at the  Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Umeå

Subject area: The faculty is seeking a Professor of Forest Tree Physiology and Genomics for a position in the Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology in Umeå. Together with the Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå University, the department forms the Umeå Plant Science Centre (UPSC) , one of Europe’s strongest research centres in experimental plant research. UPSC has about 190 staff members, including more than 30 group leaders. The research in UPSC is focused on diverse aspects of plant science, ranging from ecophysiology to cell biology, plant molecular biology and forest genetics. It is equipped with state-of-the-art technology platforms for functional genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, microscopy and facilities for tree transformation and transgenic plant growth. Several major research projects are ongoing, for example, BioImprove, Bio4Energy, Trees and Crops for the Future and the Berzelii Centre for Forest Biotechnology programme. 

The Professor of Forest Tree Physiology and Genomics will be responsible for development in the subject area of the Faculty’s research, education and environmental analysis.

Duties: 
• Promote a strong research environment within UPSC
• Take responsibility, in particular, for developing spruce as a model system for physiological, cellular and molecular biology, and genomic studies, including the use of information from the recently completed survey of the spruce genome www.congenie.org
• Teach at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and supervise PhD students
• Disseminate knowledge of research activities and results
• Apply actively for external financing for research

Qualifications:
A person who has demonstrated both academic and teaching skills shall be qualified for appointment as a professor. As much attention shall be given to the assessment of teaching skills as to the assessment of academic skills.
The applicant must have a PhD in a biological subject and have proven scientific research experience in plant physiology and molecular biology.

Assessment criteria:
Assessment for the appointment shall be based on the degree in which a candidate possesses the skill required to qualify for appointment. Furthermore, regard shall be paid to the degree in which a candidate possesses administrative and other skills of importance, taking into account the subject matter determined by the institution of higher education for the position and the duties that the position will involve. Moreover, regard shall be paid to the degree in which a candidate possesses skills in developing and managing activities and staff at the higher education institution and aptitude in interacting with the surrounding community and informing people about research and development projects.
Furthermore, regard shall be paid to the candidate’s ability to attract external funding for research projects within the professorship subject. Experience of research directed towards trees, especially conifers, and plant genomics is especially desirable.
The scientific and pedagogic documentation submitted in support of the application shall be indicated in the application, and one copy of each document shall be made available to the Registrar at the time of application. At most 10 scientific publications and at most 10 pedagogic publications, including popularized versions, should be submitted in support of the application. In addition a complete list of publications shall be supplied; the publications submitted with the application must be indicated. When expert reviewers have been appointed, the applicant(s) will be informed to send copies of the documentation listed in the application to each one of the reviewers.
The scientific and pedagogic documentation submitted in support of the application shall be indicated in the application, and one copy of each document shall be made available to the Registrar at the time of application. At most 10 scientific publications and at most 10 pedagogic publications, including popularized versions, should be submitted in support of the application. In addition a complete list of publications shall be supplied; the publications submitted with the application must be indicated. When expert reviewers have been appointed, the applicant(s) will be informed to send copies of the documentation listed in the application to each one of the reviewers.

Place of work: Umeå
Form of employment: Permanent
Extent: 100%
Starting date: By agreement

Application:
Application, addressed to the Vice-Chancellor, SLU, quoting Ref no. SLU ua 2173/2013, together with a current CV and other documents that the applicant wishes to submit, must be received by the Registrar, SLU, P. O. Box 7070, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden or registratot@slu.se by August 12, 2013.  Read more