Professor in Renewable Energy, specialization in Photovoltaic Engineering

Professor in Renewable Energy, specialization in Photovoltaic Engineering

Karlstad University

Karlstad University – the modern university – is characterised by a combination of active cooperation with external partners and academic excellence. Karlstad University has around 12 500 students and a staff of over 1200 members.

Democratic principles, equality and diversity are the cornerstones of our activities. We value and welcome the enriching presence of a diversity of backgrounds and qualifications among students and staff.

Karlstad University is strengthening its profile within the research area of Renewable Energy, where research and development is expected to lead to technical innovations. Achieving sustainable energy-systems for the future demands that society intensifies its efforts to shift to the use of renewable energy and develops smart solutions for the use of our limited resources. Karlstad University now opens a position as Professor with specialization in Photovoltaic Engineering at the Department of Physics and Electrical Engineering.  The department has a developed and successful research on e.g. polymer-based solar cells and on inorganic semiconductors for electronics, all using modern advanced methods for characterization. The research area Materials Science is a cross-disciplinary platform where competences in physics, chemistry, materials and mechanical engineering meet to address research questions from the atomic to the macroscopic level. Research in environmental sciences is well developed also in other parts of the university. The new professor is expected to connect research in engineering and science with technical applications and direct the new research into areas which lead to increased use of solar cells for direct generation of electricity to a developed electric grid. Research areas may be e.g. developed system for the production of more efficient solar cell modules, developed technology for solar module parks or integration of new solar cell material in future modules. Karlstad University is expecting some of these areas to expand into a major research area with a number of active researchers.

The duties of the position will initially mainly involve research, doctoral student supervision and teaching at doctoral level. Undergraduate teaching, administration and development work in the subject area and other areas within the department will become part of the duties with time.  The successful candidate is expected to play an active role in the development of both research and education.

Research within the subject area and training of doctoral students are the essential areas of the duties of the professor.

An important duty will be to collaborate with national and international partners, including companies, research institutes and other universities, to initiate, develop and manage common research and development projects.

In addition, the professor will take part in teaching assignments at the department on both basic and advanced levels, and fulfill certain administrative tasks.

The duties of the position will initially mainly involve research, doctoral student supervision and teaching at doctoral level. Undergraduate teaching, administration and development work in the subject area and other areas within the department will become part of the duties with time.  The successful candidate is expected to play an active role in the development of both research and education.

Research within the subject area and training of doctoral students are the essential areas of the duties of the professor.

An important duty will be to collaborate with national and international partners, including companies, research institutes and other universities, to initiate, develop and manage common research and development projects.

In addition, the professor will take part in teaching assignments at the department on both basic and advanced levels, and fulfill certain administrative tasks.

Equal weight will be put on scientific and pedagogical skills.

High quality of research, a broad research experience, experiences from supervision of doctoral students, well developed scientific networks and documented ability to successfully attract research funding, nationally and internationally, will all be assessed with special attention.

Successful collaboration with companies is of special merit to this position.

High pedagogical merits and teaching experience from undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels will be assessed. Experience from course development is a merit.

Karlstad University values personal characteristics, such as social skills and the ability to create good relations with colleagues and students, as well as the ability to take personal initiatives and commitment to initiatives by others.

All claimed grounds for assessment must be documented.

The application should consist of:

*        a CV with documented list of merits, including the names of at least two reference persons

*        a detailed account of teaching and academic activities

*        documentation of pedagogical training for teaching at university level, or account of equivalent qualifications  

*        an account of experience from other activities, including experience in management, teamwork or administration

*        a description of future work plans

*        copies of certificates, references and degree certificates

*        copies of the works desired to be assessed primarily: a maximum of 10 academic publications, and a maximum of 5 works intended to disseminate expertise (like text books, computer programs for teaching or articles on popular science)

More information about the application can be found in “Application Guidelines” and “Appointment and Promotion of Teaching Staff” available att http://www.kau.se/en/about/staff-vacanci es

Items that cannot be sent digitally, for example books, should be delivered in three copies to:

Karlstad University
Office for Human Resources
SE - 65188 KARLSTAD, SWEDEN

State reference REK2011/67

More information

Head of Department Kjell Magnusson, Dean of the Faculty Jan van Stam, Vice Dean Monica Schagerholm.
Union representatives: Thomas Wennstam (SACO), Barbro Berglund (OFR), Susanna Svensson (ST).
All of them can be reached via Phone: +46 (0)54-700 10 00 (switchboard).