Associate Professor (Tenure Track) in Experimental Particle Physics
The Faculty of Mathematics and Science is seeking to recruit an Associate Professor (Tenure Track), Experimental Particle Physics, starting 1 June 2025 or as agreed. The position of an associate professor is for a fixed term of five years (according to the tenure track model at the University of Jyväskylä). At the conclusion of the fixed-term assignment, there will be an evaluation procedure to assess the employee's qualifications for promotion to the next level (Full Professor).
This recruitment is aimed at strengthening research and teaching in experimental particle physics. Particle physics is one of the main research areas of the Department, with "Strong interaction physics" being one of the leading research areas in the University strategy. Experimental research at large scale international facilities CERN and FAIR is done in collaboration with the Helsinki Institute of Physics (HIP), a national research institute co-hosted by 5 Finnish universities. The Department participates in the ALICE collaboration at CERN, with a research group that is a part of the Center of Excellence in Quark Matter funded by the Research Council of Finland. The Associate Professor will be integrated with the Center of Excellence.
Who we are looking for
The responsibilities of an Associate Professor include internationally high-level research, teaching and student supervision at all levels.
The appointed Associate Professor is expected to lead and develop experimental particle physics research at the Department of Physics, focusing especially on the physics of high energy nuclear collisions. We expect the new Associate Professor to take responsibility for the department's current research activity at the ALICE2 detector at the CERN LHC. We also expect the applicant to have a vision for JYU participation in future international collaboration activities in strong interaction physics. The applicant should have a strong experience of scientific research in experimental particle physics in an international collaboration, experience in research leadership, teaching and supervising students at different levels and obtaining external funding. Pedagogical training is considered an advantage. Experience in outreach activities and/or in industrial applications is considered an advantage.
The teaching responsibilities of an Associate Professor include lectures and other courses in physics ranging from basic courses to postgraduate ones. The Associate Professor is expected to advise students and supervise theses at the bachelor, master, and postgraduate levels, and participate in the continuous development of education within the department. The responsibilities of an Associate Professor also include various departmental duties.
The duties and qualification requirements of an Assistant/Associate Professor are stipulated by the University of Jyväskylä Regulations and language skills guidelines. Candidates should have an excellent record of conducting and publishing scientific research, establishing international networks, acquiring external funding, and teaching. Please see the general requirements for appointing an assistant professor or associate professor (tenure track). The qualification requirements should be met before the closing time of this call. A trial period of six months will be used in the beginning of the employment.
Benefits
At the University of Jyväskylä, you are a recognized member of our community with a unique opportunity to influence international research. You get to participate in our international and multidisciplinary community where the welfare of each individual is important. At the University of Jyväskylä, we offer a great and lively campus area with opportunities to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle.
Finland has a high standard of living, with free schooling (also in English), affordable childcare, good family benefits, and healthcare. Jyväskylä is located in central Finland in the Finnish lakeland and has excellent opportunities for different nature, outdoor, and sports activities. The city of Jyväskylä is a major educational center and the city has a large student population. As such there is a vibrant cultural scene in the city. To find useful information about the University of Jyväskylä, the City of Jyväskylä and living in Finland, see the University's International Staff Guide.
After signing the employment contract, a personal career plan is made for you. The career plan specifies the objectives, intermediate milestones and evaluation criteria of the tenure track period. Your personal career plan helps you clarify your goals, and you will receive regular feedback on your work in the initial and follow-up discussions. JYU's starting grant for new tenure track -professors enables a smooth start. New Associate Professors can be awarded a starting grant based on an application. We will also support your progress through mentoring, training and other support activities needed. Career path progression is based on an overall assessment of a person's progress.
Salaries are based on job demands and employees’ performance following the Finnish University Salary System. A holiday bonus is paid to all employees. The starting gross salary will be between 4700–5500 EUR/month at the associate level depending on the qualifications and experience of the candidate.
How to apply?
The application documents that should be included in English and in PDF format (the name of the applicant must appear in the title of each attachment):
- A Curriculum vitae, composed according to good scientific practice and considering the template for researcher´s curriculum vitae by The Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity.
- A short and informal motivation/cover letter (max 2 pages), including your research interests, career goals and previous experience and merits in relation to the qualifications for this position.
- A numbered list of all scientific publications and other publications showing the applicant's ability and merits for the position using the guidelines of the Research Council of Finland.
- A maximum of five publications, which must be numbered according to the list of publications (as one PDF file) or a PDF file with public links to the 5 chosen publications.
- Research plan: a short written description (max 4 pages) of the applicant's research merits, leadership in research, and experience in obtaining research funding, as well as a research plan related to the position and a vision of how the applicant's current and future work will support the research and international collaboration at the University of Jyväskylä.
- A teaching portfolio prepared according to the guidelines, i.e., a written description of pedagogical training and teaching merits (Instructions on the JYU Work with us website).
- Evidence of societal interaction (max 2 pages).
Applicants are kindly asked to submit their applications using the online application form by 2 February 2025. Applications sent via email are not considered.
For further information, please contact the Head of the Department, Professor Timo Sajavaara, timo.sajavaara@jyu.fi.
We offer good working conditions for researchers and promote the principles of HR Excellence in Research, HRS4R. The Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R) is based on the values of the European Charter for Researchers & The Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (Charter & Code). JYU is committed to fairness, consistency and transparency in selection decisions, and undertakes the recommendations for the responsible evaluation of a researcher in Finland. JYU has signed the DORA Declaration. By signing the agreement, JYU is committed to complying with the CoARA principles.
Our application process is transparent, professional and international. We communicate openly with the applicants throughout the recruitment process. All appointment decisions are based on careful consideration within the faculty as well as reviews by external experts. We value equality and diversity in our work community and encourage qualified applicants, regardless of background, to apply for this position.
A personal security clearance may be conducted on the selected candidate with their consent (Security Clearance Act 726/2014). More information about the security clearance process and the rights of the subject can be found here.
Department of Physics
The primary areas of research at the Department of Physics are materials physics, nuclear physics and particle physics. In materials physics, the core research fields are the physics of nanomaterials and thin films, quantum matter and quantum technologies, light-matter interaction and physics and chemistry of nanoparticles. Nuclear physics concentrates on nuclear astrophysics, nuclear structure and applied accelerator-based research, and particle physics on the physics of the strong interaction and ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions, particle cosmology and neutrino physics. The department hosts a Research Council of Finland Center of Excellence in Quark Matter and the Research Council of Finland Finnish Quantum Flagship.
Experimental research at the Department is conducted in the Accelerator Laboratory, the multidisciplinary Nanoscience Center (NSC) and in foreign research centers such as CERN and FAIR.
The University of Jyväskylä is a human-centered environment of 2,500 experts and 14,500 students. Our goal is to create wisdom and well-being for all. JYU's naturally beautiful campus is located in the heart of the city of Jyväskylä. JYU is the third largest employer in Central Finland.
The application form cannot be saved as draft. However, you have 6 hours to complete your application before the timeout. After submitting you can return to edit your application via the link you receive by email. The application can be edited until the application deadline.
