Professor of Archaeology

The Department of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies belongs to Umeå University's Faculty of Arts and Humanities and has about 110 employees. The department gathers researchers, teachers, and students in the fields of Archaeology, Environmental Archaeology, Philosophy, History, History and Education, History of Science and Ideas, Religious Studies, and Theology under the same roof. We also have three national infrastructure resources within the department's area of operation, the Environmental Archaeology Laboratory, the Strategic Environmental Archaeology Database (SEAD) and ArchLab. 

We are now looking for a Professor of Archaeology. 

Tasks

Duties include conducting research and working to develop the archaeology subject's environment for research and doctoral education. The person is expected to initiate new research and apply for external research funding. In addition, teaching, supervision, collaboration with the surrounding society and administrative work are included. Of great importance is to develop a well-functioning collaboration with the subject area Environmental Archaeology and the Laboratory of Environmental Archaeology. During the first four years, the position includes the role of subject professor in archaeology, which means faculty funding of 30% research time and 20% assignment as subject representative. Thereafter, the same conditions apply as for other professors at the Faculty (currently 30% research and the possibility of being appointed as a subject professor for another four-year period).

For the part of the employment financed by education grants, competence development time corresponding up to 10% of full time is added. This time is normally used for research and work on research applications.

In addition to research and teaching, administration and staff, subject and planning meetings are included.

Qualifications

To qualify for appointment as professor in archaeology, an applicant must have demonstrated both research and teaching expertise in archaeology. (Chapter 4, Section 3 of the Higher Education Ordinance). 

Research expertise refers to independent research work, the ability to plan and lead research activities, and the ability to impart information about research with the wider community. 

Teaching expertise refers to documented experience of planning, implementing, examining and evaluating teaching, and is shown through a reflective approach to student learning and one’s own role as a teacher. 

The ability to teach in Swedish (or another Scandinavian language) within three years of the start of the employment is a requirement for the position.

Assessment criteria

The assessment criteria for the selection are: research and teaching expertise in archaeology, administrative expertise, experience of development work and management assignments, and good collaborative skills. The applicant must also have the skills and suitability in general that are needed to perform the duties well.

The research expertise must have been demonstrated through independent research production. Criteria for the assessment are:

• breadth and depth of research — quality and scope
• originality of research
• productivity
• contributions to the international scientific community
• assignments within the scientific community
• the ability to obtain external research funding in competition
• collaboration with the surrounding community

Teaching expertise must have been demonstrated through documented experience of teaching on a scientific basis within higher education. Criteria for the assessment of teaching expertise in positions based on research are:

• the ability to plan, carry out and evaluate teaching, as well as the ability to supervise and examine students at all levels of education
• the ability to vary teaching methods and forms of examination in relation to expected study results and the nature of the subject
• experience of collaboration with the surrounding community in the planning and implementation of education
• participation in the development of learning environments, and teaching materials
• a reflective approach to students' learning and their own role as a teacher

This expertise can be obtained through teacher training for higher education, other training relevant for teaching higher education and/ or documented, proven experience of teaching in higher education.

Weighing the assessment criteria

Particular importance shall be placed on research and teaching expertise. Equal care must be given to the assessment of teaching and research expertise. In comparing these assessment criteria, higher importance shall be given to research expertise.

The content of the position and the needs of the department justify the following weighting of the assessment criteria.

In the assessment of the research expertise, particular importance shall be given to:

• proficiency in empirical research in northern archaeology;
• ability to obtain external research funding and successfully lead research groups

 In the assessing the research expertise, high importance shall be given to:

• experience in environmental archaeology or laboratory-based archaeological research

In assessing the teaching expertise, high importance shall be given to:

• breadth of subject expertise; 
• breadth of experience of working as a teacher of archaeology; 
• ability to successfully supervise within doctoral education

The role as a subject representative as well as planning and implementation of teaching tasks, involve close collaboration with colleagues. High importance must therefore be placed on good cooperation skills.

In addition, importance must be placed on administrative expertise, experience of development work and management assignments, and on the skills and suitability in general that are needed to perform the duties well.

The eligibility and assessment criteria can be found in the Appointments procedure for Teachers at Umeå University:  https://www.umu.se/en/legal-framework/human-resources-equal-opportunities-and-work-environment/appointments-procedure-for-teachers-at-umea-university2/ 

Application

Applications will be submitted via Umeå University's e-recruitment system Varbi no later than April 30, 2025.

Information on the documents to be attached to the application can be found in Guidelines for applications for employment and promotion at Umeå University’s Faculty of Arts and Humanities: https://www.umu.se/contentassets/50940fbdac714459ad8b6a4406596619/guidelines-for-applications_employment_promotion_at-umus-faculty-of-arts-and-humanities--ads-published-from-240129.pdf

Please note that digital copies of publications must be attached to the application. For this position, no project plan needs to be submitted.

Other information

The employment is permanent, fulltime, starting by agreement. 

The place of work is Umeå. In order to carry out teaching, participate in seminars and meetings and fulfil other tasks included in the employment, a high level of presence at the environment is required.

For further information about the position, please contact Head of Department Jonas Nilsson (+4690-7869990, jonas.nilsson@umu.se) and HR coordinator Anna Bladh, anna.bladh@umu.se.

For more information about the department,  please visit: https://www.umu.se/en/department-of-historical-philosophical-and-religious-studies/ 

Welcome with your application!