Assistant Professor in Chemistry, with a specialization in chemical glycobiology

The University of Gothenburg offers a research environment where internationally recognised excellence meets an open and collaborative culture. Here, early-career researchers are given the conditions to grow, build networks, and contribute to research with global relevance.

This position is part of the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment initiative Gothenburg Global Scholars. Learn more about the initiative and the University here: Gothenburg Global Scholars.

The Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Gothenburg conducts high-quality research and education in chemical sciences and molecular life sciences. Our research and education focus on a fundamental understanding of chemical and biological processes, ranging from the molecular and cellular level to human health and the environment.

The Department provides an international and interdisciplinary research environment, bringing together expertise in chemistry, molecular biology and related areas. Research spans a broad range of fields, including organic and medicinal chemistry, analytical and physical chemistry, biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, structural biology and biomolecular interactions. The Department is also responsible for education at Bachelor's, Master's and doctoral levels and contributes to several educational programmes within the Faculty of Science and Technology.

The Department has approximately 200 employees and is located in Natrium at Campus Medicinareberget, providing a modern research and teaching environment with access to advanced research infrastructure and close proximity to other research environments within the Faculty of Science and Technology, and the Sahlgrenska Academy.

We are now looking for an Assistant Professor with tenure track in Chemistry, specializing in Chemical Glycobiology. Following a positive evaluation, the department is responsible for offering long-term employment in a faculty position. The recruitment will strengthen the interface between chemistry and molecular life sciences at the department and contribute to the further development of research and education in molecular and chemical approaches to biological systems. The position comes with a generous package with full financial support for the Assistant Professor’s own salary, plus two to three additional recruitments (PhD student or postdoc) and running costs.

Subject area

Chemistry with a specializing in chemical glycobiology

Subject area description

Chemical glycobiology concerns the development and application of chemical approaches to understand the structures, dynamics and biological functions of glycans and glycoconjugates. The field integrates synthetic and analytical chemistry with chemical biology and molecular and cell biology to investigate how glycosylation influences molecular recognition, signalling, membrane organisation and biological function in health and disease.

Relevant approaches include carbohydrate and bioconjugation chemistry, metabolic and bioorthogonal labelling, chemical probe design, glycan editing, and mass-spectrometry-based glycomics and glycoproteomics. By enabling the identification, characterisation and manipulation of glycans and glycoconjugates in complex biological systems, chemical glycobiology provides a molecular link between chemistry, glycobiology and membrane biology.

At the Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, the subject will complement and connect existing strengths in medicinal and analytical chemistry, biochemistry, glycobiology, proteomics and membrane biology. Available department infrastructure includes advanced microscopes, facilities for culturing mammalian cells and microbes, high throughput/high content phenotypic cell-based screening, equipment for purification of small molecules and macromolecules, NMR, lasers, electron microscopy, and imaging mass spectrometry. An important opportunity is to integrate experimental glycoscience with computational and AI-based approaches for predicting and interpreting molecular structure, interactions and function, in interaction with existing research groups in the department.

The position is associated with the government-funded strategic research area CEMERAI (Centre for Modelling Life at the Membrane with AI), coordinated by Stockholm University, bringing together world-leading expertise in experimental and computational approaches to understand cellular membranes and their molecular components. Within this environment, chemical glycobiology provides experimental approaches and quantitative molecular information needed to understand the role of glycans and glycosylation in membrane organisation and function. A central aim is to develop and implement chemical tools to enable mechanistic studies of glycans and glycosylation in biological systems.

Duties

The main purpose of the position is to enable the successful candidate to establish an independent and internationally competitive research profile in chemical glycobiology and to develop the scientific and pedagogical qualifications required for promotion to Senior Lecturer within five years.

The position primarily involves research, including:

The position also includes teaching, course development and examination within the Department's educational programmes comprising chemistry, molecular biology and pharmaceutical programmes. The successful candidate is expected to contribute to undergraduate and advanced-level teaching in chemistry according to the needs of the department. This may include teaching in biochemistry, organic, and medicinal chemistry and related areas, as well as supervision of bachelor's and master's degree projects.

