Uppsala University, Department of Chemistry - BMC

A donation from Herbert and Karin Jacobsson Foundation enables this professorship, which will be placed at the Department of Chemisty-BMC.

Biochemistry has a long history at Uppsala University, with roots in the research established by the chemists The Svedberg and Arne Tiselius, both Nobel Laureates and among the internationally most prominent scientists from Sweden. Today, biochemistry is one of three research programs in the Department of Chemistry – BMC within the Faculty of Science and Technology. It embodies the main research and education in biochemistry, organic chemistry and analytical chemistry. About 100 people work at the department, of which over 30 are doctoral students and just over 10 professors.

The research program in biochemistry is focused on issues related to the design and synthesis of biological macromolecules, analysis of the structure and dynamics of proteins and complex molecular systems, how biological function emerges and is regulated by molecular interactions. Fundamental studies of enzyme catalysis and metabolic pathways is complemented by applied research based on protein engineering and innovative strategies for drug discovery. The research is based on state-of-the-art experimental and theoretical approaches, ranging from physical-chemical approaches to 3D structural modelling and bioinformatics. We host the Biophysical Screening and Characterization facility, belonging to the Drug Discovery and Development platform of SciLifeLab, part of a national infrastructure for research in life science. It connects us to the creative and research-intense SciLifeLab community, with a broad knowledge-base as well as cutting-edge expertise in the Life sciences.

The Faculty of Science and Technology at Uppsala University offers some of Sweden’s best educations in chemistry, including Bachelor and Master programs in Chemistry and a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering. They are characterized by a wide range of courses at all levels, strong research connections, extensive lab work and excellent teachers using state-of-the-art pedagogic methods.

Description of Subject Area: Biochemistry, especially experimental biochemistry and protein biochemistry.

Duties: Research and research education in biochemistry, supervision and teaching at third-cycle level and teaching at first- and second-cycle. Research in the holder’s field of specialization. Information about research and development and participation in the planning of research projects. The holder shall also keep abreast of developments within the subject area and the developments in wider community that are significant for the work at the university. Managmenet duties may be included in the position.

Qualifications Required: According to the Swedish Higher Education Ordinance the eligibility requirements for employment as Professor are research as well as teaching expertise. It is necessary that the pedagogical skills, the research expertise and the professional skills are relevant to the content of the employment and the tasks that will be included in the employment.

According to the appointment regulations of Uppsala University research expertise must have been demonstrated by independent research work and by the fact that the applicant’s activities maintain a high international and national standard. The applicant must have demonstrated expertise in planning, initiating, leading, and developing research, have demonstrated the capacity to obtain research funding in competition, and demonstrated well-documented expertise in supervising third-cycle students. The applicant’s contributions to the international and national academic community must be assessed on the basis of, among other things, the quality and scope of his/her academic publications in publishing channels most relevant to the subject. Requirements for international merits must be assessed on the basis of the character and specific circumstances of the subject.

To be eligible for appointment as Professor applicants also must have completed teacher training of relevance to operations at the University, comprising ten weeks, or have acquired the equivalent knowledge. If special circumstances apply, this training for teachers in higher education may be completed during the first year of employment. A general eligibility requirement is that the applicant must possess the personal capabilities necessary to carry out fully the duties of the appointment.

Documented ability to teach in Swedish and/or English is a requirement unless special reasons prevail. The holder is expected to be able to teach in Swedish within two years.

Application of good scientific practice and research ethics are absolute requirements.

Assessment Criteria/Ranking

Research Expertise and Teaching Expertise:

The research program in biochemistry is looking for expertise and qualities that can result in synergies with the current researchers and teachers in biochemistry. The ranking of eligible applicants will be based primarily on research and teaching expertise, with special emphasis on research expertise. However, a combined consideration of all assessment criteria will be made, so that an applicant with vastly superior teaching expertise can receive a higher ranking than one with somewhat stronger research expertise.

Research expertise comprises research merits including research merits obtained outside the academy which includes for example technology development and innovation ability. In assessing research expertise special weight will be attached to research merits in experimental biochemistry, with a focus on proteins. In assessing research expertise research quality must be the prime 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.

