Director of NAISS and Professor in a Field Related to High-Performance Computing
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Modeling, simulation and analysis of big data is revolutionizing modern research across all disciplines, from natural and engineering sciences to life sciences, humanities, and social sciences. For example, high-performance computing makes it possible to design more efficient wind turbine blades and wind farms, to predict the structure of proteins, to understand how the COVID virus mutates, as well as explore new areas such as developing large language models like ChatGPT, designing more stable electrical grids, or mapping influence campaigns on social media. Data-driven technologies are increasingly driving change in all sectors of society and are central to sustainability and the green transition.
Sweden is currently making extensive investments in computational infrastructure, financed by the Swedish Research Council (VR) and all major Swedish universities, with Linköping University as the host of the new national infrastructure NAISS (National Academic Infrastructure for Supercomputing in Sweden). With a clear mandate for NAISS to concentrate new hardware investments in one location and to organize the infrastructure as it sees fit, there is an opportunity to create an infrastructure that not only meets the immediate needs of the users, but also develops international leadership in areas such as method development and user support. Within the framework of this strategy, LiU and NAISS have been appointed to host a new supercomputer, Arrhenius, within the framework of the European program EuroHPC JU (European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking). When Arrhenius is operational in 2025, it will by far be the largest computer investment ever made in Sweden. The system will be an order of magnitude more powerful than today’s computers, offering entirely new possibilities for users in academia, industry, and the public sector in Sweden and the rest of Europe. NAISS is responsible for developing additional future European collaborations and placing Sweden in a leading position in the European supercomputing lanscape.
Linköping University also hosts Berzelius, currently Sweden’s fastest supercomputer dedicated to AI research. In addition, LiU has a long-standing collaboration with SMHI (Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute) and MetNo (Norwegian Meteorological Institute) in hosting and operating supercomputers for daily weather forecasts and climate research.
Work assignments
We are looking for an idea-driven researcher and leader who is eager to take on the challenge of creating and leading the organization for the national infrastructure and implementing the long-term strategy. As the Director of NAISS, you will be a key player in Swedish computational research and its application in academia, industry, and the public sector. You will also develop strong networks within EuroHPC and with infrastructures worldwide. We believe that you are strongly goal-driven based on the user needs and the research and development that the infrastructure enables, and that you have the ability to formulate visions of what future major investments in the infrastructure will lead to.
The Director is responsible for the overall management, operation, and strategic planning of NAISS, reporting to the NAISS steering group and to the Vice-chancellor at LiU. As Director, you will also:
- Ensure that the operations are carried out in accordance with the guidelines provided by LiU and in compliance with applicable laws, legal requirements, and policies.
- Ensure that NAISS delivers according to the strategic plan and in line with stakeholders’ expectations.
- Propose, in collaboration with the management team, goals, missions, and vision for NAISS.
The appointment as Director of NAISS will be combined with a position as full professor at one of LiU’s twelve departments. This gives you the opportunity to also lead your own research in areas related to HPC in parallel to managing NAISS. The conditions and organizational placement of the professorship will be determined based on the research profile of the selected candidate.
You are active in the research community, participate in the departments activities such as seminars and workshops, participate in research projects, communicate results through academic publications and contribute to attract external research funding.
Your work includes monitoring developments nationally and internationally within your field of study and other societal developments that are important to your work.
You are flexible and have the ability to move between different types of pedagogical and scientific contexts. You share knowledge and contribute to the work group’s professional development, collegial ways of working and social community. We consider it self-evident that you are present and active, both at LiU and at other universities, so that you can perform your tasks in the best possible way and thrive in the work community.
Qualifications
We are looking for a candidate who has demonstrated both academic and pedagogical expertise.
For this position, equal importance will be placed on academic expertise and leadership skills.
Regarding academic expertise, the following will be assessed:
- Requirements for the position is a doctoral degree and a strong research background in a field relevant to research in the HPC domain, such as computational methods, AI/ML, data analysis, numerical methods, etc.
- Of particular merit for the position are previous awarded research grants as the principal investigator in highly competitive national/international competition, and publication of scientific articles as main author in highly-ranked journals.
- Of particular merit for the position is international recognition in areas relevant to HPC.
Concerning leadership skills, the following will be assessed:
- Requirements for the position is previous leadership experience in interdisciplinary research-focused organizations.
- Requirements for the position is previous experience in developing and implementing strategic plans.
- Of particular merit for the position is experience in working at, or managing, an HPC facility or similar infrastructure.
- Of particular merit for the position is experience in managing organizational change.
- Of merit for the position is previous experience in leading managers and experts.
- Of merit for the position is experience in establishing Swedish and/or European/international networks.
- Of merit for the position is insight into the Swedish higher education system and research policy landscape.
- Of merit for the position is previous experience in industrial research and development.
Other skills that will be assessed for this position include personal qualities:
- Requirements for the position is good teamwork and relationship-building skills.
- Requirements for the position is good communication skills.
- Requirements for the position is the ability to take initiative and a goal- and result-oriented approach.
Regarding pedagogical skills, the following will be assessed:
- Of merit for the position is documented pedagogical skills in teaching at undergraduate and graduate level in areas related to high-performance computing.
Since research and collaboration are conducted in both English and Swedish, you should have the ability to conduct research in English and, if you do not already know Swedish, you should have the ambition to learn it.
The workplace
You can read about the the workplace here NAISS and Linköping University.
The employment
This employment is permanent, full-time.
Starting date by agreement.
For more information on eligibility requirements, assessment criteria and recruitment procedures for teachers, see Linköping University’s rules of appointment.
Linköping University’s rules of appointment.
Salary and employment benefits
The university applies individual salaries.
More information about employee benefits is available here.
Union representatives
Information about union representatives, see Help for applicants.
Application procedure
Apply for the position by clicking the “Apply” button below. Your application must be received no later than March 28, 2024.
Applications and documents received after the date above will not be considered.
Please attach your selected research publications electronically, in pdf or word format, in the application template. Research publications, e.g. monographs, which cannot be sent electronically should be sent in three sets by mail to the University Registrar at Linköping University, University Registrar, S-581 83 Linköping, Sweden. The publications must be received by Linköping University no later than the deadline for application.
Please note that printed publications will not be returned. They will be archived at Linköping University.
In the event of a discrepancy between the English translation of the job announcement and the Swedish original, the Swedish version shall take precedent.
We welcome applicants with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives – diversity enriches our work and helps us grow. Preserving everybody’s equal value, rights and opportunities is a natural part of who we are. Read more about our work with: Equal opportunities.
We look forward to receiving your application!
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Contact persons
Johan Ölvander
Dean, Professor
+46 13 281711
Martina Klefbeck
HR partner
011-363166
Christina Hammarstedt
Secretary of the Appointments Board
+46 13 281528