Contributions to development of master’s level courses in chemical biology and related areas will be welcomed by the department.

The successful candidate is also expected to participate in and contribute to the development of doctoral-level education.

Teaching will initially comprise approximately 20 % of full-time employment. The distribution between research, teaching and other duties may develop during the period of employment in accordance with the needs of the department and the career development of the successful candidate.

The position further includes research administration and project management, departmental service, societal collaboration and interaction, and participation in relevant research networks and research infrastructures.

Competence development is included in the position, particularly training in teaching and learning in higher education and supervision corresponding to 20 higher education credits (PIL101, PIL102, PIL103 and PIL201, or equivalent). For candidates who do not speak Swedish, competence development in Swedish is also included. The University of Gothenburg will provide Swedish language courses, which are mandatory within the framework of the employment.

The holder of the position is expected to develop independence as a researcher and to gain merits, both scientifically and pedagogically, to meet the eligibility requirements for a position as senior lecturer, prior to which the application for a docentship (‘docentur’ in Swedish) is a milestone.

Eligibility

Eligibility for appointment as Assistant Professor is governed by the Higher Education Ordinance and the Appointments Procedure for Teachers at the University of Gothenburg.

Qualification requirements for employment as an Assistant Professor are fulfilled by someone who has been awarded a doctorate in subject or has the corresponding research competence. Primary consideration should be given to someone who has been awarded a doctorate or achieved the equivalent competence within seven years of the deadline for application for employment as an Assistant Professor. However, someone who has been awarded a doctorate or achieved the equivalent expertise at an earlier date may also be considered if there are special grounds. Special grounds are sick leave, parental leave or other similar circumstances. The reason, dates, and extent of the absence must be clearly specified in the application and supported by documentation/certificates

The ability to teach in English is a requirement.

More specifically, the position requires:

The applicant must demonstrate the personal qualities required to carry out the duties of the position, collaborate with colleagues and contribute positively to the research, educational and working environment of the Department.

For candidates who do not speak Swedish, development of written and oral proficiency in Swedish (proficiency level B2 according to CEFR, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is required at least six months before the time of promotion to Senior lecturer in order to enable participation in teaching and other departmental activities conducted in Swedish.

Assessment criteria

The assessment criteria for appointment as Assistant Professor are governed by the Higher Education Ordinance and the Appointments Procedure for Teachers at the University of Gothenburg.

We are looking for candidates who have demonstrated the ability to independently initiate, develop, and conduct high-quality research within the subject area of the position.

Assessment will be based primarily on research expertise, secondly on teaching expertise, and thirdly on collaborative and administrative competence.

The faculty for natural science and technology applies the below criteria in assessment of scientific and pedagogical skills, and general suitability. Scientific and pedagogical competence shall be sufficient relative to subject content and work tasks.

Research expertise

Research expertise is demonstrated through scholarly publications and current participation in national and international research collaborations. In the assessment of scientific expertise, particular emphasis is placed on high-quality publications with prestigious international publishers and in respected international peer-reviewed journals. The quality, originality, and impact of publications are given greater emphasis than the total number of publications. The ability to obtain external research funding in competition is highly meritorious.

Teaching expertise

Teaching expertise is demonstrated through documented experience of having planned and implemented teaching in various forms (lectures, seminars, supervision) at the first-cycle, second-cycle and/or doctoral level within the subject area of the position. When assessing teaching expertise, special emphasis is placed on documented teaching work that has contributed to the development of a course or study programme and its instruction and consequently improved the quality

Collaboration with the community at large and Administrative Competence

Expertise in collaboration with the wider community is demonstrated, for example, through the ability to develop existing collaborative relationships or to establish new collaborations between academia and relevant societal stakeholders, as well as through the ability to communicate research findings to the public.

Administrative competence refers to experience of academic leadership, such as coordinating research or educational activities, as well as contributing to the development of the department or faculty.

Overall Assessment

A position as Assistant Professor is a career-development position targeting researchers and teachers who defended their doctoral thesis relatively recently. The position will be offered to the candidate who is assessed to have the best prospects for carrying out the duties required in the position, collaborating and cooperating with other staff, and contributing positively to the development of activities based on an overall assessment of their expertise and development potential.

