Duties
The employment currently enables research time of 75 percent for
five years. After this first five year period, the balance between
research, teaching and other duties may change. The employment also
includes teaching in the subject at undergraduate and advanced
level as well as teaching and supervision in postgraduate
education. Central to the employment is to initiate research
projects and apply for research funding, as well as plan and lead
research projects in collaboration with stakeholders both within
and outside the institute. The professor is expected to be involved
in and actively participate in the development of the design
subject, as well as education at all levels and organizational
activities at Umeå Institute of Design. Overall, collaboration and
communication, internally and with the surrounding society, is an
important part of the employment. The employment includes
administrative tasks connected to the areas previously described
and may include management assignments. Place of employment is
Umeå.
Eligibility requirements
A person who has demonstrated both research and educational
expertise shall be qualified for appointment as a Professor
(Chapter 4, Section 3, Higher Education Ordinance). Research
expertise refers to independent research work, the ability to plan
and lead research activities and the ability to impart information
about research to the outside world. Educational expertise refers
to documented experience of planning, implementation, examination,
and evaluation of teaching and is shown in a reflective approach to
student learning and one's own teaching role.
The applicant shall demonstrate administrative skills, very good
ability to express oneself in English, orally and in writing and
excellent abilities in communication and collaboration.
Assessment criteria and their weight
When selecting applicants for the position, scientific expertise
will primarily be taken into account. Secondly emphasis should be
on pedagogical expertise. Furthermore, administrative expertise,
good ability to communicate and collaborate, and the expertise and
suitability in general required to complete the work duties
satisfactorily will also be taken into account.
Scientific expertise
Scientific expertise shall be demonstrated through independent
scientific productivity. The criteria for assessment are:
- Breadth and depth of research -quality and extent
- Originality in research
Productivity
- Contributions to the international research community
- Commissions of trust within the research community
- Ability to competitively obtain research funding
- Documented ability to attract external funding for
research
- Collaboration with the surrounding community
- Ability to initiate, plan and lead research projects in
collaboration with several stakeholders
For this position, a research profile characterized by research
in design, where internship-based design plays a central role, will
be taken into account.
The research profile has a foundation in research through
design, and aims to inform and redirect design practice with
respect to sustainability, including but not limited to issues such
as 'more-than-human' rather than 'user-centred' design, and new
materialities beyond existing forms of production-consumption and
prevalent economic models. Areas of design research of special
interest and importance to the profile include, (ethics and
aesthetics of) new materialities, transitions, futuring,
alternative economic and development models, post-humanistic
perspectives and regenerative and re-directive design practices. A
research profile characterised by a visionary and experimental
orientation, combined with a genuine engagement with, and concern
for practice, both within design and across disciplines, is
central. A doctoral degree in an area that is relevant to the
employment is particularly meritorious.
Educational expertise
The educational expertise for employment as professor should be
demonstrated by documented experience of teaching with scientific
foundation at university level. The criteria for evaluation
are:
- an ability to plan, implement and evaluate teaching and an
ability to supervise and examine students at every level of
education
- an ability to vary teaching methods and examination formats in
relation to anticipated study results and the nature of the
subject
- experience of collaboration with the surrounding society in
planning and implementation of education
- participation in the development of learning environments,
teaching aids and study resources
- a reflective approach to student learning and one's own role as
a teacher
- documented ability to contribute to the collaborative
development of educational and research environments in design
Educational expertise can be attained through education in
university pedagogy, other education of relevance for teaching at a
university level or documented and proven experience teaching at
the university level.
Further qualifications
Administrative skills refer to the ability of developing,
organising, conducting, leading and following up projects,
activities, and staff, primarily in higher education but also in
other relevant contexts. Of merit will be an interest in and
ability to communicate design and design research also with a more
general audience, and to develop close interactions between
academia and society. Of merit will be experience of administrative
issues in relation to for example committee participation or
assessment in national or international research funding
bodies.
Further details
The place of employment is Umeå and the person offered
employment is expected to move to Umeå.
Application
The application should preferably be written in English, and
include the following items:
- A personal cover letter, including contact information
- Certified copies of relevant university degrees and
diplomas
- Copies of ten research publications relevant to the position,
numbered according to the publication list
- Attachments to a pedagogical portfolio (see p. 3.6 in Umu
Application form)
- Certificates or documents from appraisals from e.g. the Head of
Department, Director of Studies, colleagues, external assessors and
students.
- Optional: Evaluations of own scientific research from a
national research council or the equivalent over the past five
years.
- CV/Umu Application form
Fill in the
application form (link). Submit it attached to your
application in the Varbi system as your
CV. Following information must be provided in the
application form:
- basic information that includes academic and professional
qualifications
- a list of articles published
- an account of research experience
- an account of pedagogical experience and activities
- an account of experiences of developing and managing activities
and staff
- an account of experiences regarding interacting with the
surrounding society and popularizing science
- a research plan (maximum 5 pages)
- references, including contact details
See instructions for what to include in the application, as well as
how to describe scientific and educational activities (pdf)
Applications should be made via e-recruitment system Varbi and
be received no later than 2021-02-07.
Umeå University is one of Sweden's largest
institutions of higher education with over 34,000 students and
4,000 faculty and staff. We are characterised by world-leading
research in several scientific fields and a multitude of educations
ranked highly in international comparison. Umeå University is also
the site of the pioneering discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 genetic
scissors - a revolution in genetic engineering that has been
awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
At Umeå University, everything is nearby. Our cohesive campus
environment makes it easy to meet, collaborate and exchange
knowledge, which promotes a dynamic and open culture where we
rejoice in each other's successes.
