A Visiting Professorship in Arctic Studies at the University of Akureyri, Iceland

A Visiting Professorship in Arctic Studies at the University of Akureyri, Iceland (20.06.2012)

The University of Akureyri (Háskólinn á Akureyri) was founded in 1987 and is located in the capital of North Iceland, Akureyri. The University is presently divided into three Schools; School of Business and Science, School of Humanities and Social Sciences and School of Health Sciences. The number of students is around 1600 and permanent staff members are close to 180. The University has a well-established system for flexible studies, from distance, on-line or through a net of local learning centers throughout Iceland. The University is also prominent in many research areas such as, biotechnical-, marine- and social sciences and has for many years been active in research and education in the Arctic.

Akureyri is the location of various Arctic institutions and initiatives such as: the Stefansson Arctic Institute; the Polar Law Institute; Secretariats of the Arctic Council Working Groups PAME (Protection of Arctic Marine Environment) and CAFF (Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna); the Northern Research Forum; the University of Akureyri Research Centre; and the Arctic Portal.

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Iceland and Norway signed a three year Memorandum of Understanding in Akureyri on September 29, 2011, concerning co-operation in the field of Arctic scientific research, including the establishment of a Nansen Professorship in Arctic Studies at the University of Akureyri. The Professorship is named after the famous Norwegian polar scientist and humanist Fridtjof Nansen and is awarded each year for twelve months period to a leading scientist working with issues that bear on the legal, economic, social and natural circumstances in the Arctic.

The successful candidate should have a PhD (or equivalent experience) with a strong academic background in Arctic studies relevant to legal issues as well as sustainable human development in the Arctic regions. The Candidate should be experienced in working across disciplines with complex human-environmental-social issues and should have strong communicative and social/interpersonal skills. Research experience relating to the Arctic and a track of participation in international research networks will be necessary as well as a proven ability to obtain research grants.

Primary responsibilities will be: (I) To contribute to the research, teaching and further development of relevant programs at the University of Akureyri, (II) to work closely with other researchers in furthering the Northern research and teaching milieu at the University of Akureyri and contribute to the development of the University of the Arctic, (III) to give public lectures on Arctic Issues in local, national and international forum and to participate in the contemporary debate on changes in the arctic.

The level of compensation will be in line with prevailing salaries for professors at Icelandic state universities. A special fund will be available to facilitate the candidate’s participation in relevant domestic and international networks and conferences. A housing and relocation grant will also be available for candidates with permanent residence outside Akureyri.

Application deadline is 15^th of August 2012. Formal period of employment starts from the 1^st of October 2012; exact time subject to negotiations.

Applications should be sent in digital form to    nansen@unak.is . There is no standard form used for the application but attached should be a detailed account of education and experience, research and teaching activities. Applicants should also submit what they consider to be their foremost academic publications (upto ten publications). This can be achieved either by sending the publication documents attached to the application, or through a link to where they can be accessed in digital form. Applications and relevant documentation that are not submitted digitally should be sent to the office of the Rector of the University of Akureyri, Sólborg v/Norðurslóð, 600 Akureyri, Iceland. All applications will be answered when a decision concerning the successful candidate has been made. Insufficient applications will not be considered.

Further information about the post and the application process can be obtained from the University of Akureyri website. Enquiries concerning the post should be sent to    nansen@unak.is .