  • The applicant is expected to be active in a field of research with high development potential. The research should be complementary to ongoing research within the department of Chemistry – BMC, and within other departments at Uppsala University. The applicant should have clear and ambitious research plans, ability to renew current research areas and develop new fields of research. The research should be perceived as relevant for a broad scientific community and society as a whole.
  • The quality of research is expected to be at a high international level. The applicant must have an excellent publication record, a proven ability to acquire necessary external research funding and other resources for the planned research and have extensive international research experiences and an ability to collaborate broadly and internationally. The person must also have an excellent capability to lead a research group.
  • The applicant’s research strategies will be assessed in order to evaluate his/her possibility to follow the plans and reach the goals set up. Great attention will therefore be given to the applicant’s potential to develop and advance with available infrastructure and plans for interacting and collaborating with colleagues in the biochemistry program, as well as with research groups within and outside the Department of Chemistry – BMC.

As much attention shall be given to the assessment of teaching expertise as to the assessment of research expertise. Teaching expertise comprises educational and teaching qualifications. This expertise can have been achieved outside the academy through supervision, internal training, mentoring programs, etc.

In assessing teaching expertise teaching quality must be the prime consideration. The scope of teaching experience, in terms of both breadth and depth, must also be afforded consideration. Furthermore, consideration must be given to the capacity to plan, initiate, lead, and develop teaching and instruction, as well as the ability to connect research to teaching in respect to research in the subject at hand, subject didactics, as well as teaching and learning in higher education. The ability to interact concerning issues of teaching and learning in higher education with actors inside and outside the University is also included in teaching expertise. In assessing teaching expertise special weight will be attached to merits in experimental biochemistry, with a focus on proteins.

Management expertise: Management expertise is important and will be afforded consideration. Management expertise is demonstrated through the capacity to lead operations and personnel, make decisions, take responsibility, and motivate others, providing them with what is needed for the efficient achievement of common goals. The abilities to coordinate the group and help create a sense of involvement, participation, and enjoyment in work and to deal with conflicts constitute further examples of demonstrated expertise.

The ability to lead, support and enthuse peers and students, and have an interest in personal development, will be evaluated.

Also the ability to take on academic citizenship responsibilities will be given significant attention since the applicant is expected to contribute to the broad range of activities that are not directly connected with their own research or teaching activities, such as personal tutoring of students, mentoring colleagues, serving on university committees, undertaking leadership and management roles within the university, acting as a peer reviewer for an academic journal or funding body, working as an external examiner, organising a conference for a professional or academic society, editing a journal, and serving on a public committee of enquiry. Consideration will also be taken to the applicant’s ability to ensure that the working environment at the department is productive and pleasant.

Collaboration Expertise: Collaboration expertise is important and will be afforded high consideration. The applicant needs to be driven and have a good ability to collaborate with different types of people on all levels, communicate and promote his/her own research, the department and the university.

All merits must be documented in a manner that makes it possible to assess both quality and scope.

In filling this position the university aims to appoint the applicant who, following a qualitative holistic assessment of her/his competence and expertise is judged to have the best potential to carry out and develop the relevant duties and to help advance operations.

In an overall assessment of the applicant’s qualifications, parental leave, part-time work relating to care of children, union assignments, military service, or the like are to be regarded as work experience.

Salary: Individually negotiated salary.

Starting date: As soon as possible or as otherwise agreed

Type of position: Permanent full-time position.

For further information about the position please contact: Professor Helena Danielson, e-mail helena.danielson@kemi.uu.se, telephone +46 (0) 18-471 4545.

For further information, please see Uppsala University appointment regulations and Faculty appointment regulations.

Please submit your application by August 7 2020 at the latest, UFV-PA 2020/1355.

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

If you are an international candidate, you will find a lot of information about working and living in Sweden at www.uu.se/joinus.

Type of employment Permanent position
Contract type Full time
First day of employment Efter överenskommelse
Salary Fixed salary
Number of positions 1
Full-time equivalent 100%
City Uppsala
County Uppsala län
Country Sweden
Reference number UFV-PA 2020/1355
Union representative
  • Seko Universitetsklubben, seko@uadm.uu.se
  • ST/TCO, tco@fackorg.uu.se
  • Saco-rådet, saco@uadm.uu.se
Published 21.May.2020
Last application date 07.Aug.2020 11:59 PM CEST

Return to job vacancies