Uppsala University, Faculty of Languages, Department of English

Description of subject area and department
English Literature includes all literatures written in English outside of North America from 1500 to the present. The department of English also contains four other sections: English Language and Linguistics, American Literature, Celtic Languages and Literature, and the Swedish Institute for North American Studies (SINAS). Research at the department is conducted within all these areas. The doctoral program in English is divided into three sections, one specializing in English Linguistics, one specializing in English Literature, and one specializing in American Literature.

Principal duties
General responsibility for research and education at the Ph.D. level in English Literature, as well as for developing the program. Carrying out own research. Teaching and supervision at all levels. Planning, leading and participating in research projects, including applying for research grants. Maintaining a good up-to-date knowledge of the range of developments in the field. Assuming managerial duties, including positions of leadership within the department and at other levels of the university administration where necessary.

Required qualifications
Applicants are eligible for employment as Professor if they have achieved the level of expertise in both research and teaching as identified in the Higher Education Ordinance (Ch. 4 Sec. 3). The research, teaching and administrative qualifications of the applicant should be relevant to the duties and nature of the advertised position. Research expertise should be demonstrated through sustained independent research and through research activities of a demonstrably high international and national quality. Furthermore, the successful applicant will have an established record in planning, initiating, leading and developing research, will have shown the ability to secure competitive research grants, and have documented experience of supervision at undergraduate, graduate, and especially Ph.D. levels.

Teaching expertise is shown through qualifications in teaching and pedagogy. In addition, applicants should be able to provide documentation demonstrating their ability to supervise at all levels. The successful applicant will also fulfill the criteria stated in Uppsala University’s employment regulations (§33) and the complementary guidelines for the Faculty of Languages (SPRÅKFAK 2013/22). The documentation of teaching expertise should demonstrate that the applicant has completed a course of at least ten weeks in higher education teaching and pedagogy (or equivalent). This training should include a component in Ph.D. supervision. Should a successful applicant lack such training, s/he will be expected to complete such training within the two first years of employment.

To be eligible for this appointment, candidates must meet the requirements for Professors and have a documented research track record in English literature.

In accordance with the university’s appointment regulations, a general requirement for teachers is that they have the personal capabilities required to carry out the duties of the position well.

While teaching and supervision will occur in English, any appointee who is not proficient in Swedish at the start of employment will be expected to acquire a good working knowledge of the language within two years.

Assessment criteria, research, leadership, and teaching qualifications
Assessment for the appointment of professors will be based on the degree of qualifications required for the appointment.

In selecting among eligible applicants, emphasis will be placed on research and teaching qualifications, as well as leadership ability. Equal care will be put into assessing all three assessment criteria. In the ranking of applicants, special weight will be accorded to research qualifications, then leadership ability, and finally teaching. However, the assessment criteria will be considered jointly so that an applicant whose leadership abilities are considered superior to those of an applicant with stronger other qualifications may be ranked above the latter.

The applicant’s portfolio of qualifications should be sufficiently detailed to allow for an evaluation of both the quality and scope of her/his qualifications.

Research qualifications
In assessing the applicant’s research qualifications, emphasis will be placed primarily on the quality of their research. The scope of the applicant’s research, in terms of both breadth and depth, will also be given due weight. The applicant’s research will be assessed based on the quality and scope of research publications in the most relevant publication channels for the field. Special weight will be accorded to publications from the last ten years.

In addition, the applicant's contribution to the international and national science community will be assessed. Such contributions might include expert assignments, editorial and peer-review work, the management of projects, and participation in scholarly societies and other formal academic networks.

Since the department aims to strengthen its research environment, high quality research in one of the following fields will be considered of particular merit:

(a) the long nineteenth century,

(b) the history of the book, or

(c) the literature of Empire and decolonisation.

Leadership qualifications
In assessing the applicant’s leadership qualifications, documented experience of leadership responsibilities within a department or at other levels of the university will be considered of merit. Leadership ability and experience are demonstrated through the applicants’ ability to head the daily operations of a department and its staff, make decisions and assume responsibility, as well as their ability to motivate and provide other members of staff with the prerequisites for reaching common goals effectively and efficiently. Further leadership qualifications can be shown through the ability to coordinate members of staff and handling conflicts, as well as contributing to an atmosphere of commitment, participation and job satisfaction. In addition, the level of administrative experience and skill required by the position will be taken into consideration.

Teaching qualifications
In assessing the applicants’ pedagogical qualifications, the primary focus will be on pedagogical quality. The range of demonstrated pedagogical skills, regarding both breadth and depth, will also be considered. In addition, the capacity to plan, initiate, lead and develop teaching and education, as well as experience in research-led teaching will be considered.

The successful applicant should normally have supervised at least one graduate student from acceptance to the Ph. D. program through to thesis defense, unless there are particular reasons to disregard this criterion. A track record of successful supervision will be taken into consideration.

Assessment criteria, additional skills
In recruiting for this position, Uppsala University will primarily consider the applicant who in the overall assessment of competence and expertise is judged to have the best potential to carry out and develop the relevant duties within the position as well as contribute to a positive development of the department.

The applicants’ ability to interact with the surrounding society and disseminate research results and development work will also be taken into consideration.

Application procedure
The Recruitment Committee may in this recruitment come to use interviews, trial-lectures and referrals. The applicant should therefore submit a list of referees with insight into the applicant’s professional skill as well as personal qualities that may be of relevance for the position, e.g. ability to cooperate, ability to lead and working methods.

Personal circumstances (such as parental leave and military service) that may benefit the applicants in the assessment of qualifications should be included in the list of qualifications and experience (Curriculum Vitae).

Uppsala University values the qualities that a diverse and gender-balanced staff brings. For that reason, we welcome applicants of all genders and with different backgrounds, abilities and life experience. 

How to apply: A complete application, preferably in English, should be submitted to Uppsala University’s on-line recruitment portal. It should comprise:

  • Letter of application
  • List of appendices
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Account of academic qualifications, including presentation of research plans
  • Account of leadership qualifications
  • Account of teaching qualifications, including account of supervision experience
  • List of publications, including information regarding peer-reviewed publications
  • Account of other qualifications
  • Academic works and any educational works being brought to bear (maximum amount: 10)
  • List of referees

Uppsala University will cover the travel expenses of applicants invited to interviews and trial lectures.

Please note that the application should be made digitally through the recruitment system Varbi! Books or other publications in a non-digital form that are referred to should be sent in triplicate to: The Faculty of Languages, Uppsala University, Box 256, 751 05 Uppsala, SWEDEN. Please mark the package with ref. no. UFV-PA 2017/4545.

For more information, please see the appointment regulations for Uppsala University and the Faculty's complementary guidelines.

Pay: Individual Salary to be negotiated

Starting Date: 2019-03-01, or to be negotiated

Type of Employment: Full time, permanent position.

Working Hours: 100%

For further information about the position, please contact, Head of Department Merja Kytö, tel.no +46 (0)18 471 1251, e-mail merja.kyto@engelska.uu.se

Please submit your application by 14 May 2018, UFV-PA 2017/4545.

Type of employment Permanent position
Contract type Full time
First day of employment 2019-03-01
Salary Fixed salary
Number of positions 1
Full-time equivalent 100%
City Uppsala
County Uppsala län
Country Sweden
Reference number UFV-PA 2017/4545
Union representative
  • Ellena Papaioannou, Seko, 018-471 3315
  • Suzanne Borén Andersson, TCO/ST, 018-471 6251
  • Per Sundman, Saco-rådet, 018-471 1485
Published 01.Jun.2018
Last application date 07.Oct.2018 11:59 PM CEST

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