Faculty of natural resources and agricultural sciences

Department of Crop Production Ecology

This fully funded professorship will be positioned at the Department of Crop Production Ecology, which together with the Department of Ecology, constitute an inspiring research environment at the Ecology Centre on SLU’s Uppsala campus.

The Department of Crop Production Ecology develops knowledge on cropping systems by focusing on meeting the demands for quantity and quality of food, feed, and bio-based raw materials in a sustainable way in a changing world. The research addresses challenges relating to increasing demand, climate change, environmental impact and biodiversity loss linked to farming and food systems.

Research and education at the department focus on crop production ecology ranging from the molecular level through the plant, field and farm to the landscape. Current subject areas are cropping systems, crop production, plant ecology and weed ecology. Research is often carried out in collaboration with other scientific disciplines and with stakeholders to contribute to the development of more sustainable food and farming systems. Teaching is at first  and second cycle levels, mainly within programs leading to degrees in agronomy and biology.

The SLU Ecology Centre is a Nordic and European hub for sustainable agriculture, plant protection, nature conservation, wildlife management, insect ecology and forestry. Our approach is based in the natural sciences in collaboration with subjects within the social sciences and the humanities, creating opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations. The Ecology Centre is part of the Faculty for Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences, where research, education and environmental monitoring and assessment within agriculture and the environment are conducted, with focus on Agenda 2030 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

SLU is one of largest centres for ecological research in the Nordic countries and offers a dynamic and excellent research environment supported by a modern infrastructure. This includes extensive, modern plant cultivation facilities, four field research stations and more than 60 long term agricultural experiments, including a new large scale, long term landscape experiment. SLU’s cross-faculty coordinated actions provide support for multi- and inter-disciplinary research.

Read more about the Department here.

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at SLU via the following link.

Subject Area

The subject area includes agricultural crop production systems in temperate regions with focus on production and ecology. It is based on understanding of how crop production is impacted by management, environment and climate, its integration in farming and food systems, and how agriculture impacts surrounding ecosystems.

Duties

The Professor is expected to lead and manage a research group, which may include administrative duties such as budget and staff responsibility.

The candidate should within the subject area

• develop and lead successful and internationally recognized research that includes experimental and field-based research in Sweden and other countries
• develop, lead and participate in higher education (first, second and third cycle levels)
• teach primarily in the subject area, but also in other areas at first, second and third cycle levels where the subject is comprised
• supervise doctoral students and mentor relevant staff
• collaborate with other research groups within SLU in order to strengthen interdisciplinary activities at the university
• develop and maintain national and international collaborations, including co-creation approaches, with academia, governmental agencies, industry, other organisations and society at large
• apply for external research funding from both national and international sources
• contribute to the strategic development of the department, faculty and SLU
• communicate research findings and other relevant information to society at large
• be able to communicate in Swedish within four years.

Swedish and English are used in parallel at the department. The successful applicant will be able to conduct the majority of her/his duties in English. As a public authority, the university has Swedish as its main language according to the requirements of the Language Act and the professor must be able to use Swedish as their working language within four years of beginning the position. The department will provide support with language training if needed.

Qualifications

The applicant shall 

• have a PhD and competence as associate professor (docent) or equivalent academic qualifications
• be scientifically skilled in the subject area
• have demonstrated the ability to lead and develop a successful research team
• have demonstrated the ability to successfully secure external research funding in competition
• be pedagogically skilled and have the ability to integrate research and a scientific approach into teaching
• have a proven track record of research collaborations outside academia
• have a good knowledge of English.

Assessment criteria

Assessment of the candidate’s suitability for employment will primarily be based on the degree to which the candidate possesses the qualifications required for the position. 

The assessment of research expertise will take the following into account 

• completed and ongoing research
• future research plans
• the ability to independently initiate, conduct outstanding research
• the ability to obtain external research funding in competition.

 The assessment of teaching expertise will take the following into account 

• planning, implementation, and examination, as well as evaluation of own teaching
• supervision and examination of doctoral students
• pedagogic vision and reflection.

Furthermore, the assessment will consider the applicant’s expertise in 

• developing and leading activities and staff within academia
• communication and cooperation
• collaborating with relevant stakeholders and society
• communicating research findings and development.

It is a merit to have previously conducted inter- or trans-disciplinary research.

The scientific and pedagogical skills are given equal weight during the assessment of candidates. The position will be offered to the applicant who, following a qualitative overall assessment, is judged to have the best qualifications to carry out and develop assigned tasks and contribute to a positive development of the organisation.

 

This position offers the vibrant research climate at SLU. The benefits of the position include Swedish family health care provisions, parenting support including generous paid leave of absence policies that allow both parents to care for newborns and toddlers. Additionally Sweden has a well-established pre-school structure as well as an educational system that provides no-cost education through university studies. Find out more facts and stories about Sweden at www.sweden.se

Located in the greater Stockholm region, the city of Uppsala has a rich history and culture, and is a true academic and cultural hub. Find out more about moving, living and working here at https://internationalhub.uppsala.se/

Application deadline:

2024-07-31

Place of work:

Uppsala

Extent:

100%

Form of employment:

Permanent employment

Starting date:

By agreement.

Application:

It is desirable that the application is written in English, as the applications will be assessed by experts both in Sweden and abroad.

For the guidance of your application, there is SLU's appointment procedure for teachers at SLU and General assessment criteria for the appointment of teachers, which you can read here.

Please apply by clicking the apply-button below.

Adacemic union representatives:

https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/employee-associations/kontaktpersoner-vid-rekrytering/

Contact person

URL to this pagehttps://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/jobs-vacancies/?rmpage=job&rmjob=9838&rmlang=UK