Associate Professor in Materials Science and Photoelectrocatalysis

About the position

We invite applications for a full-time position as Associate Professor in the section of Electrochemistry at the Department of Chemistry.

About the Department and what they are looking for in this position

The research in the Section of Electrochemistry focuses on the materials science and fundamental understanding of electrochemical processes, and their utilization in sustainable energy conversion technologies. The section is at the forefront of solid-state ionics, particularly in the development of proton ceramic electrochemical cells, including intermediate-temperature fuel cells, electrolysers and membrane reactors. Central research themes include defect chemistry and ionic/electronic transport in materials and at interfaces, and kinetic processes at surfaces. 

This position will be part of a major effort towards development of emerging technologies. This is a joint initiative across several Faculties at the University of Oslo, and in particular related to a research theme on photo-electrocatalysis for clean production of energy carriers and chemicals.

Over the past decade, the research activities have expanded into photo- and electrocatalysis at low and ambient temperature, including CO2 conversion, artificial photosynthesis, and gas-phase (photo)electrochemical cells. These activities build on our long-standing expertise and infrastructure in high-temperature electrochemical systems.

The Section for Electrochemistry works closely with Sections for Catalysis, Inorganic Materials Chemistry, and Solid-state Physics and Quantum Technology within the Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology (SMN), which provides access to a broad range of facilities with state-of-the-art instrumentation. 

The new associate professor is expected to take active part in and further develop these collaborations, and to make strategic use of this infrastructure in pioneering research on functional materials, photo- and electrocatalysis, and technology development within sustainable energy conversion. Computational materials science has taken a central role in the section’s activities, alongside extensive use of synchrotron facilities through the Swiss-Norwegian Beamlines (SNBL) at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facilities (ESRF).

The Section for Electrochemistry currently has two permanent faculty members and plays a central role in research and education in materials science and electrochemistry, with a strong focus on sustainable energy technologies. To consolidate and further develop the section’s activities in research, supervision and teaching, we seek to employ a new associate professor who will strengthen and expand our efforts in electrochemical energy conversion and related areas, and who will contribute the section’s development both in depth and in new directions.

More information about the position

Applicants must document academic qualifications in their field, equivalent to an Associate professor position. The successful applicant must be able to teach at all levels and to supervise Master and PhD students. 

The successful applicant may furthermore be required to take on other teaching duties and administrative tasks, by request from the Department or the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences.

What skills are important in this role?

Required qualifications:

• The successful applicant must have completed a PhD in physical or inorganic chemistry or materials science and have a strong scientific track record within the area of photo/electrocatalysis.
• A strong track record and/or a clear potential for research that will lead to technology development. 
• Scientific qualifications will play a major role, and the main emphasis will be on the candidate’s scientific production from the last five years.
• Documented potential for acquisition of external funding
• Pedagogical qualifications and teaching and supervision experience at all levels will be an important factor in the evaluation process and should be well documented in a teaching portfolio. The applicant should describe her/his qualifications in view of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) framework which includes:
  • Focus on student learning
  • A clear development over time
  • A researching approach
  • A collegial attitude and practice
• The successful candidate who at the time of appointment cannot document sufficient teaching qualifications (minimum formal requirement is a 200 hours pedagogical programme) will be required to obtain such qualifications within a two-year period.
• The successful candidate must demonstrate mastery of both English and one of the Scandinavian languages as working languages, in order to be able to teach and otherwise be able to participate in all functions the position may involve. If the successful candidate does not have sufficient mastery of a Scandinavian language, equivalent to B2 level, the candidate will be required to learn sufficient Norwegian within  three years of employment.

Desired qualifications:

• Candidates should be able to establish, lead and conduct research projects, also as a collaborator. A track record in scientific and administrative leadership is an advantage.
• International network, outreach activities, collegiality, and the ability to create a good working environment will be part of the evaluation.
• The person appointed will be requested to take on some administrative duties. Hence such experience will be an advantage.

All candidates and projects will have to undergo a check versus national export, sanctions and security regulations. Candidates may be excluded based on these checks. Primary checkpoints are the Export Control regulation, the Sanctions regulation, and the national security regulation.

