Professor in Marine Evolutionary Developmental Biology at the Department of Biology

Description of the position

 

 

With a staff of 200 and more than 600 students, the Department of Biology (BIO) is both large and broad. It currently consists of 16 research groups within developmental biology, microbiology, evolutionary biology, ecology, biodiversity, and industrial biology. BIO is also strongly involved in themes such as aquaculture, fish health, nutrition, fisheries, climate, and petroleum, and participates in 3 Norwegian Centres of Excellence at the faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. Approximately 2/3 of the permanent scientific staff work on marine issues. Education at BIO covers 3 bachelor programs, 12 master programs and 2 integrated 5-year study programs. Through common localization and joint research groups, the research at BIO is closely integrated with biological research at Bergen Museum and some of the thematic departments of UNIFOB AS. Within BIO’s area, the combined staff of BIO, Bergen Museum and UNIFOB exceeds 220. BIO’s nearest neighbours are the Department of Molecular Biology and the Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology. The whole department will within a few years be concentrated in new facilities at the Bergen High Technology Center at Marineholmen.

 

 

Scientific focus of the position

The position is primary focused on bridging the fields of evolutionary, ecological and developmental processes. The position requires molecular and cell biological approaches of biological mechanisms oriented towards the development of marine invertebrates, adaptation to their environment and their functional role in marine ecosystems.

 

Work on invertebrates that permit application of a range of current molecular and genetic approaches, including laboratory and field investigation is desirable. Broad research experience within one or more of the themes, functional genomics, regulation of gene expression, cell biology, developmental and/or evolutionary biology, is solicited. Usage of analytical methods such as molecular sequencing, advanced microscopy, immunohistochemistry, in situ screens, proteomics or developmental genetics is advantageous.

 

The scientific research at BIO is organized into research groups. The professor may join one of the existing groups or form a new group in marine evo-devo(-eco). It is also expected that the professor will establish strong collaboration with the Sars Centre and facilitate stronger cooperation between BIO and the Sars Centre.

 

 

Requirements for research competence

Applicants must have a doctoral degree or equivalent within biology, and professorial competence in marine developmental and/or evolutionary biology. It is an advantage that the candidate can refer to collaborations with reputed scientists. At the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences the ability to perform professional leadership is emphasized for permanent faculty level appointments. It is expected that the successful applicant will contribute to further development of the research group. Therefore, the candidate should possess high impact publication records. The candidate should also document his or her will and ability to perform collaborative research. Ability to attract external funding, in addition to research project leadership and ability in research supervision (MSc, PhD), will be emphasized.

 

 

Teaching requirements

The professor will teach on one or more of the department's courses, mainly related to evolutionary or developmental biology. The successful candidate is required to take part in supervision of MSc and PhD students.

 

The teaching language will normally be Norwegian. The successful applicant must be able to teach in Norwegian or one of the other Scandinavian languages within two years of his/her appointment.

 

Basic teaching training is also a requirement, but the successful applicant who does not have such competence at the time of his/her appointment will be offered training and will be required to produce evidence of such training within one year of the date of appointment. This deadline is extended to two years for the successful applicant who does not master a Scandinavian language at the time of appointment.

 

Reference is made to the University's General Regulations which state that as port of the normal duties of the position, the successful applicant may also be required to undertake teaching, supervision and work in connection with examinations in his or her particular field outside the organisational unit to which the appointment belongs.

 

The former Senate emphasised that teaching qualifications are to be given real weight in appointments to middle and top academic positions. Applicants must produce evidence of their own teaching qualifications. This can be done by submitting, for instance:

 

·         evidence of completed teaching training

·         evaluation reports of the applicant's teaching

·         overview over scope and level of teaching

·         overview over supervision of post-graduate and doctoral candidates, and results obtained

·         student awards received

·         own teaching publications

·         own teaching compendia and material

·         reports showing participation in projects related to the development of teaching, such as alternative forms of teaching, supervision or teaching environments

 

 

If there are applicants of both sexes with approximately equivalent qualifications, the female applicant pursuant to the rules on equal opportunities shall be ranked before the male.

 

 

BIO encourages the building of high quality research groups, and this will eventually entail that the professional breadth of the department will narrow. An employee in permanent scientific position can therefore be asked to take teaching beyond his or her field of research, and/or outside the profile of the research group.

 

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