Professor or Associate Professor (Level 2) in Information Technology

Åbo Akademi University is an internationally acknowledged research university with an extensive responsibility for providing education in Swedish in Finland. The Faculty of Science and Engineering develops solutions and processes for a sustainable society. Our research is done in cooperation with the industry, research institutes and other universities both in Finland and abroad. The faculty is located in Turku and Vaasa.

Åbo Akademi University invites applications for the position as Professor or Associate Professor (Level 2) in Information Technology at the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FNT) in Vaasa, starting 1 October 2023 or as agreed.

The recruitment is executed within the ÅAU tenure track system. If appointed as Professor, the employment will be permanent. A person holding a tenure track position on level two as Associate Professor is employed on a fixed-term contract for four years. A successful evaluation facilitates the advancement from Associate Professor to a permanent position as Professor.

Åbo Akademi has more than 100 years of experience in research and education in science and engineering. The Faculty of Science and Engineering in Vaasa provides research and education in Information Technology and Energy Technology, where the activities are continuously expanding. In research the target is 10 doctoral students and in education to grow from current annual 10 master’s degrees to 40 by the year 2026. The education in Vaasa is done in cooperation with the education in Turku, with a staff of more than 300 teachers and researchers. The unit in Vaasa is part of a close collaboration with three higher educational units in technology. For 10 years, the Faculty of Science and Engineering in Vaasa has also been a vital part of the energy technology hub EnergyVaasa. Hence the research and education ecosystem consists of more than 100 colleagues, 160 companies and 12 000 employees in the energy technology sector.

WORK DESCRIPTION AND QUALIFICATIONS
According to the Universities Act (558/2009), a professor shall carry out and oversee scientific work, provide research-based tuition, follow developments in science, and participate in societal interaction and international cooperation in the field.

The position is placed at Vaasa campus with responsibility for the master’s programmes in Information Technology. The master's programmes have their focus on industrial internet. The programmes collaborate with the laboratory of Energy Technology at FNT in Vaasa, which also provides an opportunity to specialize in applications for the energy industry.

The position's area of responsibility includes teaching and research in information technology with an emphasis on digitization of industry and wider society to create sustainable solutions. The research area aims, among other things, to develop innovative digital solutions to enable sustainable energy systems in collaboration with Energy Technology in Vaasa. An interesting area of development is digital solutions for the health and welfare field.

The professor is expected to contribute to the development of higher education and research in information technology. The tasks also include the procurement of research funding, participation in national and international collaboration within the field and contribution to the research environment.

• A Professor is required to hold a doctoral degree, possess solid scientific competence along with the ability to provide qualitative, research-based instruction and supervision, the ability to lead research projects and raise funding for research, experience in international research, and collaborative and leadership skills.
• An Associate Professor (Level 2) is required to hold a doctoral degree as well as possess solid experience in research, the potential to lead research groups and raise funding for research, and experience in international research. Moreover, teaching skills are required.

Detailed information about the position, the qualification and evaluation criteria and the recruitment process are found in the appointment plan.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

The language requirements at Åbo Akademi University are defined in Section 78 of the University Act (558/2009) and in § 1 and 2 the Åbo Akademi University internal language instructions (25.2.2010).

For teaching positions, native Finnish citizens are required to have excellent proficiency in Swedish (written and oral) and sufficient proficiency in Finnish.

Foreigners and non-native Finnish citizens are exempt from the requirement to have knowledge of Swedish and Finnish. Knowledge of Swedish is meritorious. As the administrative and teaching language of the university is primarily Swedish, the person appointed is expected to acquire such knowledge of Swedish during their employment, so that they will be able to successfully participate in teaching in Swedish and administrative tasks in the future. The university offers actively support for learning Swedish.

Applicants that have not yet a certificate of their Swedish language skills can demonstrate their skills and, if necessary, take a language test arranged by the ÅAU Language Board. Please see instructions regarding demonstration of (Swedish) language skills (in Swedish).

Oral and written knowledge of English is necessary for managing the duties of the position successfully.

SALARY AND WORKING TIME
The salary for Professors is set on levels 8-11 and for Associate Professors (Level 2) on levels 6-7 of the job demand level for teaching and research staff in the salary system of Finnish universities. In addition, a salary component based on personal work performance will be paid. Salary chart for teaching and research staff.

APPLICATION
Submit your electronic application via the ÅAU recruitment system. The closing date for applications is on 5.4.2023 at 12:00 (Finnish local time). Please see guidelines on the electronic application.

The application should include the following enclosures in English:

1. A curriculum vitae (CV) in compliance with the TENK model (The Finnish National Board on Research Integrity), including a complete list of publications (please see guidelines).
2. A teaching portfolio (please see guidelines).
3. A separate list of a maximum of 10 publications, including links to the publications, that the applicant has chosen to demonstrate their competence.
4. A research plan including the applicant’s view on the assignment, own industrial competence, future visions, and leadership (max. 4 pages).

Applicants may be asked to supplement their application with copies of degree diplomas, language and other certificates as well as contact details to referees, whom the recruitment committee may contact after the application period has ended.

INFORMATION
Vaasa is an international university town located close to nature. The medium-sized town has the advantages of a big city, but with everything within walking distance. It is close to the campus, the city center as well as to nature and the sea.

At FNT in Vaasa a Professor, an Associate Professor (Level 2), a Senior University Lecturer and a number of post-doc researchers and doctoral students are currently active. In addition to the vacant position FNT's continuously growing activities in Vaasa may lead to further recruitments in the future.

For questions regarding the position, please contact Professor Ivan Porres Paltor (ivan.porres[a]abo.fi). For questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact HR-specialist Sabina Ringvall (sabina.ringvall[a]abo.fi).

Åbo Akademi University works for equal gender distribution and diversity in all staff categories.