Assistant Professor with specialisation in Sustainability in Humanities or Theology Full-time

Assistant Professor with Specialisation in Sustainability in Humanities or Theology

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world's top universities. The University has around 46,000 students and 8,500 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg, and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain, and improve our world and the human condition.

Assistant Professor Specialised in Sustainability in Humanities or Theology

Ready to shape the future of research? Would you like to shape the future of humanities or theology by taking on a leadership role in pioneering research? If so, we offer you the opportunity to join Lund University Programme for Global Excellence as an Assistant Professor (Associate Senior Lecturer). We are looking for an academically promising young researcher who can build and lead a research group within one of the following sustainability themes:

1. Existential Sustainability
2. Governance, Justice and Sustainable Futures
3. Human Rights in Transformation to Sustainability
4. Sustainable Fashion
5. The Role of Reading and Book Culture in a Sustainable Society

As an assistant professor, you will develop your qualifications as a researcher and teacher over a period of four years. During your final year, you will have the opportunity to apply for a tenured position as senior lecturer. At a later stage, and depending on your continued development and the long-term needs of the research area, you may then apply for promotion to professor.

You will receive five weeks of training in teaching and learning in higher education and get the opportunity to learn Swedish through the University's Swedish language courses for new international staff. For your move to Sweden, we offer you continuous support through our relocation services. If you are accompanied by family members, Lund's International Citizen Hub provides a gateway to Swedish society and your new community.

At the turn of the year 2026/2027, Sweden's largest public scientific funder, the Swedish Research Council, will announce attractive funding for assistant professors with an international background. As our new assistant professor, you will become the HT Faculties' nominated candidate in Lund University's internal selection process for said national VR-call – an exceptional chance to access one of Sweden's most attractive funding schemes for emerging research leaders.

The Joint Faculties of Humanities and Theology provide unique support for research on AI, culture, cognition, languages, and learning. Continuously expanding its methodological expertise in e-scientific and digital materials, research tools, and experimental methods for the Humanities. HT harbours several leading research infrastructures, such as Lund University Humanities Lab, Lund University Digital Archaeology Laboratory, and LUCS Robotics Group. The research funding landscapes in Sweden and Europe offer excellent opportunities for securing funding for pioneering research; VR's programme aimed at assistant professors with international backgrounds is one of them. As a Lund University employee, we will coach you in the art of grantsmanship.

Duties

We want you to thrive at Lund University and be able to make the best of your time at HT. As an assistant professor, you will have the opportunity to fully immerse yourself in your chosen field of research. As the holder of this position, the majority of your time will be allocated for your own research in collaboration with strong research environments, research infrastructures, and international platforms. Should your nomination for the VR-call mentioned above be successful, one of your first duties will be to conduct an innovative research project funded by the Swedish Research Council.

In addition to conducting research, during your time as assistant professor you will also develop your teaching expertise, outreach and collaboration skills, along with Swedish language proficiency. Throughout your employment, you are an active member of your department and participant in its diverse work.

Qualifications for Employment as an Assistant Professor

You hold a doctoral degree or have corresponding research expertise in one of the following subjects:

• Book studies, digital culture studies, library and information science, literary studies, or equivalent (for applications to The Role of Reading and Book Culture in a Sustainable Society)
• Southeast Asian Studies (for applications to Governance, Justice and Sustainable Futures)
• Ethics, Philosophy of Religion or Systematic Theology (for applications to Existential Sustainability)
• Fashion Studies, or equivalent (for applications to Sustainable Fashion)
• Human Rights (for applications to Human Rights in Transformation to Sustainability)

Applicants who hold a doctoral degree obtained within seven years of the application deadline will be prioritised. If you can document special circumstances, such as parental leave, military service or illness, that prevented you from working as a researcher after graduating, your doctoral degree may have been awarded earlier.

Requirements

In order to be appointed as an assistant professor within the framework of Lund University Programme for Global Excellence, the successful candidate is expected to demonstrate the following qualifications and abilities:

• A good ability to initiate, develop and implement high-quality research
• Good teaching ability
• Experience of conducting research outside of Sweden, with relevance for the current call
• A research plan for an innovative research project centered on one of the abovementioned sustainability themes (submitted together with the application)
• Documented leadership abilities, for example demonstrated through elected positions, leadership training, or assessed leadership experience.
• Good communication skills
• Very good oral and written English language skills
• Demonstrated aptitude for learning new languages
• Not received any remuneration or grant from Swedish employers or funding bodies from 31 December 2022 onwards.

Additional Qualifications

In addition to the requirements above, merit will be given to candidates who can also demonstrate the following qualifications and experiences:

• Have or have had a postdoctoral appointment
• Experience in applying for and obtaining research funding from funding bodies outside Sweden
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to a collegial and inclusive work environment
• Possess other credentials that facilitate a swift adaptation to your new position.

Promotion

Assistant professors may apply for promotion to permanent employment as a senior lecturer. Applications for promotion are subject to a special assessment to determine whether the applicant fulfils the Faculties' requirements for appointment as senior lecturer. An application for promotion may be submitted only once and must be submitted no later than six months before the end of the period of employment as assistant professor.

Assessment Criteria for Promotion from Assistant Professor to Senior Lecturer

When applying for promotion from assistant professor to senior lecturer, the applicant will be assessed based on whether they have:

• developed within their field during their time as an assistant professor. In relation to their doctoral thesis, the applicant must have clearly broadened their scholarly register and demonstrated good progression. Documented through: scholarly production with a scope corresponding to at least one additional doctoral thesis.
• good national and international standing as a researcher. The requirement for international merit shall be assessed with regard to the nature and tradition of the subject area. Demonstrated by: internationally competitive publishing, showcasing both breadth and depth, documented ability to obtain research funding in competition, documented expertise in planning, initiating, leading and developing research.
• ability to initiate new research approaches and to plan and start new research projects
• good teaching ability, which means a good ability to conduct, develop and lead teaching and other educational activities at different levels and using a variety of teaching methods. Demonstrated through: experience of the educational activities described above, a reflective attitude regarding the applicant's own teaching role.
• completed at least five weeks of teaching and learning in higher education training or acquired equivalent knowledge in other ways
• ability to participate in supervision of doctoral students to achieve a doctoral degree
• ability to engage with wider society and communicate your activities
• ability in other contexts to lead and develop activities. Demonstrated through: documented experience, with positive testimonials and clear results, of leading, coordinating and developing research and/or teaching activities and collaborating with others.

Form of Employment

Fixed-term position, 4 years, in accordance with Chapter 4, Section 12a § of the Higher Education Ordinance, with the opportunity for promotion to permanent employment as a Senior lecturer.

Conditions

Lund University is a public authority which means that you receive specific benefits, generous annual leave, and an advantageous occupational pension. The University applies individual salary-setting. More information about being an employee at Lund University can be found here.

Instructions for the Application

Applications must be submitted electronically via Lund University's recruitment system Varbi no later than 23:59 (CET) on the final