Professor in Physics Education Research - Uppsala University

https://www.physics.uu.se/aboutus/available-positions/?positionId=271492

Professor in Physics Education Research

Published: 2019-06-17 

Uppsala University is a comprehensive research-intensive university with a strong international standing. Our mission is to pursue top-quality research and education and to interact constructively with society. Our most important assets are all the individuals whose curiosity and dedication make Uppsala University one of Sweden’s most exciting workplaces. Uppsala University has 44.000 students, 7.100 employees and a turnover of SEK 7 billion.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy conducts research in a wide area of physics within nine divisions (www.physics.uu.se). The department is localized at the Ångström Laboratory and has 400 employees working in research and education at all levels and collaboration with industry and the wider society. 

Description of Subject Area: Physics Education Research (PER) at Uppsala University focuses on issues relating to the learning and teaching of university level physics, with the principal aim of producing new theoretical and practical knowledge. This involves deep knowledge of physics both as a research and an educational endeavour, as well as the discipline of educational science in terms of theoretical, philosophical and methodological underpinnings. The work of the PER programme in Uppsala has developed international prominence through their contributions to theoretical and methodological advancements in PER. Most recently these have been situated in three areas – representations as a function of social semiotics; qualitative explorations of learning challenges; and, how the processes of teaching and learning can be modeled and understood using complexity theory thinking. Current new emerging areas are exploring how to optimize the education of pre-service physics teachers, and exploring the use of information and communication technologies in physics.  

Duties: Research and research education in Physics Education Research, 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. In addition, it is expected that the holder will collaborate and support collaboration with other areas of the Department and the University, including physics teacher education, and educational development within the Department. There will also be the administration and management tasks associated with the research group. 

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. 

Assessment Criteria/Ranking

Research Expertise and Teaching Expertise: The ranking of eligible applicants will be based primarily on research and teaching expertise, with equal emphasis. A combined consideration of all assessment criteria will be made. 
Research merits in PER at the university level, with a range of theoretical underpinnings and methodological approaches, are required. Research expertise comprises research merits including merits obtained outside the academy, 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. 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. 
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 teaching in the field of PER, and experience of implementing state-of-the-art PER in physics education. 

Administrative Expertise Administrative expertise is important for the employment and will be afforded consideration. Administrative expertise also includes entrepreneurship. 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. 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. Collaboration expertise is important and will be afforded consideration. Collaboration expertise is demonstrated e.g., in application of frontline pedagogical research in physics education. 
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.
Uppsala University strives to be an inclusive workplace that promotes equal opportunities and attracts qualified candidates who can contribute to the University’s excellence and diversity. We welcome applications from all sections of the community and from people of all backgrounds.
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 Head of the Department, Professor Olof Karis, email: olof.karis@physics.uu.se, or Section Dean, Professor Jan-Erik Rubensson, email: jan-erik.rubensson@physics.uu.se.
For further information about Uppsala University appointment regulations see
Appointment regulations for Uppsala University
For further information about Faculty appointment regulations see
Faculty Appointment regulations
You are welcome to submit your application no later than September 1, 2019, UFV-PA 2019/1284. 
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.
Please do not send offers of recruitment or advertising services. Applications must be submitted as described in this advertisement.

Placement: Department of Physics and Astronomy
Type of employment: Full time , Permanent position
Pay: Fixed salary
Number of positions: 1
Working hours: 100%
Town: Uppsala
County: Uppsala län
Country: Sweden
Union representative: Seko Universitetsklubben seko@uadm.uu.se
ST/TCO tco@fackorg.uu.se
Saco-rådet saco@uadm.uu.se

Number of reference: UFV-PA 2019/1284
Last application date: 2019-09-01