Tenure-track Associate Professor in Human Osteoarchaeology

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NTNU is a broad-based university with a technical-scientific profile and a focus on professional education. The university is located in three cities with headquarters in Trondheim.

At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 44,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

About the position

The NTNU University Museum is seeking a highly qualified and motivated candidate for a tenure-track associate professor position in Human Osteoarchaeology, with complementary expertise in stable isotope analysis of human skeletal remains.

The position is central to broadening the Museum’s expertise in archaeological science and human-environment interactions, and to realizing the potential of our extensive collections of archaeological human skeletal remains deriving from prehistoric sites of Central Norway and the medieval town of Trondheim in comparative Eurasian and global context. The position is important for strengthening and internationalizing collection-based research at the Department of Archaeology and Cultural History, and activation of the collections as research infrastructure. The post will ultimately be part of the Departmental team responsible for the Museum’s archaeological collections. The successful candidate will carry out cutting edge primary research in Human Osteoarchaeology and associated isotopic analysis. They will work closely with members of the Department’s research group on Environmental Archaeology, and with the chronology-focused research groups From Foragers to Farmers and Iron Age to Historical Archaeology. The post-holder will also cooperate extensively with the National Laboratory for Age Determination (with facilities for sample preparation, radiocarbon dating, isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS), dendrochronology and dendroclimatology) and with the Holomuseomics research group of the Department of Natural History (where ancient DNA research is conducted).

The Department of Archaeology and Cultural History in the NTNU University Museum has a staff of 43. There are 14 positions as associate/full professor or permanent researcher – and five postdoctoral research fellows. The Department also has statutory responsibility for rescue excavation in Central Norway, work which is led by a highly qualified staff of permanent professional archaeologists, conservators and archivists. Several Department members are also central to the Museum’s exhibitions and communications division.

Your immediate leader is the Head of Department.

Duties of the position

The successful applicant is expected to build up their own independent research projects and to develop collaborations within NTNU as well as internationally. The position will include a start-up package, mentorship and support for applying for additional funds.

It is expected that during the first 6 years the successful candidate will:

• Maintain an active, international research profile integrated with the research groups at the Department.
• Be able to secure substantial additional funding (such as an ERC starting or consolidator grant or similar).
• Initiate and lead research on the Museum’s Human Osteoarchaeology collections, in an international comparative context.
• Maintain (and optimize) the Human Osteoarchaeology collections at the University Museum, together with colleagues.
• Take a proactive role in public outreach and in leading ethical considerations regarding the archaeological study of skeletal material.
• Participate, together with colleagues, in decisions regarding destructive analysis requests using the Museum’s Human Osteoarchaeology collections, and in other pertinent committee roles.
• Teach and supervise at NTNU.
• Participate in the formal pedagogical training programme to qualify for a permanent position.

Required qualifications

A prerequisite for being evaluated to this tenure-track position is that the candidate has defended their doctorate normally within 5 years or less since time of employment. Additional time may be granted for leave related to childbirth or adoption.

The successful candidate must have a strong academic record, an active research programme, an academic standing that demonstrates an internationally competitive research profile, and internationally recognized potential to make a future impact. Moreover, the ideal applicant should have an exceptional publication record for their career stage, with significant first/senior authorships. Applicants must also have spent significant time in research institutions outside Norway.

Applicants must hold a PhD and will primarily be evaluated on the basis of their documented international scholarly achievements. Your Ph.D. must be within the field of Human Osteoarchaeology and you will have competence in the primary analysis of archaeological skeletal remains, including fundamental and innovative approaches to growth, development, metric and non-metric variability, health and disease. In addition to a broad foundation in the field, you will have an internationally recognized specialization within one or more aspects of the discipline. You will have a demonstrable background in specifically archaeological applications of Human Osteology. You will have practical experience of stable isotope analysis of human skeletal tissues as a complement to research in Human Osteology, consistent with the present state of the art within the discipline. The successful candidate is also expected to have excellent skills in written and spoken English, and to be a motivating team-player.

New employees who do not speak a Scandinavian language by appointment is required, within three years, to demonstrate skills in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language equivalent to level three of the course for Norwegian for speakers of other languages at the Department of Language and Literature at NTNU.

Further to the post-specific requirements, you must have the qualifications for associate professor outlined in the regulations concerning appointment and promotion to teaching and research posts.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with work in archaeological collections will be considered an advantage.
• Teaching qualifications are not mandatory, but documented teaching qualifications and experience will be considered an advantage.
• Outreach qualifications of applicants, including the ability to attract external funding, will also be taken into account and considered an advantage.
• Demonstrated ability regarding interdisciplinary contextualisation of scientific data.
• Evidence of experience working with statistical analysis and relevant coding.
• Excellent public presentation skills.

