General
The department of Arctic Biology is now seeking candidates for the position of Professor /
Associate Professor in Arctic Terrestrial Ecology. The department currently consists of one full
professor, four associate professors, two post doctoral research fellows, four PhD students and
four Adjunct Professors (20% position).
UNIS as an academic institution, carries significant responsibilities in research and teaching, with
a curriculum that includes training of Masters and Doctorate students.

Description of the vacant positions
We are seeking candidates for the position of Professor / Associate Professor in Arctic Terrestrial
Ecology. The field of expertise of all applicants will be evaluated in relation to the existing plans
and research profiles of the Department (for example, climate change, dispersal, phylogeography,
ecophysiology and adaptation to the Arctic climate including winter ecology; see our web pages
at www.unis.no for further details). The selected person is expected to take an active role in the
advancement of his / her field of research and candidates should outline in the application how
they will contribute to the department. The Department of Arctic Biology at UNIS is in the
process of expanding and there are excellent opportunities for developing field and laboratory
based research including a newly established DNA laboratory and climate rooms.
The appointed person will conduct research within the scope of the Department of Arctic Biology
at UNIS and is expected to participate in the supervision of master and PhD students in cooperation
with the other universities. The person will also be responsible for one undergraduate
course (AB201 Arctic Terrestrial Ecology) and contribute to other undergraduate and
postgraduate courses.
For all positions at the department, experience from Svalbard and other polar areas will be of
importance.

About UNIS
UNIS is a stateowned limited company with Norway’s four mainland universities represented on
the board. UNIS is located in a modern working environment in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, and is
well equipped with both technical and scientific equipment and laboratories. The institution has
an infrastructure for both marine and terrestrial field research on Svalbard. The studies at UNIS
are marketed internationally and all classes are offered in English. UNIS is highly multinational –
in 2006 students from 25 countries were present at UNIS.
For further information see: http://www.unis.no/studies. Please note that UNIS stresses the
importance of field studies throughout our teaching programs at all levels.

Qualifications
Applicants for the position must be able to document their qualifications as Full or Associate
Professor. To be considered for the position of Associate Professor a Ph.D. in an appropriate
field, or its equivalent, is the minimum requirement. Professor qualifications must be documented
as UNIS does not evaluate applicants for professorships. If the candidate believes he / she has
such qualifications but lack required documentation, an application can be submitted to the
Norwegian evaluation committee after signing the contract with UNIS (yearly application date).
Applicants are also requested to document their pedagogic qualifications and experience.

Employment conditions for faculty positions at UNIS
The employment contract is usually for two successive periods of 3 years, provided mutual
request for prolongation after the first 3year period. The contract may be extended beyond 6
years in periods of 3 years following a renewed and more thorough evaluation after 6 years.
· Furnished housing, compatible with your family situation to a strongly subsidized rent
were ‘all’ is included (power, heat, municipal taxes etc)
· Free arrival and return passage for you and your family, and relocation expenses
associated with initiation and termination of the engagement
· Free annual passage for you and your family to the registered address in Norway or
abroad
· Possibility for sabbatical leave
Sixty per cent of the working time of fulltime faculty at UNIS is reserved for research and
professional development. In addition, staff is required to be involved in teaching, administration
and the social community.
Approximately 30 ECTS are linked to each fulltime
position at UNIS. Fulltime staff have both the professional and the administrative responsibility
for a subject or subjects equivalent to 15 ECTS (primary subject). In addition they have a
coordinating, administrative responsibility for a further 15 ECTS (secondary subject). External
guestlectures augment the teaching in most courses offerings to ensure complete and highlevel
instruction within each field of study.
All scientific staff are responsible for planning the content of their primary subject and must
make all necessary arrangements with external guest lecturers, as well as preparing for, and
coordinating, the stays of guestlecturers coming to Svalbard.
All faculty members are responsible for budget compliance and financial followup for their primary
subject and for providing continuity of contact with the students in their primary course.
They must also provide assistance in handling these tasks in secondary courses assigned to them.
The successful candidate is expected to take an active part in the advancement of his/ her field of
research and must also be willing to contribute to the development of UNIS in a more general
sense.

Salary
All salaries are set in accordance with the Norwegian government's University salary scale.
Full Professors are offered a gross salary within the scale of 64 – 80 (NOK 474 000 – 672 800) in
the University salary scale. Associate Professors a gross salary within the scale of 57 – 75 (NOK
416 100 – 583 000) in the University salary scale. The salary is normally set at the first level of
the scales, but is depending on experience / seniority. An annual allowance of NOK 24 000
(Svalbardtillegg) will be added to staff salaries provided that they are residents on Svalbard.
A social Security contribution of 2 per cent, to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, will
be deducted from the salary. Income tax on Svalbard is 8 per cent, plus 7.8 per cent toward
National Insurance coverage.

Selection and appointment
An expert committee will evaluate the qualifications of the applicants.
The Committee will review in detail the quality of the scientific work done by the candidates.
Furthermore, the applicant’s background from previous work on Svalbard and other Arctic regions
will be stressed, as well as their pedagogic qualifications. It is also important that the person who is
appointed has the ability to work independently, has a positive attitude, and is flexible. A wellestablished
international network is desirable in order to strengthen the internationalization of the
teaching offered and research performed at UNIS.
The appointment will be made by the Board of UNIS based on the recommendation from the
committee, the department, and the Director of UNIS.

Application
Inquiries about this position may be directed to:
Head of department and Associate Professor Steve Coulson, phone: + 47 79 02 33 34, email:
steve.coulson@unis.no
Deadline for applications is 31 st of March
Please apply online on www.unis.no – vacant positions
In the end of the form, please attach:
· a full list of publications & previously held grants
· education, pedagogic or teaching certificates (including a list of previously supervised
graduate and PhD students, where applicable)
· 5 publications (authored or coauthored
by the candidate) that he/ she wants to have
evaluated for consideration for appointment to this position
The committee may ask for further documentation of the scientific work described by the
applicants.