General

The department of Arctic Geology is now seeking candidates for the position of Professor/Associate Professor in Arctic Solid Earth Geophysics. Currently the department constitute 5 professors, 3 associate professors, 5 post-doctoral research fellows, 7 PhD students and 8 Adjunct Professors (20% position).

UNIS is a state-owned limited company with four of Norway's universities represented on the board. UNIS is located in a modern working environment in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, and is well equipped with both technical and scientific equipment and laboratories. The institution has an infrastructure for both marine and terrestrial field, lab and experimental research. The studies at UNIS are marketed internationally and all classes are offered in English.

Description of the vacant position

UNIS ambition is to strengthen its competence in Arctic Solid Earth Geophysics in order to further develop its capacity in research and teaching of subsurface and surface Arctic geology. Research and teaching in the department involve year-round field-based activities that exploit the geographical location of Svalbard that offer an excellent opportunity for studies of bedrock, glacial-interglacial deposits, glaciers and permafrost in the High Arctic. The position has emphasis on deep- and shallow subsurface imaging of the crust with focus on acquisition and processing of acoustic/seismic datasets. Experience in modeling and inversion are considered as a particular strengths. Background in other geophysical methods, such as gravimetric, magnetic and electrical is an advantage.

UNIS' geophysical instrument pool includes Georadar, ABEM ERT, DGPS base-station, multibeam echosounder, acoustic chirp subbottom profiler and side-scan sonar and computer laboratory with modern work stations and software for data processing and visualization (Petrel, GoCad, Trap Tester, Landmark, Norsar, Caris and QPS (Qinsy and Fledermaus) software, etc.). Close collaboration with universities in mainland Norway adds academic geophysical capacity and access to instruments.

The successful candidate is expected to take an active role in the advancement of his/her field of research and contribute to the integration of department's research through collaboration with colleagues studying bedrock, unlitified sediments, glaciers and permafrost using above-named geophysical methods and instruments. Increased interdepartmental co-operation within the related research at UNIS is encouraged. Cooperation with UNIS CO2 Lab investigating Carbon Capture and Storage issues of Longyearbyen and SafeCO2 project studying the micro earthquakes during injection provide a platform for building close industry-academia links.

The teaching obligations of this position include taking responsibility for AG-335/835 "Polar Seismic Exploration", and contributing to AG-334/834 "Arctic Petroleum Provinces", AG-339/839 "Reconstruction of glacial marine sedimentary environments and processes", AG-322/822 "Fold and Thrust Belts and Foreland Basin Systems", AG-336/836: "Rift basin reservoirs: From outcrop to model". UNIS stresses the importance of field- and research based studies throughout our teaching programs at all levels. The appointed person is expected to participate in the supervision of master- and PhD students in cooperation with the other universities. For further description see: http://www.unis.no/studies.

Qualifications

Applicants for the position must be able to document their qualifications as Full or Associate Professor. To be considered for the position of Associate Professor a Ph.D. in an appropriate field, or its equivalent, is the minimum requirement. Professor qualifications must be documented as UNIS does not evaluate applicants for professorships. Applicants are also requested to document their pedagogic qualifications and experience. Administrative experience will also be evaluated. Furthermore, previous work on Svalbard and other Arctic regions is an advantage.

Evaluation committee will specifically consider the following:

• Documented research and professional work at a high level within the field concerned.
• Documented educational activities of high quality.

The candidate is also requested to document qualifications within one or more of the following areas:

• Management of research and development projects,
• Interdisciplinary cooperation and network building,
• Cooperation with industry and public sector on the development of educational and research activities,
• Competence in relevant educational theory and experience of teaching and supervision.

It is important that the person who is appointed has the ability to work independently, has a positive attitude and is flexible. A well-established international network is desirable in order to strengthen the internationalization of the teaching offered at UNIS. Personal spirit and ambitions, and an expressed will to support the development of UNIS' research and courses will be of importance for the selection of candidates to the position.

Employment conditions for faculty positions at UNIS

The vacant position is fulltime, permanent within the Arctic Geology department.

Sixty per cent of the working time of full-time faculty at UNIS is reserved for research and professional development. In addition, staff is required to be involved in teaching and administration. Approximately 30 ECTS are linked to each full-time position at UNIS. Full-time staffs have both the professional and the administrative responsibility for one or more subject that are equivalent to 15 ECTS (primary subject). In addition they have a coordinating, administrative responsibility for a further 15 ECTS (secondary subject). External guest-lecturers augment the teaching in most courses to ensure complete and high-level instruction within each field of study.

All scientific staff is responsible for planning the content of their primary subject and must make all necessary arrangements with external guest lecturers, as well as preparing for, and coordinating, the stays of guest-lecturers coming to Svalbard. All faculty members are also responsible for budget compliance and financial follow-up for their primary subject and for providing continuity of contact with the students in their primary course. They must also provide assistance in handling these tasks in secondary courses assigned to them.

The successful candidate is expected to take an active part in the advancement of his/her field of research and must also be willing to contribute to the development of UNIS in a more general sense.

UNIS will offer

• Free arrival passage for you and your family, and relocation expenses associated with initiation of the engagement.
• Annual refund of expenses for trip related to vacation for you and your family.
• Membership in the Norwegian Public Pension Fund.
• Favorable conditions for sabbatical leave.

Salary

All salaries are set in accordance with the Norwegian government's University salary scale. Full Professors are normally offered a gross salary within the scale of salary step 68 - 75 (NOK 572 400 - 655 100) in the University salary scale. Associate Professors are offered a gross salary within the scale of salary step 57 - 66 (NOK 468 100 - 552 400) in the University salary scale. In special cases a higher salary step can be considered. The salaries are depending on experience/seniority. As resident of Svalbard, an annual allowance of NOK 29 600 (Svalbardtillegg) will be added to staff salaries. A social Security contribution of 2 per cent to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund will be deducted from the salary. Income tax on Svalbard is 8 per cent, plus 7.8 per cent toward National Insurance coverage.

Selection and appointment

The field of expertise of all applicants will be evaluated in relation to the existing plans and research profiles of the department (see our web pages at www.unis.no). A committee will evaluate the qualifications of the applicants. Based on the report, the top ranked person(s) will be invited for a trial lecture and an interview. The appointment will be made by the Board of UNIS, based on the recommendation from the evaluation committee, interview committee and the UNIS appointment committee. As UNIS would like to increase the percentage of females in academic positions, women are especially invited to apply.

Application

Inquiries about this position may be directed to:
Professor Snorre Olaussen, phone: + 47 7902 3349, e-mail: Snorre.Olaussen@unis.no
Associate professor Riko Noormets phone: + 47 7902 3331, e-mail: Riko.Noormets@unis.no

Deadline for applications is 1. May 2013

Please apply online on www.unis.no/vacancies

In the end of the form, please attach:

• a full list of publications & previously held grants
• education, pedagogic or teaching certificates (including a list of previously supervised graduate and PhD students, where applicable)
• 5 publications (authored or co-authored by the candidate) that he/she wants to have evaluated for consideration for appointment to this position

The committee may ask for further documentation of the scientific work described by the applicants.

You can request to have your application kept from public access cf. the open files act § 25. The request must be explained. UNIS will determine if the application will be kept from public access or not, based on the explanation and the regulations from the open files act. If the application will not be accepted, the candidate will be contacted.