Associate Senior Lecturer in Environmental Social Science, one or several

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 School of Global Studies (IGS) is a creative and innovative university environment for research and education that provides the ability to understand and analyze social phenomena in our global world. We are looking for people who are stimulated by working in a dynamic, international and interdisciplinary environment. The School's educational and research activities cover global studies, global development studies, global gender studies, human ecology, social science environmental studies, peace and development studies, international relations, human rights and social anthropology

For further information about the department, please visit https://www.gu.se/globalstudies  

Subject area

Environmental Social Science

Subject description

In Environmental Social Science, global challenges and the relationships between society, people and the environment are studied. At the School of Global Studies, the subject is based on three themes: power, knowledge and change. Environmental Social Science is problem-driven and relates to contemporary global challenges such as climate change, urbanization, deforestation, biodiversity loss, and natural resource use. The subject is inspired by the human ecology research tradition that is interdisciplinary and critically oriented. We conduct research in a wide range of empirical fields and apply a variety of social science methods. Within the subject there is expertise in environmental governance, sustainable development, sustainable urban development, climate change, environmental law, environmental education, climate change, human rights and the relationship between nature and society. The school offers a Swedish-language bachelor's program in Sustainable Development, Societal Change and Climate Change (HUSK). Environmental Social Science issues are also integrated into the bachelor's program and the master's program in global studies. The department offers doctoral programs in environmental social science studies, peace and development research and social anthropology. 

Work tasks

The position includes mainly teaching and research. As an associate senior lecturer, you are expected to:  

- Teach, take course responsibility, supervise and examine at first and second cycle level corresponding to 50 percent of full time. Teaching is mainly in the form of lectures, seminars and group work, but other forms of teaching may also occur. The main teaching will be located at Bachelor's program in Sustainable Development, Societal Change and Climate Change (HUSK) and other parts of the IGS programs based on the needs of the department.

- Conduct research corresponding to 50 percent of full-time in Environmental Social Science Studies.

- Perform administrative tasks/assignments as needed.

- Actively participate in seeking external funding for own research and for doctoral students when deemed appropriate.

- Collaborate within and across disciplines.

The tasks also include course and program development and participation in the department's educational development work. You are expected to actively participate in the department's research environments and seminar activities as well as the international research community by, for example, participating in conferences and publishing in international peer-reviewed journals. The applicant is expected to initiate collaborations and actively interact with actors outside the academic world, for example in research collaborations or other activities where research results can be used and contribute to debate, reflection and problem solving.

The position requires very good language skills in oral and written English and Swedish.

The position as associate senior lecturer is a merit-based position where the holder, after an approved examination, can be promoted to Senior Lecturer.

Eligibility

Eligibility for employment as a teacher is regulated in Chapter 4 of the Higher Education Ordinance and in the University of Gothenburg's employment regulations, see Employment Regulations for Teachers at the University of Gothenburg with the Faculty of Social Sciences' local application (GU 2022/2359).

Qualified to be employed as an associate senior lecturer is a person who has completed a doctoral degree in Environmental Social Science Studies or has equivalent scientific competence in a social science or interdisciplinary subject with a focus on environmental issues no more than five years before the time for applying for the position of associate senior lecturer has expired (HF Chapter 4, Section 12a). However, those who have completed a doctoral degree or have achieved equivalent competence earlier may also be considered if there are special reasons. Special reasons means leave due to illness, parental leave or other similar circumstances.

Other assessment criteria to be applied are specified in the assessment criteria below. 

Assessment basis

In the appointment, equal weight will be given to pedagogical and scientific skills.

The teaching skills are demonstrated by:

- Documented experience of having successfully planned and implemented teaching, supervision and examinations in a social science subject with a focus on environmental issues (or related subject areas) at bachelor, master and/or doctoral level.

- Ability to reflect on completed and documented work of importance for the quality and development of education and/or teaching.

- Writing of teaching materials and certificates from higher education pedagogical courses.

- Experience of course and/or program development, course responsibility, writing of teaching materials and certificates from higher education pedagogical courses.

- Documented knowledge of the climate issue and climate policy, such as climate negotiations at the transnational level, climate action and climate transition, or other perspectives on the climate issue such as gender or equity dimensions.

The scientific skills are demonstrated by:

- Own research with a high degree of problem formulation ability, theoretical and methodological awareness and analytical skills.

- Successful applications for external funding of research as main applicant or co-applicant, or equivalent.

- Publication in (peer-reviewed) international journals or international publishers in the field of social science environmental studies or related areas. In cases where the applicant is not the sole author, the division of responsibility for the work must be stated.

- Ongoing participation in research collaborations and documented ability to obtain external research funding.

