Associate Senior Lecturer in plant ecology and biodiversity under Global Change

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 56 000 students and 6 600 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

At the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences (BioEnv), our teaching and research activities stretch from alpine ecosystems, through forests, cultivated land and streams, and into the marine environment. In these environments we study different levels of biological organization, from genes, individuals, and populations, to communities and ecosystems. We work within ecology, evolution, physiology, systematics, conservation, and integrate across these fields in order to understand past and present ongoing evolutionary processes and the impact of anthropogenic changes on the environment. The strategy of the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences is to foster strong internationally networked research and to promote excellence in teaching.

BioEnv hosts internationally prominent research in biodiversity primarily housed in the https://www.gu.se/en/ggbc-global-biodiversity, which coordinates research and outreach activities in biodiversity and conservation biology. Through the center there is access to several large biological collections spanning wide areas of the world and the tree of life.

This position is co-funded by the Strategic Research Area Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in a Changing Climate (BECC; www.becc.lu.se/), which is a cooperation between Lund university and University of Gothenburg. BECC brings together scientists from natural and social sciences to perform research essential in understanding the impacts of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystem services as well as measures to mitigate and adapt to these changes. This position is particularly linked to the BECC grand challenges “Biodiversity under Global Change” and “Ecosystem Services under Global Change”.

Subject area description 

Biodiversity is the variety of organisms found in a given place and time, and the study of it is based in the diciplines ecology and evolution. Understanding what biodiversity is, why it is important, and ways of conserving and managing it efficiently is fundamental to address the future challenges our society faces.

Duties 

The announced position is an Associate Senior Lecturer in plant ecology and biodiversity with emphasis on how global environmental change affects patterns and processes of biodiversity. The research focus can encompass both the direct and indirect consequences of global environmental change, including climate change, land use change, etc. The position includes both research and teaching tasks. Research tasks include developing an independent research program in terrestrial plant ecology and biodiversity under global change.

Teaching tasks are at undergraduate and graduate levels in the biological and environmental science programs, and is in both Swedish and English. You are expected to teach about plant biodiversity in a changing world, and/or plant ecology. Teaching occurs both at the department and in collaboration with several other departments and faculties (also see the ClimBEco Graduate Research School). You are expected to apply for external grants and build and lead a research group, as well as supervise PhD students.

You are expected to be able to communicate knowledge on how national and international authorities and companies work with biodiversity and global change. In addition to lectures and exercises, course organization is also part of the job. Other tasks include supervision of first and second cycle degree projects in biological and environmental science. As a part of a larger team, you are expected to take an active role in development and renewal of teaching in both form and content.

Furthermore, you are expected to contribute to the department by administrative assignments. You should cooperate with society, both in societally applied activities and in outreach activities.

If you do not have previous education in higher education didactics, you are required to do this within two years of the start of the employment. The University offers courses on teaching in higher education.  

You should be able to teach in Swedish within two years of the employment. The University offers Swedish courses.

Eligibility 

The eligibility criteria for employing teaching staff are set out in Chapter 4 of the Higher Education Ordinance and in the Appointment Procedure for Teaching Posts at the University of Gothenburg. 

To be eligible for appointment as an associate senior lecturer, the applicant must have been awarded a PhD or has the corresponding research expertise. Primary consideration should be given to a person who has been awarded a PhD or achieved the equivalent expertise within five years of the deadline for application for employment as an associate senior lecturer. However, a person who has been awarded a PhD or achieved the equivalent expertise at an earlier date may also be considered if there are exceptional circumstances. Exceptional circumstances are sick leave, parental leave or other similar circumstances. 

The position requires teaching skills ability to teach in English or Swedish (the latter within two years of appointment) is a requirement.

Assessment criteria 

The assessment of applicants will primarily be based on scientific and didactic proficiency that are equally weighed in the assessment. Scientific proficiency should be documented in the form of scientific publishing, participation in scientific conferences, documented ability to obtain external grants and experience in scientific mentoring. Special emphasis will be put on competence within research on how global environmental change affects vegetation in terrestrial ecosystems. Knowledge about different aspects of conservation, such as remote sensing, GIS, landscape ecology, plant identification, population dynamics, and genomics, as well as interdisciplinary and applied fields of enquiry, are merits.

