About the position

The Department of Biotechnology and Food Science is seeking a candidate for a position as Professor or Associate Professor in Biotechnology with special emphasis on Biopolymers. The Department has a national role and responsibility for research and teaching in biotechnology and food science and a wide range of expertise. We have a special responsibility for teaching in the disciplines of biochemistry and microbiology. The scientific activity is organized in the four main areas of Biopolymers and Biomaterials, Food Science, Microbial Biotechnology, and Analysis and Control of Microbial Systems.

The department focuses on developing integrated research groups where researchers and lecturers within related fields can establish strong research and teaching units. The Department of Biotechnology and Food Science hosts the national center for biotechnology training, research and innovation: Center for Digital Life Norway https://www.ntnu.edu/dln.

The Professor/Associate Professor will be part of the division for Biopolymers and Biopolymer materials and the successful candidate for this position will contribute to strengthening and complementing our research in the key area of physico-chemical properties of biopolymers. We focus on carbohydrate containing biopolymers and the link between chemical structure and polymer properties. Typically we work on biological (enzymatic) and chemical engineering of marine biopolymers and biomaterials. We aim to maintain a good balance between applied and basic research. Our research projects involve close interaction with numerous external collaborators in addition to other scientific divisions at our department in particular focusing on genetic engineering, industrial biotechnology and food sciences. We are proud of our well-established laboratories for NMR-, rheology-, chromatography-, calorimetry- and light scattering analyses. The quality of our research is also dependent on access to NTNU key facilities such as NTNU Nanolab. With state of the art infrastructure and our network of national and international collaborators we continuously aim to strengthen our research.

Duties of the position

• The position will have specific responsibility for teaching and research in the field of biopolymer science and biomaterials.
• The successful applicant will be expected to both deliver and develop high-quality teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels and undertake supervision of master’s and doctoral candidates. Examples of relevant courses to teach are Biopolymers, Biomaterials as well as Biochemistry and Biotechnology.  
• It is expected that the successful applicant will initiate new research programs and engage extensively in applications for external research funding, e.g. from the Research Council of Norway, European research and educational agencies, the industry sector, and other available resources.
• The position also includes administrative work related to managing teaching and research and running the department.

Required selection criteria

Professor:

The full professorship requires that you meet the criteria in the Regulations concerning appointment and promotion to teaching and research posts section 1-2. 

• your academic work must be essentially within biopolymer science or a closely related area
• can document relevant research on a high international level in biopolymers, preferentially polysaccharides, and their physico-chemical properties
• demonstrated skills in leadership, international scientific collaborations, and the ability to attract external funding, preferably from the Norwegian and/or European research funding systems

In addition to formal qualifications in teaching at university level, you must document

• development in teaching and counselling of students over time
• extensive experience with supervision preferably at the master / PhD level
• participation in the development of educational quality in a work environment

Associate Professor:

The position of Associate Professor requires that you meet the criteria in the Regulations concerning appointment and promotion to teaching and research posts section 1-4. 

• Your PhD, or academic work of the same scope and quality, must be within biopolymer science or a closely related area
• In addition, a minimum of 2 years of research experience within biopolymer science after your PhD is required
• can document relevant research on a high international level in biopolymers, preferentially polysaccharides, and their physico-chemical properties
• international scientific collaborations, and the ability to attract external funding, preferably from the Norwegian and/or European research funding systems

For both professorial levels the following applies:

You must document relevant basic competence for teaching and supervision at university/higher education-level, ref. Regulations. If this cannot be documented, you are required to complete an approved course in university teaching within two years of commencement. 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.

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

Preferred selection criteria

• For the associate professorship preferred candidates can document teaching experience from higher education
• Documented competence with one or more of the following will be appreciated: analytical chemistry, carbohydrate chemistry and rheology.
• Demonstrated strong academic competence
• Motivation for application-oriented research

Personal characteristics

• Ambitious
• Teamwork skills
• Interest in multidisciplinary activities
• Ability to initiate new projects
• Interest in pedagogical development

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 position as Professor and Associate Professor is remunerated according to the Norwegian State salary scale. 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 criteria 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.

It is a prerequisite that you can be present at and accessible to the institution daily.

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, 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 considered in the assessment
• Name and address of three referees
• Research plan (Max 5 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, 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.

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

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.

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. 

If you have any questions about the position, please contact professor Berit L. Strand or Head of department Kjetil Rasmussen.

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. Mark the application with reference number: NV 101/20.

Application deadline: 5th of January, 2021

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 Biotechnology and Food Science

Our activities contribute to increased exploitation of existing and new ingredients for sustainable food production as well as next-generation energy solutions and medical technology. We educate graduates for a wide range of careers in industry, public administration and academia. The Department of Biotechnology and Food Science is one of eight departments in the Faculty of Natural Sciences.

Deadline 5th January 2021
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Permanent
Jobbnorge ID 194132