Staff vacancies

Karlstad University invites applications for

Professor in Science Education

100% , Reference POE 2009/152

Subject didactics is one of the priority areas for research, doctoral studies and teacher education at Karlstad University. This area includes SMEER (Science, Mathematics and Engineering Education Research), which is responsible for activities relating to science, mathematics and engineering education. Researchers, teachers and doctoral students are employed and members of the faculty in one of the areas of biology, physics, mathematics and chemistry. In the field of science education there are at present six doctoral students and six senior lecturers. Teacher education is one of the largest programmes at Karlstad University offering a wide range of course opportunities designed for teaching at all educational school levels.

Karlstad University is now recruiting a professor in science education with a special assignment to shoulder the responsibility for this multidisciplinary area and to cooperate with the education research groups in other fields and with researchers and doctoral students in education studies and other teacher training disciplines. The successful candidate is expected to assume a leading role in SMEER, but will be placed in one of the departments of biology, physics and electric engineering or chemistry and biomedical science, depending on her/his research interests. Karlstad University is part of the international science community and invites international applicants.

Duties: The duties of the position mainly involve research and teaching at doctoral level. We are seeking a highly qualified researcher in science education who can develop and lead activities. The successful candidate is primarily expected to do research and supervise doctoral students but also to work actively to attract external funding and partake in research networks nationally and internationally. Duties include teaching and developing courses in science education for future teachers at all educational levels. Other teaching and administration may be required. The language of instruction is Swedish or English. A non-Swedish speaking appointee as professor in science education must be able to teach and supervise in Swedish after two years of employment. Karlstad University will provide adequate training to support this goal.

Requirements: Applicants must have completed a Ph.D. in one of the following fields: science education, biology education, physics education, chemistry education or equivalent science qualifications. In addition, applicants should have demonstrated broad and deep academic qualifications in the science education field, adequate experience of postgraduate teaching, and experience of leading research projects. The applicant's academic qualifications should be relevant to primary, secondary or upper secondary education. The applicant is also required to have demonstrated pedagogical skills and to have experience of teaching science to future teachers as well as shown interest in teaching. Initially, the position requires that the language of instruction is Swedish or English. Further requirements are cooperative skills, power of initiative and a positive attitude to colleagues and students. State your documented qualifications in accordance with the categories above.

Assessment grounds: The degree of academic qualifications in the field of science education in terms of scope, originality, depth and breadth is a particularly important assessment criterion. Special consideration is given to extensive and developed experience of teaching science in teacher education. Ability to attract research funding successfully is a valued merit and so is the quality and success of research project leadership. Special consideration is also given to teaching qualifications in postgraduate science education as well as to well-developed networks in the candidates' own and adjacent fields. Research qualifications and research interests of national and international relevance are competitive criteria. Special attention is also paid to research qualifications in science education for primary and secondary education.

Karlstad University values personal qualities such as ability to cooperate and establish good relations with colleagues and students as well as resourcefulness and empathy.

Qualifications will be assessed on the basis of submitted documentation.

Karlstad University seeks to be an open, international university. Therefore it would be of special value that the new professor has a broad, international network and experiences.

Additional information: The post is permanent (i.e. non-fixed term), full-time employment with starting-date at the earliest convenience.
The application should include full documentation of academic and pedagogical qualifications and a statement of pedagogical philosophy. Work references and documentation in support of personal qualities and performance should be attached. At least two references should be named.
Karlstad University seeks to achieve gender balance and values ethnic and cultural diversity.

More information:
aimo Nergaard, Head of the Department, Biology, Kjell Magnusson, Head of Department, Physics, Jan van Stam, Head of Department, Chemistry or Monica Schagerholm, vice Dean. Union representatives: Thomas Wennstam, SACO, Barbro Berglund, OFR and Eva Hallgren.

Union represeantative for SACO and for OFR .
All persons are available at +46 54-700 10 00.

Application with Reference POE 2009/152 should be sent to
Karlstad University
Office for Human Resources
SE-651 88 KARLSTAD
SWEDEN
at the latest 2010-03-01.

The application is to consist of:

• a verified CV, preferably including the names of referees
• a detailed account of your teaching and academic (/artistic) activities
• an account of your experience from other activities, and experience in management, teamwork and administration
• your future work plans
• list of published works
• copies of certificates, references and degree certificates
• copies of the works you wish to cite, a maximum of ten academic publications, and a maximum of five works intended to disseminate expertise, e.g. text books, computer programs for teaching or articles on popular science

All documents should be submitted in three identical copies in such a way that they can be forwarded to experts for assessment without requiring further sorting. We prefer that one copy be submitted unbound to facilitate copying.

Further information regarding the rules that govern the employment of teaching staff at Karlstad University can be obtained by reading our appointment rules, which can be accessed at our website, www.kau.se/eng/vacancies/.