Karlstad University / Faculty of Health, Science and Technology / Department of Environmental and Life Sciences

Sapere Aude—dare to be wise—is our motto. Our students and employees develop knowledge and expertise that enrich both people and the world around them. Our academic environment is characterised by curiosity, courage and perseverance. Gender equality, diversity and a democratic approach form the foundation of our organisation. We are located in an active and scenic region and we promote sustainable development in close collaboration with the wider society.
 
Karlstad University has a total of approximately 1,400 employees and 19,000 students spread across two inspiring campus environments in Karlstad and Arvika.
 
More information at: kau.se/en/work-with-us

Description
Karlstad University invests in research and education in the area of risk and environmental science. The discipline Risk and Environmental Studies employs around 30 staff members and forms part of the Department of Environmental and Life Sciences. The discipline offers an undergraduate programme in environment and safety, a master’s programme in risk management in society as well as a number of other subject and commissioned courses. There are currently nine students doing their doctorates in Risk and Environmental Studies.

At Karlstad University, research in the area of Risk and Environmental Studies is cross-disciplinary and focuses on sustainability and risk management in society. Most of the research is done as part of three different research centres: the Centre for Public Safety (CPS), the Centre for Climate and Safety (CCS) and the Centre for Regional Studies (CRS). Much of our research involves close collaboration with businesses, organisations, municipalities, county councils and government agencies.

This postdoctoral position at the Faculty of Health, Science and Technology and the Department of Environmental and Life Sciences is connected to research done at the Centre for Climate and Safety (www.kau.se/ccs). The position also forms part of the Centre of Natural Hazards and Disaster Science (CNDS) (www.cnds.se) and the project Swedish Pluvial Modelling Analysis and Safety Handling (SPLASH), funded by the Swedish Knowledge Foundation (KK-stiftelsen).

The appointed postdoctoral researcher will develop methods for catastrophe modelling and for their implementation in Sweden. Catastrophe modelling is a type of risk analysis that combines aspects of the natural and social sciences to assess risks of and damage caused by natural disasters and catastrophes.

In the SPLASH project, Karlstad University will coproduce research in close collaboration with the private and public sectors. The coproduction of research gives university researchers insight into the needs and conditions of businesses, thereby providing the basis for research that not only responds to the needs of the academic discipline but also holds social benefits.

The postdoctoral researcher will form part of a group comprising researchers and experts from Karlstad University, Jönköping municipality, the Swedish Fire Protection Association (Brandskyddsföreningen), Länsförsäkringar Alliance and the reinsurance broker JLT Re.

Duties
The successful applicant will mainly serve to enhance the research done at CCS and CNDS in the area of the management of natural disasters and catastrophes.

The aim of the SPLASH project is to develop a catastrophe model for cloudburst risks in Jönköping. Modelling is based on the Oasis Loss Modelling Framework and includes components describing natural hazards, exposure and vulnerability, as well as the costs connected to these. The postdoctoral researcher’s task is to develop a hydro-meteorological component describing flooding caused by intensive rainfall.

The position may also include teaching at undergraduate, master’s or doctoral level.

Qualification requirements
Holders of doctorates in Hydrology, Meteorology, Physical Geography or equivalent disciplines, or those who have achieved equivalent qualifications abroad, are eligible for appointment to this postdoctoral position. The doctorate must have been obtained at the most three years before the application deadline. If there are special reasons, the required qualifications may have been obtained earlier. Special reasons may include illness, parental leave, clinical duties, commissions of trust in labour unions or similar organisations, or other similarly special circumstances.

Good written and spoken skills in English are required.

Assessment criteria
In assessing the applicants, considerable weight is given to research qualifications.

Special weight is given to research experience of hydrological modelling, GIS, statistics and cross-disciplinary research collaboration. Weight is given to documented ability to compete for external research funding and to publish results in international, peer-reviewed journals.

Weight is further given to documented ability to participate in national and international networks. Cooperation and communication with the private and public sectors as well as the community are important and therefore weight is given to Swedish language skills. Considerable weight is given to traits such as the ability to cooperate, take initiative and create good relations.

Conditions
A postdoctoral position usually involves two years’ full-time employment, in this case starting during the autumn of 2018, as per agreement.

A condition of employment as postdoctoral researcher is that you have not been employed as a postdoctoral researcher under a central contract for more than a year in the same or a similar discipline at Karlstad University.

Application
The application should include well-documented qualifications. Please provide the contact details of two references. Applicants are responsible for documenting qualifications in a way that allows for an objective and qualitative assessment of candidates, and for submitting a complete application in accordance with the advertisement before the deadline.

The application should include:

  • Application letter that briefly describes your qualifications and research plans for the next two years in relation to the indicated specialisation (2­‒3 pages)
  • CV with certified copies of your certificates, transcripts, etc.
  • Copy of your PhD thesis and other relevant publications
  • Other documents you wish to refer to
  • Reference contact information (at least two) or letter of reference

The application is submitted electronically via the university’s web-based recruitment system Varbi. Documents and publications should be attached to the electronic publication (do not only provide links). One copy of each document that cannot be submitted electronically should be sent to:

Karlstad University
Registrar
651 88 Karlstad, Sweden

State ref. no: REK 2018/147

Last day of application not later than 1st of September 2018

We look forward to your application!

Karlstad University has chosen advertising channels for this reqruitment and decline any contacts from advertising or reqruitment agencies.

Type of employment Temporary position
Contract type Full time
First day of employment By agreement
Salary Salary set on individual basis
Number of positions 1
Full-time equivalent 100 %
City Karlstad
County Värmlands län
Country Sweden
Reference number REK2018/147
Contact
  • Liselotte Englund, Head of Department, +46 54 700 1988
  • Lars Nyberg, Professor, +46 54 700 2199
Union representative
  • Thomas Bragefors, SACO, +46 54 700 1714
  • Denita Gustavsson, OFR, +46 54 700 1434
  • Tony Ingemarsson, OFR , +46 54 700 1404
Published 02.Jul.2018
Last application date 01.Sep.2018 11:59 PM CEST

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