Tenure-track position in Archaeology

About the position 

A tenure-track position (tenure-track in a postdoctoral position and tenured as associate professor) in Archaeology is available at The Department of Archaeology, Conservation and History (IAKH), University of Oslo. IAKH comprises the three disciplinary fields of archaeology conservation and history. The archaeology section has nine academic faculty positions, each with teaching and research components. The section’s research profile and teaching program are internationally oriented and span archaeologies of the Stone Age to the present. The announced position is focused GIS, statistics and Mesolithic archaeology in Scandinavia.

The announced tenure-track position starts as a full-time postdoctoral position (SKO 1352) for a period of six years, including a 25 % component devoted to teaching and administrative duties. These duties include obtaining basic pedagogical qualifications. A formal midterm evaluation will be held in the fourth year of this period, and the candidate will receive feedback on performance relative to the requirements for the six-year tenure-track period. Toward the end of the six-year period, the candidate will be evaluated for a tenured position as associate professor (SKO 1011). During the final assessment, the candidate’s research performance will first be assessed by an expert (adjudication) committee within the candidate’s subject area. Subsequently, the candidate will be interviewed by an internal interview committee assessing the full range of criteria in the contract of employment.

More about the position 

Applicants apply with a research project GIS, statistics and the Mesolithic in Scandinavia to be carried out in the initial six years period. In the application letter, candidates should also describe long term plans for building an international research group, for future development of the teaching in Stone Age Archaeology, for contributing to the public dissemination of research, and for developing their own academic career. 

The contract of employment will specify results, requirements, and criteria regarding academic production, public dissemination, research leadership and teaching that the candidate must fulfil during the six-years period to be favourably evaluated for a tenured position. According to the Regulations on appointments to tenure-track positions, with supplementary provisions for UiO, the contract of employment will also specify the criteria for the midterm and final assessment of competencies and milestones. Candidates will also be evaluated on personal suitability and ability to contribute to academic citizenship, both during the initial hiring process and during the mid-term and final evaluations. The contract of employment will further outline the Department’s obligations in supporting the candidate’s research as well as offering academic mentorship, guidance and training. 

Make sure to follow the description of required results necessary in order to be eligible for the tenured position as associate professor.

Requirements 

• PhD or equivalent academic qualifications within archaeology of the Mesolithic in Scandinavia, with a clear profile in GIS and statistical analysis, granted within the past five years (excluding documented parental and sickness leaves) 
• Thorough knowledge of the material culture of the Mesolithic in Scandinavia 
• Demonstrated ability to handle large datasets, geographical information systems and theoretical perspectives on archaeological methodology/practice 
• Experience in handling of archaeological data using high-end digital tools for quantitative and/or qualitative analysis 
• Experience with interdisciplinary research approaches within the environmental humanities and/or crossing over to natural sciences 
• Documented pedagogical skills (either a teaching course certificate or based on teaching experience), see how to document your pedagogical skills 
• Documented potential for project acquisition • Interest and ability in leadership and administration 
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English and a Scandinavian language 
• Personal suitability and motivation for the position 

To be eligible, candidates must have submitted for final evaluation or defended their doctoral dissertation within five years preceding the application deadline. In the former case, the appointment will be contingent upon the successful defence of the thesis. Someone who has been employed for more than one year in an ordinary postdoctoral position at the University of Oslo cannot be employed in a postdoctoral position on tenure-track terms.

In the evaluation of the applications, emphasis will be placed on:

• The research project’s scientific merit and contribution to GIS-based and statistical approaches to the Mesolithic in Scandinavia, including the applicant’s academic and personal ability to carry out the project 
• The applicant’s long-term plans for building and leading an international research group and successfully join in academic collaboration within and across disciplines, including plans for obtaining external research funding 
• Academic qualifications and academic production. Originality and quality of publications will be weighted more heavily than quantity 
• Interest in and motivation for teaching, ability to inspire and provide guidance to students, and potential to teach university-level courses about Stone Age Archaeology and within Archaeology more generally 

• Interest and ability in leadership and administration, including collaborative skillsExperience with and potential for popular dissemination and public outreach 
• Academic citizenship, personal suitability and potential to contribute to a positive working environment and the long-term development of teaching and research at the Department 

In the evaluation of the qualified candidates the full range of these criteria will be explicitly addressed and assessed. Academic quality, development, potential and breadth will be prioritised in this order. 

