Associate Professor of Border Studies

Associate Professor of Border Studies

Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education

Centre for Geopolitics, Peace and Security (GPS)

The Centre for Geopolitics, Peace and Security (GPS) brings together and highlights UiT's expertise and research in its field: geopolitics, peace, and security.

GPS is part of the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education. GPS conducts independent, interdisciplinary research on Arctic geopolitics, peace and security, with the aim of generating knowledge relevant to research, education and societal challenges in the Arctic and northern regions.

GPS hosts the interdisciplinary two-year Master's Programme in Peace and Conflict

Transformation (MPCT) and offers courses related to its field.

The position

The available position is Associate Professor in Peace and Conflict Studies at the Centre for Geopolitics, Peace and Security (GPS), Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and

Education (HSL).

The position aims to strengthen the academic environment at GPS in border studies, with a particular focus on the High North and the Arctic.

The successful candidate is expected to produce and disseminate knowledge about borders, border regions and cross-border relations, with particular, but not exclusive, emphasis on processes that take place on both sides of – and across – the Norwegian-Russian border and in the wider Barents region. Furthermore, the candidate is expected to contribute to the development of social science-based knowledge about Russia and the High North. Comparative perspectives from other border regions, in the Arctic and beyond, are desirable.

Relevant thematic areas may include:

• Cross-border cooperation, mobility and people-to-people relations
• Border security, geopolitics and regional cooperation in the High North
• Border communities, community resilience and preparedness
• Indigenous peoples' perspectives on borders and cross-border rights
• Migration, border crossings and border management

GPS is located both in Tromsø and in Kirkenes. The workplace for this position will be Kirkenes. Travel in connection with teaching outside Kirkenes, especially on campus Tromsø, is expected.

Responsibilities of the position

The successful candidate is expected to contribute actively to the interdisciplinary research environment at GPS through research collaboration, applications for external research funding, teaching, supervision and program development within GPS's teaching portfolio.

Terms and conditions of employment and salary

You must be willing to engage in development work within your own field and for the university as a whole.

Time divided between research and teaching is 50/50. As a norm, the time resources allocated to administrative tasks for academic staff are 5%.

The position of Associate Professor is paid within code 1011, with a gross annual salary from NOK 676,000 - 820,000 in a position of 100%. In special cases, a higher salary may be considered.

Questions about the position

Johanna Ikävalko

Director

+47 77 64 45 10

johanna.ikaevalko@uit.no

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• (1) a Norwegian doctoral degree in border studies, political science, international relations, social anthropology, sociology, human geography or a related field of study in the social sciences or humanities; or (2) an equivalent foreign doctoral degree recognized as equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree; or (3) competence at an equivalent level documented through academic work of equivalent scope and quality.
• A strong and clear research profile in border studies or a closely related field.
• Academic work that demonstrates both empirical insight and a strong theoretical understanding of boundary studies.
• Ability to teach, research and communicate in English and in a Scandinavian language, both written and oral, in line with the language requirements below.
• Potential to contribute to the long-term development of the academic and research environment at the Centre for Geopolitics, Peace and Security.
• Teaching experience
• An established international research network in border studies or a related field relevant to the position.

Desired qualifications:

• Research experience and publications on the Norwegian-Russian border, the Barents region or other Arctic border areas
• Knowledge of Russian
• Documented knowledge of geopolitics and security
• Knowledge of Norwegian society and culture
• Comparative research experience from border areas outside the Arctic
• Documented experience with research dissemination and public engagement outside academia

We emphasize the applicant's motivation for the position and personal suitability. We are looking for candidates who have:

• Strong collaboration skills
• Ability to communicate and interact effectively with colleagues and students
• Ability and desire to contribute to a positive working environment
• A documented track record of contributing to externally funded research projects and grant applications

The assessment will emphasize:

• Scientific production, with particular emphasis on the candidate's results over the past five years
• Research competence and experience, as well as knowledge of border regions and Russia
• Obtained external research funding
• Relevant expertise in border studies

As part of the recruitment process, background checks on relevant candidates may be conducted. Security clearance may be required.

Language needs

The working and teaching language of the department and the academic group is Norwegian. The position requires proficiency in a Scandinavian language equivalent to level B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). New employees who do not meet the language requirements at the time of employment must demonstrate a sufficient command of Norwegian or another Scandinavian language within three years. Arrangements will be made for the completion of Norwegian courses. Good oral and written English skills are required.

At UiT, we emphasize the quality, relevance, and significance of the research work, not where the work is published, in accordance with the principles of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA https://sfdora.org/read/).

Pedagogical competence

All applicants for teaching and research positions must document their educational competence in their application.

You must have acquired basic competence for teaching and supervision at university and college level.This entails basic skills in planning, implementing, evaluating and developing teaching and supervision.

See how to document educational competence: About the pedagogical portfolio - Result (English guide at the bottom of the page)

Those who do not meet the requirements for pedagogical competence upon employment will be required to meet them within two years. UiT offers courses in educational competence to employees. Exceptions to the requirement for educational competence for temporary and temporary positions, UTSA, nautical, etc. See Supplementary provisions 2.3 may include: The requirement for educational competence may be waived after specific assessment in each case.

Inclusion and diversity

UiT The Arctic University of Norway has a personnel policy goal of being an employer that reflects the diversity of society and that makes use of the potential of the population's collective skills. We believe that inclusion and diversity are strengths and want employees with different skills, subject combinations, life experience and perspectives.

If you have a disability, a hole in your CV or an immigrant background, we encourage you as an applicant to tick this box in the job applicant portal. If there are qualified applicants, we will call in at least one person in each group for an interview, and if you get the job, we will make arrangements for you if you need it. Apart from selecting the right candidates, we do not use the ticks for anything other than anonymised statistics. Read more in the Employer Portal https://arbeidsgiver.difi.no/positivsaerbehandling

Application

Please note that the application will only be assessed based on the information submitted by the application deadline via Jobbnorge. It is therefore important that you include all the necessary documents that show your qualifications for the position.

Your application must include:

• Application letter demonstrating your motivation and research interests
• CV
• Official diplomas for bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in the original language
• Official transcripts/academic results for bachelor's and master's degrees in the original language
• Official translation of diplomas and protocols (ToR) into English or a Scandinavian language, if applicable
• Explanation of the Grading System for Foreign Education (Diploma Supplement if available)
• Documentation of English proficiency
• Documentation of proficiency in Norwegian (or a Scandinavian language), if available
• References with contact information
• PhD and other academic degrees
• Description of international research networks, including collaborations, joint projects, research stays and host institutions

All documentation to be assessed must be in a Scandinavian language or in English. If English proficiency is not documented in the application, it must be documented before the position starts.

The application and submitted documents must be sent electronically via www.jobbnorge.no

Assessment

The applicants will be assessed by an expert committee. The committee's mandate is to undertake an assessment of the applicants' qualifications on the basis of the written material presented by the applicants, and the detailed description drawn up for the position.

The applicants who are assessed as best qualified will be called to an interview. The interview shall among other things, aim to clarify the applicants personal suitability for the position and motivations. A trial lecture may also be held.