The applicant who, after an overall assessment of skills and potential for future development (based on the applicant's documented experience, current work and future plans for research and teaching), is judged to have the best conditions to perform the tasks included in the position, will be selected for the position of associate senior lecturer. In addition, the assessment will take into account the applicant's ability to collaborate both internally and externally to perform the tasks described above. The overall assessment shall also include the applicant's ability to contribute to a positive development of the activities. In the assessment, equal weight shall be given to scientific and educational merits.

Others

An associate senior lecturer shall, upon application, be promoted to senior lecturer if he or she is qualified for a position as senior lecturer and, upon examination, is deemed suitable for such a position according to the assessment criteria specified by the university in the vacancy announcement. The application for promotion must be submitted no later than six months before the expiry of the fixed-term employment. Such a promotion entails a permanent position. as a senior lecturer. Applications for promotion shall be made in the same subject in which the applicant is employed.

In accordance with Chapter 4 of the Higher Education Ordinance, eligibility for employment as a senior lecturer is that the applicant has demonstrated pedagogical skills and has been awarded a doctoral degree or has equivalent scientific competence or some other professional skill that is of significance with regard to the subject content of the employment and the tasks to be included in the employment. In such a review, the following requirements for promotion also apply:

- Qualifying education in higher education comprising 15 credits is a requirement for promotion. The higher education pedagogical training at the University of Gothenburg consists of the courses PIL101, PIL102 and PIL103. Teachers who have not completed the University of Gothenburg's higher education pedagogical training can have their faculty examine whether their own merits correspond to the university's training.

- Documented ability to teach the Swedish language (can be demonstrated by actual teaching and/or approved courses in Swedish at advanced level).

- Scientific proficiency for promotion for the current position shall be demonstrated in particular through participation in applications for funding of research projects, submitted during the period of the associate professorship and that peer-reviewed scientific publications in international journals and/or publishers have been accepted for publication during the period of the associate professorship. The scientific merit must have reached the level of docent competence.

Information on the recruitment process

For the recruitment of an associate senior lecturer, an expert procedure, interviews, reference taking and possibly a trial lecture are applied.

Form of employment

Type of employment: Fixed-term employment of 4 years with the possibility of promotion to Senior Lecturer and permanent employment.

Scope: 100%

Location: School of Global Studies, Gothenburg

Starting date: January 1, 2025, or according to agreement.

For further information:

Information about the employment is provided by Michael Schulz, Head of the School of Global Studies, michael.schulz@globalstudies.gu.se

Information about the recruitment process is provided by Elvedina Sikiric Lidström, HR elvedina.sikiric.lidstrom@gu.se

Trade union organizations

Trade union representatives for the University of Gothenburg: https://www.gu.se/en/about-the-university/work-at-the-university-of-gothenburg/how-to-apply

How to apply

You apply for the position via the University of Gothenburg's recruitment portal by clicking on the "Apply" button. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the application is complete in accordance with the advertisement and that it is received by the University no later than 2024-08-19.

Please write your application in English, as it will be reviewed by international experts. The selection process is likely to include mock lectures, interviews and reference checks.

The application should include:

1. a curriculum vitae/CV, including a full list of publications, administrative experience, documented collegiality, experience of collaboration, and an account of external funding received (with amounts).
2. A description of your scientific qualifications, including: 2. a) A list of your five most relevant scientific publications.

Indicate your role and the scope of your work for the selected publications that are co-authored. Certificates of co-authored publications must be attached along with a statement of the co-authors' contribution to the publication. If an article or book is accepted for publication but not yet published, the certificate of accepted publication must be attached.

3. b) An account of your academic qualifications, your research profile (previous and ongoing research in international relations) and why this position is of interest to you and what you believe you can contribute to the field of international relations. The statement should include a research plan with a description of ongoing and planned research (max 5 pages).

4. Full electronic copies of a maximum of five scientific publications.

5. A statement of your teaching qualifications including: 5. a) A list of the courses and training programs you have developed and taught, as well as experience in supervision and examination.

6. b) A description of your pedagogical merits and qualifications with information on their scope and quality.

7. c) A pedagogical self-reflection on your teaching philosophy and practice (max 3 pages).

8. d) Certification of your teaching experience from a head of department/director of studies or equivalent at at least one university/department.

9. A short description of how you can contribute to the development of the subject area Environmental Social Science Studies at IGS in the future (max 700 words).

10. Other certificates and documents that you wish to refer to.

Scientific publications, writings, CVs and similar that are not available in electronic form should be sent to:

University of Gothenburg

Elvedina Sikiric Lidström

School of Global Studies

Box 700

405 30 Gothenburg

Deadline for applications: 2024-08-19

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.