Professor in Sociology with a focus on Science- and Technology Studies

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.

The Department of Sociology and Work Science has about 120 employed, teachers, researchers, PhD-students and administrative staff. The Department carries out research, education and collaboration in a number of areas. There is research in areas like the labor market, working life, social deviance, digitalization, emotions, gender, migration, environmental issues, social movements, governance and organization as well as science and technology.

The different fields of research in the department are mainly coordinated around a number of seminar series, where there is constant cross-fertilization as most staff members follow more than one seminar series.

Courses are offered in a range of fields such as sociology, work science, human resource management, criminology and social psychology. The Department also has extensive commitment to several of the University's educational programmes, particularly in teacher education. Collaboration and development projects are conducted both in research and education with partners in the private and public sector for example through the Centre for Global Human Resource Management (CGHRM).

Subject area 

Sociology

Subject area description 

Research in science and technology studies (STS) has a long tradition at the department and was greatly strengthened in 2007 when the department incorporated the previously independent Division for STS. Today, the department's STS seminar series is one of the department's most lively. Within the STS research milieu, research is conducted with a particular focus on the environment and climate, digitalization, health care, and economics. Studying science and technology as material practice and culture, research asks questions such as: How are new digital technologies incorporated into the workplace and everyday life with what consequences? Why do the results of climate research fail to affect our way of life? How does patient knowledge and activism influence the development of medical science and technology? The department's doctoral programme in sociology gives students the option to specialize in STS and follow doctoral courses within an established framework of collaborations with STS researchers at other departments.

Duties 

The aim of the professorship is to secure and strengthen STS research at the department in the long term by initiating, developing, and conducting research in the field in the form of projects and programmes involving partners, both at the department and externally. The professor shall actively participate in the department's research environment with a focus on STS and take an active part in its organization and coordination. Together with the other professors at the department, the professor is also expected to take overall responsibility for the quality of research as well as postgraduate education.

Specific tasks:

• Participate in the planning and coordination of the research environment's seminars and take a coordinating role for the seminar series.
• Initiate and lead externally funded research projects/programmes within STS.
• Strengthen and develop collaborations in STS research and teaching across different facultiesat the University of Gothenburg and with Chalmers University of Technology.
• Contribute to a long-term sustainable research environment by promoting externally funded doctoral programs (graduate school), project-funded doctoral positions, collaborative doctoral students, and postdoctoral positions with a focus on STS.
• Through national and international research collaboration, contribute to a dynamic and inclusive research environment.
• Through interaction with external partners contribute to the dissemination and utilization of research results, the initiation of new research questions and collaborative projects.
• Teaching or performing other departmental duties for at least 25% of the position. In addition to teaching at the doctoral level, teaching at graduate and undergraduate level is also to be expected. A further 5% of the position is reserved for competence development in teaching.
• In addition to any research time made available by external research funding, professors at the department have 30% of their working time allocated to research and development of the research environment.

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 a professor, other than the fine, applied or performing arts, the applicant is required to have demonstrated both scientific and teaching expertise. 

Assessment criteria 

The assessment criteria for an appointment as professor shall be the degree of expertise that is a requirement for eligibility for the position.

For the assessment of academic excellence, criteria include width, depth and originality of research, productivity, contributions to, and assignments within, the international academic community. Teaching excellence is assessed based on the extent of documented teaching at all levels and supervisory experience in third-cycle education, ability to convey knowledge, commitment and interest in the subject, experience and expertise in the development of courses and educational activities, and experience in the production of teaching materials.

The assessment criteria also relate to the ability to build research environments, lead and develop research projects, the ability to interact with the surrounding society and administrative skills. An interest in becoming socially involves in activities at the department is also considered important. We are looking for a person who through initiative, participation and commitment contributes to the long-term development of the research environment in science and technology studies. Particularly meritorious is documented experience of having recently applied for, and received, external funding for research projects, research programmes, doctoral projects and conferences.

In the light of the duties the following documented merits are attributed particular importance:

- High quality research focused on STS. Research that is close to the department's STS research themes (such as environment and climate, healthcare, digitalization, and economics) is particularly meritorious, as this facilitates integration into the existing research milieu.

- Ability to initiate and lead research and development work. Particularly meritorious is the documented ability to successfully apply for external funding for major research programmes including doctoral students and junior researchers.

- Experience of international research collaborations.

- Good quality teaching at all levels, especially in second- and third-cycle education.

- Experience in supervising doctoral students, as well as supervising/supporting postdoctoral researchers.

- Collaboration with society, including popularization of scientific results.

- Good management and administrative skills

- Good cooperation skills and general suitability to fulfil the relevant tasks. 

Employment 

This is a permanent position (100% of full-time) at the Department of Sociology and Work Science. Probationary employment may be applicable. First day of employment will be established by agreement.

Selection process 

Decisions about employment will be preceded by external expert review, interviews and reference checking. Trial lectures may occur. After the application deadline, information about the continued process will be provided to all applicants. Please note that all documents received by the University of Gothenburg, including attachments, are public documents according to Swedish legislation.

Contact information 

If you have any questions about the position, please contact:

Mattias Wahlström, Assistant Head of Department with responsibility for research and postgraduate education, mattias.wahlstrom@gu.se, tel. +46 (0)31 786 4830
or
Micael Björk, Head of Department, micael.bjork@gu.se, tel. +46 (0)31 786 3810.

If you have questions about the recruitment process, you are welcome to contact Anna Karin Wiberg, anna-karin.wiberg@gu.se, tel. +46 (0)31 786 3156

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.  

Publications that cannot be attached to the application in digital format should be sent to: Department of Sociology and Work Science, att. AK Wiberg, Box 720, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden in four (4) copies).

The application must contain:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum Vitae/CV
• Copies of educational certificates, grades or other documents that prove the applicant's qualifications
• Declaration of intent on a maximum of two pages where the applicant explain how they intends to perform the duties within the applied for position
• Statement of scientific merits containing a complete list of publications, a list of the maximum 10 scientific works cited, justification for this selection, and a brief statement of own scientific activities. The cited scientific writings are attached as appendices
• Statement of pedagogical merits containing pedagogical training, a list of the maximum 10 pedagogical works/teaching materials that are referred to, a brief statement of own pedagogical activity and a pedagogical self-reflection. Qualitative reviews, course evaluations or the equivalent should be attached as attachments.
• Statement of leadership merits
• Statement of administrative qualifications
• Statement of collaboration merits
• References (at least 2) including name, title, current employment and contact details.

Attachments regarding all points must be named in a way that clearly shows their content.

 

Applications must be received by: April 30, 2024

 

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.