What are we looking for in you?

Personal skills:

• Ability to create and contribute to a well-functioning, inclusive and productive research environment
• Networking skills, ability to collaborate and conduct scientific leadership
• Ability to cooperate and communicate well with other members of staff

The successful candidate should have an international profile with respect to the above criteria. The candidate for this position will be selected based on excellence and fit with the section’s research profile.

We can offer you

• Exciting and meaningful tasks in an organization with an important societal mission, contributing to knowledge development, education, and enlightenment that promote sustainable, fair, and knowledge-based societal development.
• Committed colleagues in a good working environment. 
• Good welfare schemes.
• Opportunity of up to 1.5 hours a week of exercise during working hours.  A workplace with good development and career opportunities.
• Membership in the Statens Pensjonskasse, which is one of Norway's best pension schemes with beneficial mortgages and good insurance schemes.
• Salary in position as Associate Professor (position code 1011) in salary range NOK from 750 000 - to 880 000, depending on competence and experience. From the salary, two % is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund. 

We need different perspectives in our work

UiO is an open and internationally oriented comprehensive university that strives to be an inclusive and diverse workplace and academic environment. You can read more about UiO’s work on equality, inclusion, and diversity at 

u io.no.

We fulfill our mission most effectively when we draw upon our variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives. We are looking for great colleagues, could you be the next one?

We will do our best to accommodate your needs. Relevant adjustments may include modifications to working hours, task adaptations, digital, technical, or physical adjustments, or other practical measures.

We especially encourage women to apply.

If you have an i mmigrant background, a disability, or CV gaps (Norwegian), we encourage you to indicate this in the job application portal. We always invite at least one qualified candidate from each group for an interview. In this context, disability is defined as an applicant who identifies as having a disability that requires workplace or employment-related accommodations. For more details about the requirements, please refer to the Employer portal (Norwegian).

The selections made in the job application portal are used for anonymized statistics that all state employers include in their annual reports.

We hope that you will apply for the position.

More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here.  

How to apply

The application must include:

• Application letter
• A research position paper (1–4 pages) describing the applicant’s vision and scientific ambitions for the near future
• A detailed CV, including a complete list of education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative management, project acquisition and coordination experience, and other qualifying activities.
• Copies of educational certificates, PhD diploma, transcript of records and letters of recommendation
• A complete list of publications and academic merits and awards (if not included in the CV)
• Full text of up to 10 selected scientific publications the applicant wishes to include in the evaluation
• A document discussing the importance, interrelation, and relevance of the selected papers for this position
• Educational portfolio of 3–6 pages documenting educational competence and experience, including a reflection note in which your own teaching practice and view of learning is anchored in the SoTL framework (focus on student learning, development over time, a researching approach and a collegial attitude and practice) 
• List of reference persons: 2–3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number)

Application with attachments must be submitted via our recruitment system Jobbnorge, click "Apply for this job".

When applying for the position, we ask you to retrieve your education results from Vitnemålsportalen.no. If your education results are not available through Vitnemålsportalen, we ask you to upload copies of your transcripts or grades. Please note that all documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language.

General information

As a general rule an interview will be used in the appointment process, usually supplemented with a trial teaching session. The basis for assessment will be the scientific production of the applicant, the teaching portfolio, pedagogical and educational qualifications, the applicant’s qualifications within leadership and administration, other qualifications as well as general personal suitability for the position. In ranking the competent applicants, the full range of qualifications will be considered and explicitly assessed.

Rules for appointments to associate professorships. 
https://www.uio.no/english/about/regulations/personnel/academic/rules-appointment-professor.html

Rules for the assessment and weighting of pedagogical competence for appointments to permanent academic posts which include teaching duties:

https://www.uio.no/english/about/regulations/personnel/academic/rules-basic-pedagogical-competence.html

Guide for applicants for Professor and Associate professor positions - University of Oslo https://www.uio.no/english/about/regulations/personnel/academic/guide-applicants.html

According to the Norwegian Freedom and Information Act (Offentleglova), information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results, see: http://www.uio.no/english/for-employees/employment/work-results/