Assistant professor in the environmental epidemiology of mental health and cognition Karolinska Institutet, Department of Neurobiology, Health Sciences and Society, Aging Research Center, ARC Sweden

Karolinska Institutet, Department of Neurobiology, Health Sciences and Society, Aging Research Center, ARC

The Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS) conducts world leading research in aging, dementia, epidemiology and care sciences. This research extends from basic molecular and cell levels to clinical research and societal studies. NVS educates almost a third of KI students at basic and advanced levels. The Department has approximately 450 employees and a revenue 2017 of 470 million SEK. It comprises eight divisions, located at Campus Flemingsberg and Campus Solna.

Division 
ARC is a multidisciplinary academic environment, representing psychology, sociology, and various branches of medicine (e.g., neurology, epidemiology, psychiatry, geriatrics).
Major research foci in the psychology section at ARC concern (a) sources of individual differences in cognitive functioning among adults and cognitive aging; (b) epidemiological research on how physical and psychosocial environmental factors affect mental health and cognitive outcomes; c) intervention research examining changes in cognitive outcomes and brain plasticity in adults; d) the neural underpinnings of age-related differences in cognition, as assessed using structural and functional MRI and PET, including the role of dopamine functions in cognitive aging.

Duties 
A major task for incumbent will be to contribute to and lead ongoing research activities at ARC, in the area of the environmental epidemiology of mental and cognitive health. In addition, there are possibilities to initiate individual research projects, based on the incumbent´s interests. The employment as Assistant Professor is time limited for 4 years with the right to apply for promotion to Senior Lecturer.

Eligibility requirements 
Those eligible for employment as an Assistant Professor are individuals who have been awarded a PhD or attained equivalent research competence. Preference should be given to those who were awarded a PhD or attained equivalent research competence no more than five years prior to the expiry of the application period for the position of assistant professor.

Those who have been awarded a PhD or attained equivalent research competence earlier may however be considered if special grounds exist. Special grounds refer to illness or parental leave.

The qualifications required for the post of assistant professor include a doctorate degree or corresponding academic qualification. It is desirable that the applicant has a strong track record in terms of grants, has an independent line of research, and is active in research projects at the intersection of cognitive science, psychological health and physical and psychosocial environmental factors, also with a focus on implementation. It is also desirable that the applicant has experience in leadership of interdisciplinary research projects, has national and international collaborations in this area, and has skills and experience in both epidemiological and experimental research. Good communication skills in Swedish and English are required. Other requirements for this position are good social skills, being accurate and showing ability to work independently.

Bases of assessment
We stress the ability to obtain external research funding and scientific expertise when assessing applicants.

Application process
An application must contain the following documents in Swedish/English: curriculum vitae, qualifications and description of planned research, presented in accordance with Karolinska Institutet’s qualifications portfolio (http://ki.se/qualificationsportfolio).
The application is to be submitted through the Varbi recruitment system. The applications will be reviewed by an external reviewer.

Promotion of Assistant Professor to Senior Lecturer
An Assistant Professor can apply for promotion to Senior Lecturer. An application is submitted to the Recruitment Committee. In order to be promoted to Senior Lecturer after an assessment by the Recruitment Committee, the applicant must meet the criteria below. The Assistant Professor can choose between two different promotion tracks; promotion to Senior Lecturer with focus on research or promotion to Senior Lecturer with focus on education and research. 

Promotion of Assistant Professor to Senior Lecturer with focus on research 
Assessment criteria

1. Senior Lecturer expertise as per the eligibility requirements and assessment criteria for “Senior lecturer with focus on research”.
2. Appropriation obtained as principal applicant in national or international competition that covers the applicant’s own salary for at least two years from the final date of employment as an Assistant Professor. Project funding obtained in national or international competition (i.e. excellence grant obtained from the Swedish Research Council, European Research Council (ERC), Wallenberg Foundation (WAF) or Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) that covers costs for salaries, rent, materials and other project-related expenses for the research organisation for at least two years from the final date of employment as an Assistant Professor.
3. First and/or senior author of a number of peer-reviewed scientific articles published in leading international scientific journals over a number of years since disputation, with the emphasis on the qualification period as an Assistant Professor.
4. An independent research line deemed by independent experts and departmental management to offer excellent future potential for both the individual researcher and the department in question.
5. A documented good ability to lead their own research group – including staff responsibility and supervision of doctoral We stress scientific expertise when assessing applicants.and/or postdoctoral students – to successful scientific results in a good working climate, as well as documented collaborative abilities.
6. All experience of undertaking assignments on behalf of the scientific community – such as board membership, internal assessment committees, departmental duties, organising courses and conferences and editorships – will be considered as merits. 

Promotion of Assistant Professor to Senior Lecturer with focus on education and research 
Assessment criteria

1. Senior Lecturer expertise as per the eligibility requirements and assessment criteria for “Senior Lecturer with focus on education and research”

Teaching in higher education training of 10 weeks or equivalent competence in accordance with Association of Swedish Higher Education Institutions recommendations for qualification as a higher education teacher.

2. Independent responsibility for planning, implementation and evaluation of teaching and examination at first, second and third-cycle study programmes and courses – to a significant extent and over a period of at least three years with documented high levels of quality.
3. Pedagogical management assignments as course director at first, second and third-cycle level.
4. Extensive pedagogical experience of various forms of teaching and for various groups at first, second and third-cycle levels.
5. Completed, nationally and internationally presented pedagogical development work resulting in improved study programmes and/or courses.
6. A clear plan for their own pedagogical activities (including pedagogical development work) that demonstrates a high level of quality and great potential. 

If the applicant is deemed to fulfil all of the above criteria, they will be assessed by two experts in their field and must meet the eligibility requirements that apply to appointments as a Senior Lecturer at Karolinska Institutet.

Karolinska Institutet is one of the world’s leading medical universities. Its vision is to significantly contribute to the improvement of human health. Karolinska Institutet accounts for the single largest share of all academic medical research conducted in Sweden and offers the country’s broadest range of education in medicine and health sciences. The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet selects the Nobel laureates in Physiology or Medicine.

Pursuant to the regulations of the Swedish National Archives, applications are kept on file for two years after the appointment has gained legal force. The regulations do not apply to attachments that have been printed or otherwise published.

Karolinska Institutet strives to provide a workplace that has approximately the same number of women and men, is free of discrimination and offers equal opportunity to everyone.

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