Profesor of Medical Ethics

Published: 2021-02-11

Uppsala University is a comprehensive research-intensive university with a strong international standing. Our ultimate goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a long-term difference in society. Our most important assets are all the individuals whose curiosity and dedication make Uppsala University one of Sweden’s most exciting workplaces. Uppsala University has over 45,000 students, more than 7,000 employees and a turnover of around SEK 7 billion.

The Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences has around 400 employees. We have an extensive research programme run by 11 research groups. There is a multi-disciplinary research group at the Centre for Research Ethics & Bioethics (CRB), which is attached to the Department, whose research topics cover the ethical, legal and social aspects of research and medicine. We deliver teaching in the Medicine Programme, the Nursing Programme, the Master’s Programme in Public Health and several freestanding courses.

Description of the subject area: Medical ethics is an interdisciplinary subject of research and education that critically, analytically and empirically studies the ethical and moral aspects of biomedical research and clinical practice. The subject area includes working with ethical reflection over the challenges faced by individuals and society in the field of medicine, providing guidance to health care personnel, and raising societal awareness of issues of medical ethics.

Duties: To conduct research, teaching and examination in medical ethics, particularly that which is relevant to the health care system. The role includes collaborating with Region Uppsala, including conducting ethics rounds, seminars and trainings; applying for competitive research grants in Sweden and abroad; and driving and developing the subject area of medical ethics. The position also involves collaborating with and developing the university-wide CRB and its international partnerships. Administrative duties will be required. Duties will include monitoring developments in medical ethics and social developments otherwise that are material to the work of the University. Service in academic representative positions and managerial assignments may be required.

Eligibility requirements: To be eligible for employment as a professor, the applicant must have shown both research and teaching expertise (Swedish Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 4, Section 3). Under Section 5 of the Appointment Regulations for Uppsala University (AR), having the personal characteristics required to perform the duties of the post well is a general eligibility requirement for teachers.

Research expertise must have been demonstrated by independent research work and by the fact that the applicant’s activities maintain a high international and national standard. The applicant must have demonstrated expertise in planning, initiating, leading, and developing research, have demonstrated the capacity to obtain research funding in competition, and demonstrate well-documented expertise in supervising third-cycle students. The applicant’s contributions to the international and national academic community must be assessed on the basis of, among other things, the quality and scope of their academic publications in publishing channels most relevant to the subject.

Teaching expertise must have been demonstrated by educational and teaching qualifications (see Section 23 AR). Furthermore, the applicant must demonstrate well-documented expertise in supervision in the first, second and third cycles. A prerequisite for having demonstrated teaching expertise is that applicants have completed teacher training for higher education of relevance to operations at the University, comprising at least ten weeks, or have acquired the equivalent knowledge. If special circumstances apply, this training for teachers in higher education may be completed during the first two years of employment. The teacher training must include third cycle supervision. See chapter 4, sections 23 and 33, AR.

The applicant must have a documented ability to teach in Swedish and English.

Assessment criteria: In the assessment of more than one qualified applicant, research expertise will be assigned greater weight than teaching expertise. Particular weight will be assigned to the applicant’s demonstrated ability to address the questions and problems of medical ethics from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. Documented ability to teach successfully in academic programmes relevant to the needs of the health care system will be a preferred qualification.

Research expertise refers to research qualifications. In assessing research expertise, research quality will be the primary consideration. The scope of research, primarily in regard to depth and breadth, must also be afforded consideration. Furthermore, consideration must be given to the capacity to plan, initiate, lead and develop research and education in the third cycle, as well as the demonstrated capacity to interact with others both within academia and in the wider community. Particular weight will be assigned to the ability to acquire funding for research in competition. See section 21 AR. See also Guidelines and Assessment Criteria for Recruiting and Promoting Teachers at the Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy (GA), section 3.

In assessing teaching expertise, teaching quality must be the prime consideration. The scope of teaching experience, in terms of both breadth and depth, must also be afforded consideration. Furthermore, consideration must be given to the capacity to plan, initiate, lead, and develop teaching and instruction, as well as the ability to connect research to teaching in respect to research in the subject at hand, subject didactics, as well as teaching and learning in higher education. The ability to interact concerning issues of teaching and learning in higher education with actors inside and outside the University is also included in teaching expertise. See also section 4 GA.

Assessment criteria, other expertise: Management expertise and administrative expertise are important for the appointment and will both be assigned weight. The ability to collaborate with the surrounding community and to communicate information about research and development work will be taken into account.

Management expertise is demonstrated through ability to lead activities and staff, make decisions, assume responsibility, motivate others and provide them with what they require for the effective achievement of common objectives. Ability to coordinate a group and to help generate a sense of commitment, enhance participation and enjoyment of work, and ability to deal with conflicts, are further examples of how expertise is demonstrated. See section 31 AR. See also section 5 GA.

Administrative expertise is demonstrated through, for example, the capacity to plan, organise and prioritise work in a suitable and effective manner, as well as the ability to specify and adhere to time frames. This form of expertise includes overall work planning; ability to manage resources in a way that reflects operational priorities; and ability to work in a structured manner and on the basis of an awareness of goals and quality. See section 29 AR. See also section 5 GA.

When assessing collaborative expertise, experience with and expertise in education and outreach, editorships and other activities related to knowledge exchange between the University and the surrounding community, as well as experience with innovation and entrepreneurship, shall be of significance. See section 6 GA.

When the University appoints new teachers those applicants must be selected who, following a qualitative holistic assessment of their competence and expertise, are judged to have the best potential to carry out and develop the relevant duties and to help advance operations. See section 4 AR.

All qualifications must be documented to permit assessment of both quality and scope.

The aspect of gender equality will be applied if, after an all-round qualitative assessment, two applicants of different genders have equivalent or virtually equivalent qualifications.

The applicant’s parental leave, part-time work due to care of children or the like will be taken into account as qualifying work experience.

Guidelines and assessment criteria

Refer to the following instructions for applications for teaching positions: Career-portfolio Rules and guidelines and Appointment Regulations for Uppsala University.  

Salary: Salary will be set individually.  

Starting date: As agreed. 

Form of employment: Permanent employment.

Scope of the position: 100 %.

For further information about the position, contact: Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Professor Karin Forsberg Nilsson, tel: +46 (0)18 471 41 58, email karin.nilsson@igp.uu.se or Head of Department Professor Karin Nordin, tel: +46 (0)18 471 34 87, email karin.nordin@pubcare.uu.se

We welcome your application no later than 31 March 2021, UFV-PA 2020/4374.

Are you considering moving to Sweden to work at Uppsala University? If so, you will find a lot of information about working and living in Sweden at www.uu.se/joinus. You are also welcome to contact International Faculty and Staff Services at ifss@uadm.uu.se.

In the event of any disagreement between the English and the Swedish versions of this announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.

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Submit your application through Uppsala University's recruitment system.

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