Assistant Professor in Chemistry with specialization in batteries - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The Department of Chemistry - Ångström conducts research and education in the chemistry field. The department has more than 250 employees and has a turnover of 250 million SEK. At the department's six programs, we conduct very successful research of a high international standard. We have a large number of externally funded research projects, often with international cooperation and we see continued good growth in our subject area. The department has education assignments in engineering programs and master's programs. More information is available on our website.

The Department of Chemistry – Ångström Laboratory has for many years hosted a research environment focused on the development of materials and their applications within the energy storage area: the Ångström Advanced Battery Centre. We develop novel electrode and electrolyte materials, characterise them, evaluate and improve them with respect to battery performance, and study fundamental chemical processes and properties using both experimental and computational techniques. The research is, as such, both fundamental and applied.

A new master programme in Battery technology and energy storage will start autumn 2022 at Uppsala University. This current position is announced to certify teaching capabilities at this programme. We are therefore looking for candidates with exceptional capabilities to train the next generation for Swedish battery industry and related sectors, e.g. electric vehicles.

Description of subject area of the employment: The subject area for this position is research and teaching on rechargeable batteries. The field of rechargeable batteries is constituted on the borders of materials chemistry and electrochemistry, but also strongly connected to physical chemistry, analytical-chemistry methods, and broadly to relevant inorganic and organic systems applied in batteries. Batteries will be treated at component, cell and system levels. Both fundamental and applied aspects are of interest, as is experimental activities and modelling. Li-ion batteries are central within the area, but alternative battery chemistries are also important.    

Duties: 

• Teaching, research and administration. Teaching duties include course responsibility and course administration and supervision of second- and third-cycle students. The teaching will primarily have a focus within the Li-ion battery area and for other batteries with high energy density. The proportion of teaching is expected to reach up to 20-40%. Especially teaching within process chemistry of battery fabrication, battery safety and electrochemical modelling is foreseen.
• Follow developments within the subject area and the development of society in general that is important for the work at the university.
• The position may include course responsibilities and other administrative duties within teaching. Collaboration with battery industry may be included.

Appointment Period: The position can be held for a maximum of six years. An Assistant Professor can apply for promotion to Associate Professor. If the Assistant Professor is deemed suitable and fulfills the criteria for promotion established by the Faculty Board he/she shall be promoted to and employed as Associate Professor.

Qualifications Required:

• PhD in Chemistry/Chemical engineering or have the corresponding research competence or some other professional expertise. Applicants who have obtained a PhD degree or achieved the equivalent competence in five years or less prior to the end of the application period will be given priority.
• Research Expertise and 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.
• Applicants should have completed teacher training of relevance to operations at the University, comprising five weeks, or have acquired the equivalent knowledge. If special circumstances apply, this training for teachers in higher education may be completed during the first two years of employment.
• Documented ability to teach in Swedish or English is a requirement unless special reasons prevail. The holder is expected to be able to teach in Swedish within two years.
• Personal capabilities necessary to carry out fully the duties of the appointment.

Assessment Criteria/Ranking of applicants that fulfil the above-mentioned qualifications required

The ranking of eligible applicants will be based primarily on research and teaching expertise, which will be given equal weight.

Research Expertise comprises research merits as well as the applicant´s potential to contribute to the future development of both research and teaching. 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. In assessing research expertise special weight will be attached to research merits in the chemistry of rechargeable batteries, where firstly research merits regarding primarily Li-ion batteries are important, secondly solid-state batteries, and thereafter batteries not based on lithium. Research merits in electrochemistry and materials chemistry and associated analytical tools are of importance.

Teaching Expertise comprises educational and teaching qualifications. 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. In assessing teaching expertise special weight will be attached to merits in rechargeable batteries, where particular competencies in chemical engineering and technical electrochemistry are considered a merit. Teaching administration is of importance, likewise student-activating teaching methods and teaching involving collaboration with industry.

Administrative Expertise is important for the employment and will be given consideration. Administrative expertise is demonstrated, for example, through the capacity to plan, organise, and prioritise work in an efficient and task-related manner as well as through the ability to assign and observe time frames. Expertise includes overall operational planning and the capacity to manage resources in a way that reflects operational priorities as well as the ability to work in a structured manner based on an awareness of goals and quality.

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.

Collaboration Expertise is important and will be afforded high consideration. Collaborative expertise is demonstrated by the ability and skill of planning, organizing and implementing interaction with the surrounding community. Popular publications, public debate and lectures are examples of forms of interaction with the surrounding community. Other examples of collaboration are patent applications, commercialization and industrial cooperation. The ability to translate knowledge sharing with the surrounding community into activities of importance to the education's development and quality is part of the collaboration expertise.

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.

Further information: 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.

University appointment regulations

Faculty appointment regulations

Instructions for application

For further information about the position, please contact: Professor Daniel Brandell, 018-4713709, Daniel.Brandell@kemi.uu.se.

Type of position: Temporary full-time position six years.

Number of positions: 1

Town: Uppsala

Salary: Individually negotiated salary.

Starting date: As soon as possible as otherwise agreed

Scope of employment: 100%

Please submit your application by February 25 2022, UFV-PA 2021/4742.

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

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