The appointed candidate should demonstrate mastery of both English and one of the Scandinavian languages as working languages.

We can offer you 

• Exciting and meaningful tasks in an organization with an important societal mission, contributing to knowledge development, education, and enlightenment that promote sustainable, fair, and knowledge-based societal development.
• Committed colleagues in a good working environment. 
• Good welfare schemes.
• Opportunity of up to 1.5 hours a week of exercise during working hours.
• A workplace with good development and career opportunities. 
• Membership in the Statens Pensjonskasse, which is one of Norway's best pension schemes with beneficial mortgages and good insurance schemes.
• Salary in position as Postdoctoral Fellow, position code 1352 in salary range NOK from 595 000 to 677 000, depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund.

Read more about the benefits of working in the public sector at Employer Portal.

We need different perspectives in our work 

UiO is an open and internationally oriented comprehensive university that strives to be an inclusive and diverse workplace and academic environment. You can read more about UiO’s work on equality, inclusion, and diversity at uio.no.

We fulfill our mission most effectively when we draw upon our variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives. We are looking for great colleagues—could you be the next one?

We will provide appropriate accommodations should you need them. Relevant adjustments may include modifications to working hours, task adaptations, digital, technical, or physical adjustments, or other practical measures.

If you have an immigrant background, a disability, or CV gaps, we encourage you to indicate this in the job application portal. We always invite at least one qualified candidate from each group for an interview. In this context, disability is defined as an applicant who identifies as having a disability that requires workplace or employment-related accommodations. For more details about the requirements, please refer to the Employer portal (Norwegian).

The selections made in the job application portal are used for anonymized statistics that all state employers include in their annual reports.

More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here.

We hope you will apply for the position with us. 

Application

Your application must include: 

• Application letter describing the applicant’s qualifications and motivation for the position 
• Curriculum Vitae (including list of education, previous and current positions, teaching experience, administrative experience, and other qualifying activities) 
• List of publications 
• Project description (3 - 5 pages, maximum 14,000 characters. See Template for project descriptions) 
• A realistic progress plan for all six years, including activities beyond the postdoctoral research project itself, such as teaching, professional development and project development 
• Two writing samples (e.g. two chapters from the PhD dissertation or two academic articles) 
• Copies of educational certificates 

Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language), either in the original or in translation. 

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, jobbnorge.no. Applicants with education from non-Norwegian universities must attach an explanation of their grading systems.

Selection procedure

As the first step in the evaluation process, a Selection Committee will assess all applications and invite the most qualified applicants to submit a teaching portfolio and academic works (up to 7 publications) for expert assessment. Academic texts, except for the two writing samples, shall therefore not be enclosed with the initial application. Applicants who are invited to submit academic works are asked to select three works, published within the last 5 years, to be considered as most relevant for the position. In longer publications (monographs), applicants should specify the most relevant pages. Applicants are also asked to submit a teaching portfolio of 3-6 pages documenting educational certificates, competence and experience, including a reflection note in which your own practice and learning vision is anchored in the principles of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). 

Finally, the most highly ranked candidates will be invited for at least one interview and trial lecture. Ranked candidates will be asked to provide a list of 3 reference persons (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number). References are contacted after the interviews.

General information

Please note that we are unable to add documentation after the application deadline. As the deadline applies equally to all applicants, this policy ensures equal treatment throughout the recruitment process. If you experience difficulties uploading documents in Jobbnorge, please contact their customer service: Phone: +47 75 54 22 20 or Email: [email protected] 

The primary method of communication throughout the process will be e-mails and messages through the recruitment system Jobbnorge. When you receive a notification of a message in Jobbnorge, please log in to read it, as it may be important.

The best qualified candidates will invited for interviews. 

Applicant lists can be published in accordance with Norwegian Freedom of Information Act § 25. When you apply for a position with us, your name will appear on the public applicant list. It is possible to request to be excluded from this list. You must justify why you want an exemption from publication and we will then decide whether we can grant your request. If we cannot, you will hear from us.

Please refer to Regulations for the Act on universities and colleges chapter 3 (Norwegian) and Guidelines concerning appointment to recruitment positions at UiO. 

The University of Oslo has a transfer agreement with all employees to secure the rights to all research results and related intellectual property.