Associate Senior Lecturer (SciLifeLab Fellow) in Antimicrobial Resistance Full-time NEW

Associate Senior Lecturer (SciLifeLab Fellow) in Antimicrobial Resistance

Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy

SciLifeLab (www.scilifelab.se) is a national centre for large-scale, data-driven and hypothesis-driven research in molecular biosciences. Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab) is run jointly by Uppsala University (UU), KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Karolinska Institutet (KI) and Stockholm University (SU). SciLifeLab brings together researchers across traditional boundaries and promotes collaboration with industry, healthcare, public research organisations and international partners. As a SciLifeLab Fellow, the successful candidate will be part of the dynamic SciLifeLab community, both locally in Uppsala and across Sweden as a whole. For information on the SciLifeLab Fellow programme, see https://www.scilifelab.se/contact/fellows/. SciLifeLab Fellows are also part of a broad national network of future academic leaders within SciLifeLab and the Wallenberg National Program for Data-Driven Life Science (DDLS), as well as the fellowship programme at the Wallenberg Centres for Molecular Medicine (WCMM), within the Program for Academic leaders in Life Science (PALS) network; see https://www.palsnetwork.se.

SciLifeLab is now seeking a promising researcher to further strengthen the research environment in Uppsala. Placement will be within a department of the Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy and will be determined at the time of appointment.

Description of the Subject Area

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as one of the most serious global health threats. As drug-resistant pathogens spread, many of the advances in modern medicine – ranging from routine surgical procedures to cancer treatment and the care of premature babies – are at risk of being undermined. The rate at which antibiotics are ceasing to work due to resistance is alarming. Given the scale of this crisis, the World Health Organization has identified AMR as one of the highest-priority health issues. Research into AMR is well aligned with SciLifeLab's areas of expertise, and a SciLifeLab Fellow in this field will further strengthen Uppsala's position as a national and international hub for antibiotic development and translational innovations. This creates significant opportunities to accelerate research efforts and deepen our understanding of resistance mechanisms. AMR research encompasses, but is not limited to, the discovery and development of new antibiotics and research, diagnostics and existing treatments. Together, this research initiative forms a basis for combating AMR, strengthening global public health and enabling the development of new antibiotics. A SciLifeLab Fellow in AMR will therefore work within a rapidly expanding field of research with great potential to influence global health developments.

Duties

Research, teaching and administration. In addition to these, the duties include supervising PhD students in their research projects and participating in first- and second-cycle education at the department. They also include monitoring developments in antimicrobial resistance and broader societal developments that are relevant to the work of the University. Administrative duties and internal and external commissions of trust may be required. The position is intended to lead to the development of an independent research profile in the field of antimicrobial resistance. The successful candidate is expected to strengthen the University's contribution to SciLifeLab (www.scilifelab.se).

Period of Appointment

Employment as an associate senior lecturer is a six-year career-development position. However, if special reasons exist, the term of employment may be renewed for no more than two years. An associate senior lecturer may apply and be considered for promotion. To be considered for promotion to senior lecturer, a written application must be received by the Disciplinary Domain Board for Medicine and Pharmacy no later than six months before the appointment as associate senior lecturer ends. If the associate senior lecturer is assessed as suitable and meets the requirements for promotion, they shall be promoted and employed as a senior lecturer under a permanent contract.

Qualifications

According to Chapter 4, §4a of the Higher Education Ordinance, a person is qualified for appointment as an associate senior lecturer if they have obtained a PhD or have attained equivalent academic competence. According to §44a of the Guidelines and Assessment Criteria for Recruiting and Promoting Teachers at the Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy (GA), primary consideration shall be given to an applicant who has obtained a PhD or has attained equivalent academic competence no more than seven years prior to the closing date for applications. Furthermore, according to §5 of the Appointment Regulations for Uppsala University (AR), a general eligibility requirement for teaching staff is that they possess the personal qualities necessary to perform the duties of the position effectively. The applicant must have a documented ability to teach in Swedish or English. Upon promotion to a higher teaching position, the applicant must demonstrate adequate skills in both Swedish and English to be able to contribute to the University's internal work. See §6 of the AR.

Assessment Criteria

When selecting from among multiple qualified applicants, research expertise will be assigned greater weight than teaching expertise. Weight will also be given to collaborative expertise, demonstrated through a proven ability to establish national and international collaborations.

When assessing research expertise, particular weight will be given to having a competitive research profile and the applicant's potential to contribute to the future development in the field of antimicrobial resistance.

Research expertise refers to research qualifications. When assessing research expertise, research quality will be the primary consideration. The scope of the research, particularly in terms of its depth and breadth, shall also be taken into account. Furthermore, consideration shall be given to the capacity to plan, initiate, lead and develop research and education at the doctoral level, 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.

Teaching expertise refers to teaching qualifications. When assessing teaching expertise, teaching quality will be the prime consideration. The scope of teaching experience, in terms of both breadth and depth, shall be afforded consideration. Furthermore, consideration shall be given to the capacity to plan, initiate, lead, and develop teaching, as well as the ability to connect research to teaching based on research in the subject at hand, subject didactics, as well as teaching and learning in higher education. Collaborative teaching capacity and the ability to interact with actors inside and outside the University in relation to issues of teaching and learning in higher education are also included in teaching expertise.

The applicant should have completed at least five weeks of training in teaching and learning in higher education relevant to the department/equivalent or have equivalent skills. If the applicant was unable to complete such a qualification prior to employment, the qualifying training in teaching and learning in higher education must be completed during the first two years of employment.

Assessment criteria, other expertise

Administrative and management expertise are also significant to the position and will be assigned weight. The ability to collaborate with the wider community and to communicate information about research and development work will be taken into account. Administrative expertise is demonstrated through, for example, the ability to plan, organise and prioritise work in an efficient and appropriate manner, as well as the ability to specify and adhere to time frames. Such expertise includes overall activity planning; the ability to manage resources in a way that reflects operational priorities; and the ability to work in a structured manner and based on an awareness of goals and quality. (§28 of the AR). See also §13 of the GA.

Management expertise is demonstrated through the ability to lead activities and staff, make decisions, take responsibility, motivate others and provide them with what they require for the effective achievement of shared goals.

Expertise may also be demonstrated through the ability to coordinate the group; to help create a sense of involvement, participation and job satisfaction; and to deal with conflicts. (§30 of the AR). See also §13 of the GA. When assessing collaborative expertise, experience with and expertise in popular science work, editing and other activities related to the exchange of knowledge between the University and the outside world, as well as experience with innovation and entrepreneurship, shall be of significance. (§14 of the GA)

In an overall assessment of the applicants' qualifications, parental leave, part-time work due to childcare, trade union responsibilities, military service or similar activities shall be treated as work experience. (§94 of the AR).

When the University appoints new teachers, it shall select the applicants who, following a qualitative overall assessment of their competence and expertise, are judged to have the best potential to perform and develop the duties concerned and to contribute to the positive development of the department/equivalent. (§4 of the AR).

The gender equality aspect shall be applied in the appointment process if, following qualitative assessment, two applicants of different genders are found to have equivalent or near-equivalent qualifications and one of the genders is under-represented (accounts for less than 40 percent within the occupational category in question and at the workplace concerned). (§95 of the AR)

All qualifications must be documented to enable assessment of both quality and scope.

Other

The position is linked to the SciLifeLab Fellow programme at Uppsala University, which provides core funding of SEK 15 million over