Assistant Professor in Geophysics with focus on Critical Raw Materials

Uppsala University’s tenure track system grants assistant professors the possibility to be assessed for promotion to the position as associate 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 Earth Sciences at Uppsala University is Sweden´s largest and most versatile department of its kind. We have approximately 280 employees. Our activities are interdisciplinary and combine natural science and technology with social science. We have research programs in air, water and landscape science; geophysics; natural resources and sustainable development; petrology, mineralogy and tectonics; paleobiology, and wind energy. By investigating the history of Earth, we understand how our planet has developed over time and how sustainable development benefits from this knowledge.

The Geophysics Program is currently running projects involving studies of major crustal structures of the Baltic Shield, development of novel seismic and electromagnetic instrumentation and methods for near-surface and deep mineral exploration and crustal-scale studies, urban geophysics, geological storage of CO2 and geothermal exploration. Innovative geophysical solutions are required for high-resolution imaging, modelling and characterization of the subsurface at various scales and for different purposes. To meet the climate goals, an accelerated effort is needed to help the energy transition and decarbonization of our industry. This should enter in all domains of activities including exploration for critical raw materials. The Program coordinates the recently established multidisciplinary Smart Exploration Research Centre (funded by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, SSF) in which three other major universities and several industry partners participate. The Geophysics Program runs its own ~2500-channel (cabled and 1C/3C wireless) seismic acquisition system, a state-of-the-art 200-3C seismic landstreamer system, uses modern seismics processing and imaging software and develops multidimensional electromagnetic joint inversion software. It is also well equipped with a physical property measurement lab, downhole probes equipment and distributed acoustic sensing interrogators. The program also runs the Swedish National Seismic Network (SNSN), consisting of about 70 permanent broadband stations, and has an equipment pool for passive field studies. Further information about the centre and the department can, respectively, be found at www.smartexploration.se and https://www.uu.se/institution/geovetenskaper/.

Description of subject area of the employment
The tenure-track lecturer will work within the newly established Smart Exploration Research Centre. We seek a highly motivated applicant with a strong interest in research and teaching that can complement the ongoing geophysical research in the field of hard-rock seismic applications, machine learning, new acquisition solutions, fiber-optic sensing for both deep targeting and site characterization, including mine tailings and seismicity, ground-based and drone-borne electromagnetic measurements, joint inversion and modelling solutions with physical property measurements (lab or downhole) as well as novel instrumentation for efficient exploration workflows. The tenure-track lecturer will be an integral part of the centre activities and is expected to collaborate with a larger research team, including experts from different fields, universities and industry partners. 

Duties

• Teaching, research and administration. Teaching duties include course responsibility and course administration as well as supervision of second- and third-cycle students.
  
  
• Follow developments within the subject area and the development of society in general that is important for the work at the university.
  
  
• The position will be an integral part of the centre activities and is expected to collaborate with a larger research team, including experts from different fields, universities and industry partners.
  
  
• The tenure-track lecturer is expected to build an independent portfolio at the end of the tenure time in the field of mineral exploration geophysics through research and innovation grants, high-quality peer-reviewed publications and supervision.

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 Geophysics or related geosciences or a foreign degree equivalent to a PhD degree in geophysics. 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.
  
  
• 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, of which weight will be primarily given to research expertise.

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 merits in geophysical methods and their applications in mineral exploration or related research fields, experience with field work and work flows for processing, instrumentation and programming, as well as experience in working with real and synthetic data.

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 given to merits in geophysical prospecting and related fields.

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.

Other Expertise Experience with planning and organization of field work will be given weight.

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 Olafur Gudmundsson (tel: +46 18-471-2788, email: olafur.gudmundsson@geo.uu.se) or Professor Alireza Malehmir (tel: +46 18-471-2335, email: alireza.malehmir@geo.uu.se).

About the employment
The employment is temporary, six years. Scope of employment is 100%. Starting date 2024-11-01 or as otherwise agreed. Placement: Uppsala

Please submit your application by August 5 2024, UFV-PA 2024/1930.

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.