Assistant professor in Fire Safety Engineering with a focus on Evacuation Safety

The Department of building and environmental technology is recruiting an Assistant professor in Fire Safety Engineering with a focus on Evacuation Safety. 

The Department of building and environmental technology comprises several divisions, of which the division of fire safety engineering is one of these. Within the department, research and teaching are conducted linked to society's needs for infrastructure and construction. As part of this, consideration of safety aspects and development of methods for managing consequences of fires and similar accidents in society.

Research in fire safety engineering concerns physical and chemical processes in connection with the initiation, growth, spread and extinguishing of fires, interactions between fire and buildings and facilities, systems for preventing or detecting fire or limiting its consequences, and evacuation and human behavior in the event of a fire. Fire also refers to nearby accident types such as explosions or other reactive processes. The intention is to find cost-effective and innovative methods to keep damage to people, the environment and property at an acceptable level.

The work is usually carried out in smaller research groups linked to a certain subject area. But the work is also characterized by an interdisciplinary way of working with collaboration across subject boundaries and with colleagues in other departments within the university. The division of fire safety engineering consists of about 20 researchers, doctoral students and administrative staff. The current position is located in Lund and is part of the division's research group Evacuation and Human Behavior in the Event of Fire. The group consists of two senior researchers, an assistant university lecturer, a postdoc and several doctoral students.

The work environment is characterized by commitment, cooperation, creativity and personal responsibility. We strive for a prestige-free and inclusive work environment with an even gender distribution. The duties are varied and stimulating, and there are good opportunities for professional development.

Subject

Fire Safety Engineering with a focus on Evacuation Safety.

Subject description

The subject 'Evacuation safety' is part of the research subject Fire Safety Engineering, which also includes fire safety engineering design, modeling of various fire-related phenomena such as room fires, evacuation processes, load-bearing capacity of building structures and development towards sustainable fire protection. The subject is an integrated part of the fire engineering research area and includes, among other things, research about human behavior during fires and other abilities that are necessary for safe evacuation. 

Human behavior and abilities in a fire or accident situation can have a decisive impact on how an evacuation process unfolds and what the final consequences will be for the individual. Studies of human behavior are an important part of being able to describe expected events and also be able to predict probable actions in the event of a future accident. From an engineering perspective, the research area is also about being able to describe how human behavior can be influenced or controlled by different technical systems, different environmental designs, training or other organizational conditions, and knowledge of the individual's abilities. Studies of human behavior have traditionally been conducted through analysis of fires that have occurred and through physical experiments or simulated evacuation experiments in a real environment. Recently, computer-generated elements or environments have also come to play a major role with technologies such as Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Augmented Virtuality. These are technologies that are all part of today's research area on human behavior in the event of a fire. The subject also includes other aspects that contribute to good evacuation safety, such as the ability to get to a place of safety in the event of a fire.

The subject is focused on developing existing knowledge through, among other things, experimental studies and also applying new techniques to support the development of knowledge about evacuation safety in the event of a fire and how the technology as such can be developed and improved.

Since the subject is part of the concept of fire safety engineering, integration with other parts of the research subject is necessary. Understanding these other parts is therefore essential.

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 seven 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 knowledge in the field of human behaviour in fires and accidents.
• Documented experience in conducting experimental studies in evacuation research.
• Collaborative skills, initiative and the ability to solve work tasks independently, as well as a demonstrated interest in leadership.

Other qualifications

• Documented research experience (e.g. from postdoc or doctoral studies) from another university/institute or relevant experience from industry/public sector.
• Good knowledge in modelling of virtual environments.
• Broad knowledge in fire safety engineering subjects and specifically within the current subject.

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 Fire Safety Engineering with a focus on Evacuation Safety

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.