Assistant Professor of Physics

The Department of Physics and Astronomy is one of Uppsala University’s largest departments and is located at the Ångström Laboratory. Nearly 400 people work at the department, including around 60 professors and more than 100 doctoral students. We conduct world-leading research and education in both theoretical and experimental physics. We also collaborate extensively with external partners. Our research is organized into 14 research programs, spanning topics from the innermost building blocks of matter through consideration of molecules and materials to the structure and development of stars and the universe. This full spectrum is also reflected in the department’s courses and study programmes. Each year, approximately 2 500 students take undergraduate- and master’s-level courses at the department. You can find more information about the department here.

The position is within the Quantum Matter Theory research program. Together with the Materials Theory program, we offer a world-class environment for research with interests spanning from strongly correlated and topological quantum states of matter and theoretical aspects of quantum information to first-principles electronic structure calculations and green energy solutions. You can find more information about the program here.

The position is also tied to the Centre for Geometry and Physics, an interdisciplinary research center to advance fundamental knowledge in mathematics and theoretical physics in, and at the interface between, geometry and physics. The Centre is a Swedish Research Council Center of Excellence, administrated jointly by the Department of Physics and Astronomy and Department of Mathematics. You can find more information about the Centre here.

The Quantum Matter Theory research program and the Centre for Geometry and Physics now seek candidates at the assistant professor level who will strengthen, enhance, or complement our current research activities at the international forefront. The appointment is a career-development position that gives you the opportunity to build independence as a researcher and teacher. Uppsala University’s tenure track system grants assistant professors the possibility to be assessed for promotion to the position as associate professor. The university provides support in various areas, such as scientific and educational development, leadership development, as well as patent and innovation support. To further support the establishment of your research activities, the position includes a start-up package, consisting of one Ph.D. student and one postdoc.

SUBJECT AREA

The subject area covers theoretical quantum information research that strengthens, possibly in a complementary way, current research activities within the Quantum Matter Theory program and connects to the Centre for Geometry and Physics.

Current research activities span several contemporary areas of physics and mathematical physics. Of particular interest for this recruitment are activities in, but not limited to, quantum networks, quantum error correction, quantum correlations, quantum measurement theory, topological and geometric aspects of quantum information, and mathematical foundations of quantum information theory.

To summarize, we seek candidates who will strengthen our research profile in quantum information theory, contribute to its conceptual and mathematical development, and connect to the Centre for Geometry and Physics, while also supporting teaching and supervision within these domains.

DUTIES

You will work with:

Research

Research includes establishing and leading your own research group; publishing research results in internationally recognized peer-reviewed journals and presenting them at international conferences; actively applying for and securing external research funding from national and international funding agencies within the subject area and/or through interdisciplinary collaborations.

Teaching

Teaching includes responsibility for courses, course administration, and supervision of doctoral students, in both Swedish and English. If you are not initially able to teach in Swedish, Swedish language training aimed at achieving this competence will be included in your duties.

Administration

Participate in the general academic duties of the Department Physics and Astronomy. This includes serving on committees, taking on responsibilities beyond your own research and teaching assignments, contributing to the evaluation and development of teaching and research activities, working collaboratively with colleagues, and providing support and constructive feedback to colleagues.

Other duties

• keeping up to date in your subject area and following developments in society that are relevant to your work at Uppsala University.
• contributing to collaboration with the wider society.
• colleagues to ensure a healthy and supportive work environment.

In choosing between eligible candidates, emphasis will primarily be given to both research and teaching expertise, according particular weight to research expertise. In addition, attention will be given to administrative, management, and collaboration expertise.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

You must have:

• a PhD within Physics or closely related field. Preference will be given to applicants who have completed their PhD or attained equivalent expertise no more than seven years before the deadline for applications.
• research expertise within quantum information theory, with special weight given to quantum information research that strengthens, possibly in a complementary way, current research activities within the Quantum Matter Theory program and connects to the Centre for Geometry and Physics.
• a research plan that clearly demonstrates an independent research profile and explicitly shows how the proposed research will strengthen, enhance, and/or complement research within the Quantum Matter Theory program and the Centre for Geometry and Physics.
• publications with high scientific impact in well-established international journals.
• experience presenting research results at international conferences relevant to the field.
• documented skills and expertise in productive research collaborations and in successfully leading projects.
• teaching expertise, according particular weight to teaching and supervision in Physics. The ability to integrate research in the relevant subject area, subject didactic, and higher education into teaching is also required.
• completed at least five weeks of teacher training for higher education of relevance to the organisation and its activities or be considered to have acquired the equivalent knowledge. The required training for teachers in higher education may be completed during the first two years of employment if there are special circumstances.
• a documented ability to teach in Swedish or English.
• ability to work with other people and otherwise meet the demands of suitability required to perform the duties well.
• teaching expertise and research expertise that are relevant to the subject area and the duties that the position involves.

OTHER DESIRABLE/VALUABLE QUALIFICATIONS

It would be an advantage if you have:

• documented ability to secure external research funding.
• administrative expertise. Capacity to plan, organise and prioritise activities and to work in a structured manner that demonstrates an awareness of goals and quality.
• management expertise. Developing, coordinating and leading operations and staff.
• collaboration expertise. Interacting with the wider community, disseminating and exchanging information and translating research and development results into practical benefits. Popular science publications and lectures and public debate are examples of interactions with the wider community. Other examples are patent applications, commercialisation, and industry collaboration.

For more information on assessment and assessment criteria, see the Appointment Regulations for Uppsala University.

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