Associate Professor in Cognitive Neuroscience

About the position 

A permanent position as Associate Professor (SKO 1011) in Cognitive Neuroscience is available at the Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition (LCBC), Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Oslo. In accordance with the university’s appointment regulations, an Associate Professor may subsequently apply for promotion to full professor. 

The successful candidate is expected to initiate, lead, and collaborate on research activities at LCBC, and to contribute actively to the center’s efforts in securing external research funding. In addition, the position includes teaching at all levels (bachelor, master, professional, and PhD), supervision, conducting examinations and assessments—primarily at the Department’s Section for Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience—and participation in administrative duties in accordance with the Department’s needs.

About the host institution

The Department of Psychology (PSI) is dedicated to advancing the understanding of human behavior and mental health across the full spectrum of psychology, from clinical and counseling to cognitive, social, developmental, and neuropsychology. The department fosters basic and applied research, dissemination and innovation, comprehensive undergraduate and graduate education, and clinical training. PSI also provides a secure and supportive environment for employees by promoting a healthy work-life balance, promoting gender equality, facilitating the integration of international staff, and supporting career development.

The Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition (LCBC, www.lcbc.uio.no), established in 2016 as a section of the department, is a world-leading research environment dedicated to understanding how  human brain and cognition develop and change from birth to old age. LCBC conducts experimental as well as large-scale longitudinal studies combining brain imaging, cognitive testing, genetic and biomarker data, and registry linkages to uncover the mechanisms underlying cognitive development, maintenance, and decline. The center leads and participates in major international consortia, such as Lifebrain, and collaborates closely with Oslo University Hospital. LCBC currently consists of 25–30 full-time employees, including three full professors, researchers, postdocs and PhDs, senior engineers, research assistants, and administrative staff. The center is co-led by Professors Kristine B. Walhovd and Anders M. Fjell and is primarily externally funded. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to securing external funding for future research. LCBC also has a focus on education and training, supervising master’s and PhD students, and hosting international students and interns in cognitive neuroscience and related fields. Physical presence at the workplace is expected for most of the time, because this is important for creating a stimulating environment for researchers at all career stages, including students and young researchers.

Since data collection, experimental design, and advanced analysis are core activities at LCBC, the successful candidate is expected to take an active role in ongoing and future data-collection projects and experiments and not rely exclusively on legacy databases or secondary data sources.

Qualification requirements

Formal requirements:

• A PhD or an equivalent academic qualification in psychology or related relevant field.
• A strong research profile within lifespan cognitive neuroscience, evidenced by a substantial track record of publications in internationally recognized journals. The successful candidate should demonstrate expertise in linking developmental factors with aging-related processes.
• Extensive experience with both structural and functional brain imaging (MRI), with publications connecting MRI-derived measures to cognitive function.
• Demonstrated experience in analyzing complex longitudinal datasets, which are central to LCBC’s research.
• Commitment to actively participate in and contribute to the local working environment; the successful candidate is expected to reside in or relocate to the Oslo area. 
• Teaching experience and formal basic pedagogical competence are needed (i.e., a certification in university pedagogics). Applicants that cannot document formal pedagogical competence at the time of employment must acquire this within the first two years after their appointment. The Department will support this certification (e.g., coverage of the costs of the courses at the University of Oslo, recognition of the hours of these courses in the departmental teaching accounting system)
• Applicants must have fluent oral and written communication skills in English. Teaching at the professional program is in Norwegian. Applicants who are not fluent in a Scandinavian language (Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish) will have to learn Norwegian within the first three years of employment to effectively participate in the functions required by the position (documented proficiency: CEFR Independent user Level B2 or equivalent). The Department will actively support the learning of Norwegian (e.g., coverage of the cost of the courses at the University of Oslo, reduction of teaching and administrative duties, Norwegian coach). 

Additional qualifications:

•  Proven success in obtaining external funding, such as a major research grant, will constitute an advantage.
• Experience supervising master’s and PhD students within a relevant field.
• Experience with large-scale, collaborative projects and data sharing
• An established network of international collaborations. 
• Prior experience in managing research projects.
• Documented ability to collaborate and supervise across disciplines
• Strong quantitative and methodological skills, such as advanced statistical modelling of longitudinal data
• Documented engagement in science dissemination and adherence to open science practices.

Personal skills

The following qualifications will be emphasized in the assessment of applicants:

• Ability to contribute to and thrive in an active, ambitious research and teaching environment.
• Strong collaborative and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to foster a well-functioning, inclusive, and supportive working environment.
• Strategic thinking — capacity to both develop one´s own research and align one’s own research agenda with the center's broader goals and with funding opportunities.

