Associate Professor in Physics with specialization in Quantum Matter Theory - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Uppsala University’s tenure track system grants associate professors the possibility to be assessed for promotion to the position as professor. The university provides support in various areas, such as scientific and educational development, leadership development as well as patent and innovation support.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy is one of Uppsala University's largest departments. The department is located in the Ångström laboratory and employs nearly 400 people, around 100 of whom are Ph.D. students. The department conducts world-class research and education in both theoretical and experimental physics and has extensive collaboration with the outside world. The research is carried out within ten research divisions and touches on everything from the incredibly small to the extremely large in, for example, energy supply, climate development, new materials, and the universe. This whole spectrum of research is also reflected in the department's courses and educational programs. Every year, around 2 500 students study courses at bachelor’s and master’s level at the department. Read more at https://www.uu.se/en/department/physics-and-astronomy.

The position as associate professor in physics with specialization in quantum matter theory will be within the Quantum Matter Theory research program hosted in the division of Materials Theory. The division of Materials Theory offers a world-class environment for materials theory and quantum matter theory research, with interests spanning from strongly correlated and topological quantum states of matter to first-principles electronic structure calculations and green energy solutions. The division contains two research programs, of which the research within the Quantum Matter Theory program focuses on condensed matter where quantum mechanical effects in a prominent way determine the physical behavior, with a unifying focus on describing quantum mechanical many-body systems and phenomena using conceptual and effective low-energy models. The overarching focus is on understanding the physics of matter on a conceptual and unified level, but research may also be performed in collaboration with activities using more quantitative techniques. See https://www.uu.se/en/department/physics-and-astronomy/research/quantum-matter-theory for more information. The research program seeks candidates at the associate professor level who will strengthen and enhance its current research activities at the international forefront.

Description of subject area of the employment
The subject area covers theoretical condensed matter physics research that strengthens, possibly in a complementary way, already existing research activities within the quantum matter theory program.

Current research interests of the program span several contemporary areas of physics. Of particular relevance for this recruitment are the large activities that exist on mechanisms and properties of unconventional superconductivity, topological phases of matter, and there are also activities on unconventional magnetism in strongly correlated matter and out-of-equilibrium phenomena. Beyond a natural connection between several of these areas, a strongly unifying focus of the research is the methodology, where developing and using conceptual and effective low-energy models for quantum mechanical many-body systems play the central role. While fruitful collaboration exists with more material-related research using first-principles electronic structure calculations (prominent within the other research program in the division), the emphasis within the quantum matter theory program is on understanding the physics of matter on a conceptual and unified level.

In summary, the program seeks candidates at the associate professor level who will strengthen its larger current research activities and/or be active in closely neighboring fields where clear collaborative connections exist, as well as strengthen its supervision and teaching activities within these fields.

Duties

• Teaching, research, and administration. Teaching duties include course responsibility, course administration, and supervision of Master students and Ph.D. students.
• Publishing research results in international well-recognized journals and presenting research results at international conferences.
• Applying for national and international research grants from external funding agencies within the subject area and/or in interdisciplinary collaborations.
• Following developments within the subject area and the development of society in general that is important for the work at the university.
• Actively work together with colleagues to ensure a healthy work environment.
• May also include administrative and managerial duties at the division and department levels.

Qualifications Required

• Ph.D. in Physics or closely related field.
• 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 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 two years of employment.
• Documented ability to teach in Swedish or English is a requirement unless special reasons prevail. Courses given at basic level are commonly given in Swedish, while courses on advanced- or PhD level can be given in English. Support can be given to new employees who need to learn Swedish.
• 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. In addition to academic merits, research merits from other activities, including technology development, may also be taken into account including research merits obtained outside academia, which includes for example technology development and innovation ability. 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 is attached to research merits within quantum matter theory, focusing on using effective low-energy models for quantum mechanical many-body systems to understand the physics of matter on a conceptual and unified level. Special weight is given to research that strengthens, directly or in a complementary way, the already existing larger research activities within the quantum matter theory program.

Current research interests of the program span several contemporary areas of physics. Of particular relevance for this recruitment are the large activities that exist on mechanisms and properties of unconventional superconductivity, topological phases of matter, and there are also activities on unconventional magnetism in strongly correlated matter and out-of-equilibrium phenomena. Beyond a natural connection between several of these areas, a strongly unifying focus of the research is the methodology, where developing and using conceptual and effective low-energy models for quantum mechanical many-body systems play the central role. While fruitful collaboration exists with more material-related research using first-principles electronic structure calculations (prominent within the other research program in the division), the emphasis within the quantum matter theory program is on understanding the physics of matter on a conceptual and unified level.

Proven independent research activities within quantum matter theory are a requirement. Ability to acquire funding for research in competition is a requirement. Research quality is documented by well-received publications in journals relevant for the subject area, acquisition of research funding, presentations at international conferences relevant for the subject area, as well as a developed network of international collaborators. Research quality and scope are considered in relation to the applicant’s academic age (active time from Ph.D. degree), with an emphasis on activities in the last 5-10 years.

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.

Teaching Expertise comprises educational and teaching qualifications. This expertise can have been achieved outside academia 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. In assessing teaching expertise, special weight will be attached to merits in teaching in physics at all university levels, including special weight also given to supervision experience of Master or Ph.D. students in physics.

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.

Administrative Expertise is important for the employment and will be afforded 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. Administrative expertise also includes entrepreneurship.

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 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

About the position
The position is permanent, probationary period may be applied. Full time position. Starting date by agreement. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact: Professor Annica Black-Schaffer, +46 76 795 06 49, annica.black-schaffer@physics.uu.se

Please submit your application by the 2nd of August 2024, UFV-PA 2024/1323.

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