Assistant Professor in Aeronautical Sciences with a focus on aviation safety and regulatory aspects of new technologies

Department of Aviation and Aeronautical Sciences, Faculty of Engineering at Lund University invites applications for a position as Assistant Professor.

The position is affiliated with the Department of Aviation and Aeronautical Sciences, a center of expertise for research, development, and education in the aeronautical sciences. Through collaboration, we aim to understand, explain, and improve aviation toward a more accessible, sustainable, and safe society in the digital age. The department’s main research focus areas are: Sustainable Aviation, Unmanned Aviation, and Aviation Safety.

The department has extensive educational activities in both manned aviation (Approved Training Organisation, ATO) and unmanned aviation (Authorized Drone School, ADS). We train pilots for heavy commercial aviation, transport pilots for the Swedish Armed Forces, and UAS pilots within the Open and Specific categories.

The strength of our department lies in the close collaboration between the training organization and research, as well as among researchers across different areas of specialization.

The position is based in Ljungbyhed.

Subject

Aeronautical Sciences with a focus on aviation safety and regulatory aspects of new technologies.

Subject description

The field is aviation safety, with a particular focus on regulatory aspects related to new and emerging technologies in aviation. It encompasses both manned aviation and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Key areas include the analysis of safety risks, the development and implementation of regulatory frameworks, and an understanding of legal accountability in matters of flight safety. These areas are applied to the integration of new technologies (including digital technologies) into existing operational and regulatory structures. The field is interdisciplinary, combining technical, legal, and societal perspectives to promote the safe and sustainable development of future aviation.

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.
• Participation in interdisciplinary research projects.
• 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.
• Experience of research on how regulatory aspects relate to the use of technical systems and/or professional practice in technical fields
• 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 in communicating about flight safety and its associated regulatory frameworks, in both teaching and outreach to colleagues and the general public.
• Experience working with flight safety in accordance with the European (EASA) regulatory framework.
• Experience of research on how the implementation of new technologies is influenced by regulatory aspects.
• Documented experience of teaching and supervision at undergraduate and advanced levels.
• Documented experience of interdisciplinary collaboration, including with other researchers as well as industry or government agencies.
• Experience from the aviation industry.

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/

We welcome your application!

*****************************************************************

Promotion to Senior Lecturer inAeronautical Sciences with a focus on aviation safety and regulatory aspects of new technologies

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.