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.

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.

As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted.

Under the Freedom of Information Act (offentleglova), your name, age, position and municipality may be made public even if you have requested not to have your name entered on the list of applicants. 

For further information, please contact Associate Professor Fredrik Jutfelt (fredrik.jutfelt@ntnu.no), Associate Professor Clare Stawski (clare.stawski@ntnu.no), or the Head of Department Professor Thorsten Hamann (thorsten.hamann@ntnu.no) at the Department of Biology.

Please submit your application and supporting documentation via jobbnorge.no. If you are invited for interview, you must bring certified copies of certificates and diplomas. 

Application deadline: 31.12.2020

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.

Department of Biology 

We work with global challenges in natural diversity, climate, the environment, health and nutrition. Our expertise in biological processes at all levels – from molecules to ecosystems – contributes to a sustainable society. The Department educate graduates for a wide range of careers in public administration, business and academia. The Department of Biology is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Natural Sciences.

Deadline 31st December 2020
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime (2 jobs)
Duration Permanent
Place of service