Teaching proficiency should be documented through experience of academic teaching and supervision in environmental science including production of teaching material and similar. The applicant should have experience in teaching biological and environmental science. Education in higher education didactics is regarded as meritorious.

The applicant’s personal ability to cooperate internally and externally is also considered in the assessment. In addition, proficiency in cooperating with society and informing about research to the national and international public is considered.

The combined assessment of proficiency and developmental potential will also entail how the applicants’ merits and plans contribute and strengthen the department. In conclusion, the applicant that shows the best ability and potential to carry out the tasks included in the position, cooperate with other staff and contribute to a positive development, is to be chosen.

Employment 

Type of employment: 4-years fixed term employment
Extent: 100 %
Location: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Gothenburg
First day of employment: As soon as possible or as agreed

Tenure track assessment

The position as Associate Senior Lecturer is the first level of the tenure track system at the University of Gothenburg. The position is defined as an appointment based on qualifications whereby the holder, if approved, is promoted to a permanent position as a Senior Lecturer.

The main criteria for promotion from Associate Senior Lecturer to Senior Lecturer are:

• Accepted as associate professor (“oavlönad docent”) in the subject
• Education in higher education didactics including supervision training corresponding to 20 hp, or equivalent
• Very good knowledge of English in speech and writing
• Good knowledge of Swedish in speech and writing
• Strong ability to collaborate, autonomy and drive
• Ability to seek and obtain extramural funding actively, autonomously, and successfully
• Ability to supervise students at under- and post graduate level

Promotion is approved if the above criteria are fulfilled and the applicant is deemed suitable.

More information about the promotion procedure and the criteria can be found here:

1684635_bedomningsgrunder_befordran_till_lektor_april2018.pdf (gu.se)

Selection process 

The selection process will include evaluation by external experts, interviews and guest lectures. The assessment of qualifications and experience will take into account documented parental leave, sick leave or other similar circumstances affecting research output and academic seniority. The reasons and extent of absence should be specified in the application.

Contact information 

For further information regarding the position

Åsa Arrhenius, head of department
+46 31 786 2625
asa.arrhenius@bioenv.gu.se

Professor Håkan Pleijel
+46 (0)31-786 2532
hakan.pleijel@bioenv.gu.se

Christine Bacon

+46 (0)31 786 5167
christine.bacon@bioenv.gu.se.

Unions 

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande 

Application 

Submit your application via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal by clicking the “Apply” button. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per the vacancy notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline.  

Together with your application the following should be attached:

• CV, including a complete list of publications, and record of received research grants (with amounts).
• Description of scientific achievements and a motivation for the selection of a maximum of ten scientific publications used in the applications. Describe your own role and input on each the selected publications.
• A research plan with a description of current and planned research as well as other planned activities relevant to this position (maximum three pages).
• Description of pedagogical expertise, including information about the extent and level of teaching experience and evaluations of its quality. The description should also include pedagogical reflection and teaching philosophy. (Maximum three pages)
• Description of experiences of leadership, administration and cooperation with the local community.
• Copies of the most relevant publications in full format (maximum ten publications).
• Certificates and other documents to be considered.

The application should be written in English as it may be reviewed by international experts with English as a working language. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline. Any documents that are not available in electronic format should be mailed in two copies to:

Faculty Office for Science
Attn: Linda Forsberg
University of Gothenburg
Box 460
S-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden

Applications must be received by: [2022-12-12]  

Information for International Applicants 

Choosing a career in a foreign country is a big step. Thus, to give you a general idea of what we and Gothenburg have to offer in terms of benefits and life in general for you and your family/spouse/partner please visit: 

https://www.gu.se/en/about-the-university/welcome-services 
https://www.movetogothenburg.com/ 

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden’s regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.