Assessment of candidates

Qualified applicants will be ranked based on the requirements outlined above. Top-ranking applicants will be invited to an interview as well as a trial lecture. Care will be taken to base the assessment not only on quantitative criteria (e.g., the number of publications and associated impact factors), but to weigh quantitative and qualitative aspects of the candidates’ profiles. Academic achievements will be evaluated in context of the applicant’s scientific seniority while adjusting for parental and sick leaves.

Please see Formal regulations below for more information on procedure and guidelines for assessment.

We offer

• Salary in position as Associate Professor, position code 1011 in salary range NOK 750 000 - 950 000, depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund.
• 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.
• An academically stimulating working environment.
• Good welfare benefits
• 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.
• The Associate Professor will have the opportunity to apply for promotion to (Full) Professor after commence of the position, see Qualification requirements for promotion to Professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences

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

Career development at PSI

The Department of Psychology wants to facilitate future career opportunities for PhD students, postdocs and associate professors at the Department. We follow UiO's personnel policy, which requires the individual leader to actively follow up his or her employees, among other things by ensuring the individual's opportunity for development at work.

UiOs competance development offer

Diversity and gender equality

Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.

The Department of Psychology shall work actively for equality, ensure equal opportunities and rights, and prevent discrimination.

Gender equality initiativ at UiO:

Career development for female associate professors

Gender equality initiatives at the Department of Psychology 

Action plan for gender equality, diversity and inclusion at the Department of Psychology 2022-2025 

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview. UiO aims for gender balance in permanent scientific positions, and the underrepresented gender (women) is encouraged to apply for the position.

In cases of gender imbalance within the hiring Section, defined as fewer than 40% of permanent staff belonging to one gender, the position will be evaluated for re-advertisement if the expert committee does not identify any qualified candidates from the underrepresented gender. Furthermore, the nominating committee must invite at least one qualified applicant from the underrepresented gender to an interview and trial lecture.

We hope that you will apply for the position. More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here.

How to apply

Your application must include the following items:

• A cover letter (statement of motivation, summarizing scientific work and clinical experience).
• A CV (education, prior positions, clinical experience, pedagogical experience, administrative experience, project acquisition and coordination experience, and other qualifying activities).
• A complete list of publications as well as the submission of 3 published articles for review in context of the application.
• PhD Diploma/documents verifying academic qualifications.
• A research statement outlining your research accomplishments, current work, and future direction (max 3 pages).
• A narrative teaching portfolio outlining prior teaching experience and pedagogic qualifications (max 3 pages; optimally organized around the four principles of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education).
• List of 2-3 reference persons (name, relation to candidate, e-mail, and phone number).

Application with attachments must be submitted via our recruitment system Jobbnorge, click "Apply for the position". When applying for the position, we ask you to retrieve your education results from Vitnemålsportalen.no.

If your education results are not available through Vitnemålsportalen, we ask you to upload copies of your transcripts or grades. Please note that all documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language.

General information

Interviews and trial lecture will be used in the selection process. The best qualified candidates will be 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.

Contact information

• Professor and Head of Section, Anders Martin Fjell, a.m.fjell@psykologi.uio.no
• HR-officer, Mathilde Røed Jørgensen, m.r.jorgensen@psykologi.uio.no (for questions regarding electronic application)

Formal regulations

Please refer to the Rules for Appointments to Professorships and Associate Professorships at the University of Oslo, the Guide for Applicants and Members of the Assessment Committee and Rules for practicing the requirement for basic pedagogical competence at the University of Oslo.

Pursuant to section 25(2) of the Freedom of Information Act, information concerning the applicant may be made public, even if the applicant has requested not to appear on the list of applicants.

If there are no qualified applicants for a permanent position, the appointing authority may consider appointment to a temporary lower position for up to three years, cf. Section 6-5 of the University and University College Act.

The University of Oslo has a transfer agreement with all employees that is intended to secure the rights to all research results etc.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview.

At least 1 qualified applicant of the underrepresented gender must be invited to an interview when applying for an Associate Professor position, cf. Action plan for equality, diversity and inclusion at the Department of Psychology 2022-2025.

If there are no qualified applicants of the underrepresented gender, consideration must be given to advertising the position again, cf. Action plan for equality, diversity and inclusion at the Department of Psychology 2022-2025.