Assistant professor in ecology and evolution of terrestrial arthropods

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.

At the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences (BioEnv) teaching and research activities stretch from alpine ecosystems, through forests, cultivated land and streams, and into the marine environment. In these environments, we study different levels of biological organization, from genes, individuals, and populations to communities and ecosystems. We work within ecology, evolution, physiology, systematics, and conservation, and integrate across these fields to understand past and present ongoing evolutionary processes and the impact of anthropogenic changes on the environment. The strategy of the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences is to foster strong internationally networked research and to promote excellence in teaching.

This position is further co-funded by the Strategic Research Area: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in a Changing Climate (BECC; www.becc.lu.se/), which is a cooperation between Lund University and the University of Gothenburg. BECC brings together scientists from natural and social sciences to perform research essential in understanding the impacts of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystem services, as well as measures to mitigate and adapt to these changes. This position is particularly linked to the BECC grand challenges “Biodiversity under Global Change” and “Ecosystem Services under Global Change” (https://www.becc.lu.se/research-imperative-questions-our-time/becc-grand-challenges).

BioEnv also hosts internationally prominent research in biodiversity and hosts the Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre (GGBC; https://www.gu.se/en/ggbc-global-biodiversity), which promotes research and outreach. BioEnv and GGBC also facilitate access to several large biological collections spanning wide areas of the world and the tree of life.

Subject area

Ecology and evolution of terrestrial arthropods

Subject area description

The subject area encompasses ecology, evolution, diversity, and conservation of terrestrial arthropods. This includes studies of taxonomy, systematics, phylogenetics, species interactions, and evolutionary processes, as well as the ecological roles of arthropods in natural and managed ecosystems. Research and supervision tasks may be field- and/or collections-based and contribute to understanding the distribution, diversity, conservation and the role of arthropods in the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems and ecosystem services in a changing climate.

Duties

The main purpose of the position is to enable the successful candidate to establish an independent and internationally competitive research profile in ecology and evolution of terrestrial arthropods and to develop the scientific and pedagogical qualifications required for promotion to Senior Lecturer within 5 years.

The research focus can encompass ecology, evolution, systematics or other aspects concerning terrestrial arthropods. Research can be field- and/or collection-based. Research tasks include developing an independent research program in the ecology and evolution of invertebrates.

You are expected to apply for external, national and international grants and build and lead a research group, as well as supervise PhD students.

Teaching tasks are conducted at undergraduate and graduate levels within the biological and environmental science programs and are conducted in both Swedish and English. You are expected to teach about ecology and evolution, with a focus on Scandinavian terrestrial arthropods. Teaching might also include ecology, evolution and conservation as well as other aspects of biology and environmental sciences. Teaching forms include traditional, in-the-field, collection-based and other forms of lectures and exercises, as well as grading reports, theses, and examinations. Teaching occurs both at the department and in collaboration with several other departments and faculties (also see the ClimBEco Graduate Research School). In addition to lectures and exercises, course organization is also part of the job. Other tasks include supervision of first- and second-cycle degree projects in biological and environmental science. As a part of a larger team, you are expected to take an active role in the development and renewal of teaching at the department in both form and content.

Contributions to the development of master’s level courses in ecology 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, Courses offered in English | The PIL Unit ). For candidates who do not speak Swedish, competence development in Swedish is also included.

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 (Sve. ‘docentur’) 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 related fileds 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.

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 seeking 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.

Broad knowledge in ecology, evolution, taxonomy, and phylogeny, of  terrestrial arthropods is required.

The following are meritorious:

Research expertise

Research expertise is demonstrated through scholarly publications and current participation in national and international research collaborations and should be tightly linked to the subject area. 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 (e.g. lectures, seminars, field- and collection- based teaching, supervision, etc) at undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels (meritorious but not required) within the subject area of the position and with emphasis on the ability to teach about Scandinavian terrestrial arthropods. When assessing teaching expertise, special emphasis is placed on documented teaching work that has contributed to the development of courses and/or study programmes and instruction, consequently improving the teaching 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 (up to seven years). 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.

During the employment period, no later than 6 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: https://s3.gu.se/earkiv-publikt/GU1816-1319333663-232803.pdf

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: Employment benefits | University of Gothenburg

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.

If you do not have proficiency in Swedish at a minimum of level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), you will be offered language courses as part of your employment. Participation in these courses is mandatory.

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 are planned to take place December 14.

Contact information

If you have any questions regarding the position, please contact

Åsa Arrhenius, head of department

+46 31 786 2625

asa.arrhenius@bioenv.gu.se

Søren Faurby, senior lecturer

+46 736 422 482

soren.faurby@bioenv.gu.se

If you have any questions about the employment process, please contact HR at the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, hr@bioenv.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 application should include:

• Complete electronic copies of up to ten of your top scientific publications.

• Diploma Doctoral Degree.

• 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:  Maria Thell, Box 463, SE40530 Gothenburg, Sweden.

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.