Personal qualities

• Honesty
• Collegiality
• Intellectual ambition
• Generosity
• Attention to detail
• Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities

Tenure-track Associate Professor

Recruitment as a tenure-track associate professor at NTNU is designed to attract talented early- or mid-career scholars with a track-record of high quality published research, ready to work independently and with the potential to become a research leader.

The tenure-track associate professor’s duties will primarily include research, but also include outreach activities, supervision, teaching, collection based work and other duties necessary to qualify for a permanent professor position within 6-7 years.

In the NTNU tenure-track programme, associate professors are subject to two types of review during the tenure-track period:

• a mid-career assessment after 3-4 years
• a final tenure assessment at the end of the tenure track period.

If the ‘final tenure assessment” is positive, s/he will be employed as a full-time professor.

The overall purpose of the review system is to ensure and maintain the high academic standards of the university’s senior faculty staff. To help meet these standards, the associate professor is offered a mentor and favourable terms.

We offer

• A start-up package, including a yearly fund of NOK 100,000 for each of the first four years. One PhD position to build a research group.
• Exciting and challenging tasks in a strong international academic environment. An open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues.
• Favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund . Employee benefits.
• Help with immigration and home finding, if relevant.

Salary and conditions

As a Associate Professor, code 1011 you are normally paid from gross 604 900 NOK – 720 100 NOK per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. As required by law, 2% of this salary will be deducted and paid into the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU.

It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution on a daily basis.

About the application

Your application and supporting documentation must be in English.

Publications and other scientific work must follow the application. Please note that your application will be considered based solely on information submitted by the application deadline. You must therefore ensure that your application clearly demonstrates how your skills and experience fulfil the criteria specified above.

If, for any reason, you have taken a career break or have had an atypical career and wish to disclose this in your application, the selection committee will take this into account, recognizing that the quantity of your research may be reduced as a result.

Your application must include:

• CV, diplomas, and certificates
• If available: A teaching portfolio, in which your teaching competence is compiled and presented systematically, (See guidelines for applicants: Documentation of teaching qualifications in applications and appointments to academic positions at NTNU)
• Academic works – published or unpublished – that you wish to be considered during assessment of your application (up to 10 items)
• A description of the scientific works you consider most relevant, which you particularly wish to be factored into the assessment
• A list of your previous works, with details on where they have been published
• A research plan of 2 to 5 pages.
• Details of projects for which you have served as project manager, including information on financing, duration, and scope
• Names and contact information for three relevant referees

You are encouraged to use the Universities Norway’s NOR-CAM toolbox as a guide for documentation of your competence.

Joint work will also be considered. If it is difficult to identify your specific input to a joint project, you must include evidence of your contributions.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates.

NTNU is obliged by the evaluation criteria for research quality in accordance with The San Fransisco Declaration on Research Assessment – DORA and The obligations in the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment ( CoARA) on responsible assessment of research and recognition of a wider range of academic contributions to science and society. This means that we will pay particular attention to the quality and academic range demonstrated by your scientific work to date. We will also pay attention to research leadership and participation in research projects. Your scientific work from the last five years will be given the most weight.

Your application will be considered by an expert committee. Candidates of interest will be invited to an interview, and to deliver a trial lecture.

General information

NTNU believes that inclusion and diversity is a strength. We want our faculty and staff to reflect Norway’s culturally diverse population and we continuously seek to hire the best minds. This enables NTNU to increase productivity and innovation, improve decision making processes, raise employee satisfaction, compete academically with global top-ranking institutions and carry out our social responsibilities within education and research. NTNU emphasizes accessibility and encourages qualified candidates to apply regardless of gender identity, ability status, periods of unemployment or ethnic and cultural background.

NTNU is working actively to increase the number of women employed in scientific positions and has a number of resources to promote equality.

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.

As an employee at NTNU, you must continually maintain and improve your professional development and be flexible regarding any organizational changes.

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you want to reserve yourself from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the reservation is not accepted.

For the sake of transparency, candidates will be given the expert evaluation of their own and other candidates. As an applicant you are considered part of the process and is stipulated to rules of confidentiality.

If you have any questions regarding the position, please contact Professor James Barrett, e-mail james.barrett@ntnu.no or Head of department of Archaeology and Cultural History Bernt Rundberget, e-mail bernt.rundberget@ntnu.no.

If you have questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact Senior Consultant HR Anne Karin Henning, e-mail anne.karin.henning@ntnu.no

If you think this looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Upon request, you must be able to obtain certified copies of your documentation.

More details here (please copy link into your browser): https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/254218/tenure-track-associate-professor-in-human-osteoarchaeology