Assistant Professor in Social Work with a focus on crime prevention

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 Swedish Research Council will announce an attractive funding opportunity for Assistant Professor with an international background at the end of 2026. The university’s ambition is to nominate strong candidates from this recruitment initiative to the Swedish Research Council.

The Department of Social Work is part of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Gothenburg. It is one of the largest and most established academic environments for research and education in social work in the Nordic region. The Department has more than 130 employees and provides education at first-, second- and third-cycle levels. Its educational offerings include the Social Work Programme, master’s programmes in Social Work and human rights, and other further education.

Research is conducted across several thematic areas in an active and expanding academic environment characterised by a strong commitment to society. The department also has extensive international partnerships and collaborates with research networks and universities worldwide.

More information is available on the Department of Social Work website: gu.se/en/socwork

We are currently seeking to appoint an Assistant Professor in Social Work who will contribute to strengthening our research and education environment.

Subject area

Social Work

Subject area description

Social work examines the living conditions and experiences of people in situations of social vulnerability. The subject also explores the causes and consequences of social problems and how these can be understood at individual, group and societal levels. Written communication and the use of language in different forms and contexts are central to professional social work practice. Social work is a main field of study at first- and second-cycle levels and a third-cycle subject. 

Duties

The duties of an Assistant Professor include conducting research equivalent to at least 50 per cent of full-time. This includes identifying research questions, developing theoretical ideas, data collecting and choosing research methods. The position also includes actively seeking external funding for their own research and actively participating in the department's research environments and seminar activities.

The duties also consist of education in the form of preparation for, implementation of, and follow-up work on various forms of teaching at undergraduate level, advanced level and possibly in doctoral education. Course and programme development, course responsibility, course administration and other pedagogical work are also included in the position.

As an Assistant Professor, you will be part of the strategic research programme Building Resilience in Crime Prevention (BRiC): Advancing Professional Knowledge of Child Vulnerability, Drug Markets and Emerging Technologies. BRiC was launched in spring 2026 and is currently in its start-up phase. The programme is funded by the Swedish Research Council and is a collaboration between Lund University, the University of Gothenburg, Malmö University and Linnaeus University.

BRiC brings together more than 60 researchers and aims to strengthen scientific and professional knowledge in crime prevention through research conducted in close collaboration with practitioners in social services and the criminal justice system. As an Assistant Professor, you will have the opportunity to help shape this emerging research environment and further develop your research and collaboration networks in the field of crime prevention.