Forskarassistent ( Research Associate)

Background: Linköpings universitet (LiU) seeks three junior researchers for three positions as forskarassistent (research associate). Every year in the period 2006-2012 LiU will advertise three such positions, none tied to a specific department. The positions will be officially entitled LiU-forskarassistent. The appointments will be made with the specific aim of having a research group established by each researcher through external funding during her or his four-year employment period.

The holders of LiU-forskarassistent positions will be entitled to a start-up allowance and will form a network with a specific program for learning activities related to research. The program will include career planning and guidance on

- how to launch a research group
- how to supervise Ph D students
- how to seek grants
- how to commercialize research findings


Qualifications: A doctoral degree or an equivalent degree is required for each position. Proven research ability will be the important criterion in the selection of candidates for these positions. Precedence will be given to those who have been awarded their Ph.D. no more than five years before the application deadline.


Grounds for assessment: In filling the position of research associate, importance will be given to such scientific, pedagogical, administrative and other skills, which are deemed to be of importance with respect to the character and academic content of the post.

For the position of research associate emphasis will be placed on scientific proficiency.

Applicants should:
. have demonstrated high-quality research prior to and after the public defense of their doctoral thesis;
. should have the potential to reach excellence in her or his research field by having successfully and independently demonstrated an ability to pursue creative and significant research, thereby contributing to the further development of her or his research field. Special priority will be given to innovative research questioning conventional ways of thinking and testing new ideas;
. have applied for and received external grants for research;
. have job experience as a post-doc at some sister university.

Period of employment: Successful applicants will be employed for two years with the possibility of an extension. The maximum period of employment is four years.


Appointment procedure: Appointments will be made by the Rector as adviced by the Appointments Board.
Applications should include curriculum vitae, list of published articles, publications, and other relevant documented qualifications (copies of certificates, etc). To help the Appointments Board judge the applicants on their prospects an attached Letter of intent should define the intended research environment and state how the applicant will satisfy the ambitions set forth for the superinvestment in LiU research associate.

Applications should also include a statement by the applicant's principal research supervisor describing her or his competence in terms of scientific experience and skill, scope of scientific production and its qualify, degree of personal engagement, independence and teaching experience.