Extensive experience in academic environments outside Sweden is highly meritorious.

Employment

An appointment as Assistant Professor is a fixed-term career-development position. The purpose of the position is to provide the successful candidate with the opportunity to develop their independence as a researcher and to strengthen their scientific and pedagogical qualifications in order to meet the requirements for eligibility for appointment as Senior Lecturer. The appointment may be extended, but for no more than a total of two years, if additional time is required to fulfil the purpose of the appointment due to sick leave, parental leave, or other special circumstances.

Promotion to Senior Lecturer

An Assistant Professor is entitled to be considered for promotion to a permanent position as Senior Lecturer in the same subject area as the Assistant Professorship, provided that the individual is qualified for such an appointment and is deemed suitable following an assessment based on the established criteria for promotion to Senior Lecturer.

Criteria for promotion from assistant professor to senior lecturer

During the employment period, no later than six months before it ends, the Assistant professor is expected to apply to be promoted to a permanent position as Senior Lecturer. It is to be noted that the application for promotion must be made within the same subject in which the applicant is employed. The requirements for promotion to Senior Lecturer can be found in the procedures of the Faculty of Science and Technology (V 2018/117) and is summarized as follows:

In addition to the requirements above, the suitability of the candidate for promotion will be assessed based on:

Moving to Gothenburg

Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden, beautifully situated on the west coast. The city is well known for its friendly atmosphere and high quality of life. Choosing a career in a new country is a major step. Gothenburg offers a welcoming environment and strong support for international talent relocating to the region.

Internationally recruited staff are offered a contracted relocation package and tax advisory services (Global Mobility support).

Move to Gothenburg - a guide for international talents

Welcome Services - support for international staff relocating to Gothenburg

Other information

The position of Assistant Professor is a career-development appointment and constitutes a step in an academic career path designed to enable researchers to develop their independence and establish their own research profile, with the right to be assessed for promotion to a permanent position as Senior Lecturer. At the University of Gothenburg, Senior Lecturers are also eligible to be assessed for promotion to a permanent position as Full Professor.

To support a healthy work–life balance, we offer academic freedom, flexible working arrangements, and generous annual leave. Employees are also entitled to a range of benefits, including a wellness allowance, supplementary parental benefits, and an occupational pension scheme. For more information about employment benefits at the University of Gothenburg, please visit: https://www.gu.se/en/work-at-the-university-of-gothenburg/employment-benefits

If you do not have formal training in academic teaching, you will be given the opportunity to undertake such training as part of your employment. Participation in these courses is mandatory.

For candidates who do not speak Swedish, a development of proficiency in oral and written Swedish to level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is expected, at least six months before promotion to Senior Lecturer, in order to enable participation in education and other departmental tasks that are performed in Swedish. The University of Gothenburg offers courses in Swedish that are compulsory within the framework of the employment.

Personnel recruited internationally will be offered a relocation package and an advisory meeting about taxes / Global Mobility.

Selection process

Eligibility screening of applicants will take place after the application deadline. The application documents of eligible candidates will subsequently be submitted to external reviewers for assessment.

As part of the selection process, in addition to expert assessment and interviews, trial lectures and reference checks may also be conducted.

Interviews will take place Tuesday, December 15, 2026.

Contact information

If you have any questions regarding the position, please contact assistant Head of Department, professor Per Sunnerhagen, phone: +46705294180 e-mail: per.sunnerhagen@cmb.gu.se.

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact hr@cmb.gu.se

Unions

Information about union representatives at the University of Gothenburg is available here.

Applications

You apply for the position through the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal by clicking the “Apply” button. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their application is complete in accordance with the advertisement and that it is submitted no later than the application deadline.

Please submit your application in English, as it will be reviewed by external reviewers whose working language is English.

The selection of candidates is made based on the qualifications registered in the application. Together with your application, the following should be attached:

Any documents that are not available in electronic format should be clearly marked with the position’s reference number PAR 2026/591 and sent in copies to:

Application deadline: 30 October 2026

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.