Assistant Professor in traffic safety

Description of the workplace

You will work within the Traffic Safety and Behaviour research group (https://www.tos.lth.se/tsb). The group performs research on a variety of subjects related to traffic safety, including policy development, evaluation of safety measures, vulnerable road users and automated vehicles. The group uses innovative methods for traffic data collection, such as video analysis, surrogate measures of safety, virtual reality simulations and instrumented vehicles. It is involved in various national and international activities related to research and education in traffic safety domain.

The research group currently has nine employees, including senior lecturers, postdocs, researchers and PhD students.

We offer a supportive and friendly environment with many opportunities for personal growth. The group is settled in the Faculty of Engineering (LTH) campus; the office spaces went through a major renovation in 2017.

Subject

Traffic safety with focus on modelling and simulation of road user behaviour.

Subject description

The subject is primarily about traffic safety with focus on behaviour in traffic, in particular how road design and traffic regulations influence the road users. The work within traffic safety is about analysing and reducing the risk of accidents on streets and roads. This might include analysing accident data, identifying dangerous places or situations, and developing strategies and measures to lower the accident risk. This can also involve recommending and evaluating safety measures such as speed limits, road signs, road markings and traffic lights.

Common methods are: 1) observational studies of road user behaviour and surrogate measures of safety; 2) studies in driving simulators with the aim to study traffic behaviour in different types of situations, also including interactions with autonomous vehicles; 3) micro simulation of traffic and how such simulations should be carried out to study traffic safety.

Work duties

Employment as an assistant professor is a tenure track position, which aims for the holder to develop their independence as a researcher and educator. The work duties mainly involve research and teaching. The position includes the opportunity to undertake five weeks of training in teaching and learning in higher education. 

Work duties include:

• Research within the subject area.
• Teaching in the first, second and third cycles of studies.
• Supervision of degree projects and doctoral students.
• Actively seeking external research funding.
• Collaboration with industry and wider society.
• Administration related to the work duties listed above.

Qualification requirements 

Qualification requirements for employment as an assistant professor are fulfilled by someone who has been awarded a doctorate or has the corresponding research competence. 

Primary consideration should be given to someone who has been awarded a doctorate or achieved the equivalent competence within five years of the deadline for application for employment as an assistant professor. However, someone who has been awarded a doctorate or achieved the equivalent expertise at an earlier date may also be considered if there are special grounds. Special grounds are sick leave, parental leave or other similar circumstances.

Assessment criteria

For appointment to assistant professor, the following shall form the assessment criteria:

• A good ability to develop and carry out high quality research.
• Teaching ability. 

Additional requirements

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.
• Good oral and written proficiency of Swedish or a closely related Scandinavian language, since the position involves contacts with Swedish authorities and a lot of material is written in Swedish and for a Swedish context.
• Experience of research collaboration in multi-disciplinary and international contexts.
• Experience of work with traffic safety in a Swedish or Nordic context.
• Experience of teaching (lecturing, supervision and examination on undergraduate level).
• Collaborative skills, initiative and the ability to solve work tasks independently, as well as a demonstrated interest in leadership.

Other qualifications

• Significant documented research experience (e.g. from postdoc or doctoral studies) from another university/institute or relevant experience from industry/public sector.
• Experience of applying for and receiving research funding.
• Experience of research project management.
• Experience of using driving simulators for traffic safety and road user behaviour studies.
• Experience of using surrogate measures of traffic safety.
• Experience of video analysis linked to traffic studies.
• Experience of microscopic traffic simulation.
• Experience of PhD supervision.

The extent to which the applicant, through their experience and skills, may complement and strengthen ongoing research, undergraduate education, departmental innovation, and how they can contribute to the future development of the department will also be taken into consideration.

Terms of employment

This is a full-time, fixed-term employment of 6 years. The employment is regulated in accordance with Chapter 4 Section 12a§ HEA. The purpose of the appointment is for the teacher to be given the opportunity to develop research autonomy and acquire the scholarly and teaching qualifications required for eligibility for appointment as a senior lecturer.

We offer 

Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme.  Read more on the University website about being a Lund University employee: https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/about-university/work-lund-university. 

Instructions on how to apply

Applications shall be written in English. Please draw up the application in accordance with LTH’s Academic qualifications portfolio – see link below. Upload the application as PDF-files in the recruitment system. Read more:

http://www.lth.se/english/working-at-lth/to-apply-for-academic-positions-at-lth/

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Promotion to Senior Lecturer in traffic safety with focus on modelling and simulating road user behaviour

During the period of employment, an assistant professor can apply for promotion to a permanent position as Senior Lecturer if he or she has the required qualifications listed below, and is deemed suitable. An assistant professor can only apply for promotion once.

Qualification requirements

Appointment to senior lecturer requires that the applicant has: 

• A PhD or corresponding research competence or professional expertise considered important with regard to the subject matter of the post and the work duties it will involve.
• Demonstrated teaching expertise. 
• Completed five weeks of training in higher education teaching and learning, or acquired equivalent knowledge by other means. 

Assessment criteria

The assessment criteria specify the aspects to be considered, and the level to be achieved, for the assessment criteria to be deemed fulfilled. The following assessment criteria must be fulfilled for appointment to senior lecturer:

• A good national and international standing as a researcher. The requirement for international experience shall be assessed with consideration to the character and traditions of the subject.
• Good teaching ability, including a good ability to conduct, develop and lead teaching and other educational activities on different levels and using a variety of teaching methods.
• An ability to supervise doctoral students to achieve a PhD.
• An ability to collaborate with wider society and communicate his or her activities.
• A general ability to lead and develop activities.

Additional requirements

• Good ability to collaborate, independence and drive.
• Sufficient knowledge of Swedish to carry out administrative and educational tasks that require an understanding of Swedish.
• Progression in research and teaching expertise.
• Demonstrated ability to attract external research funding in competition.