Assistant Professor in subject-matter education

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 Faculty of Education is one of the Nordic region’s leading research environments in the fields of teaching, learning, leadership, and health. Through our research, we contribute to a more equitable and sustainable society.

By recruiting four new assistant professors, one of whom specialises in subject-matter education, we are strengthening our work on the national initiative Excellence in school, which the University of Gothenburg and Karlstad University have been commissioned to develop. The initiative integrates three research areas—subject-matter education, knowledge assessment and conditions for learning, and school leadership—with the aim of promoting the development of knowledge among all pupils. As an assistant professor, you will be part of the new Centre for Teaching and Learning in Schools, to which a total of eight new assistant professors are being recruited, four of whom will be employed at University of Gothenburg.

This position in subject-matter education will be based at the Department of Pedagogical, Curricular, and Professional Studies.

Subject area

Subject-matter education

Subject area description

Subject-matter education concerns teaching and learning with a focus on specific content, often related to school subjects, academic disciplines, or professional practice. Subject-matter education research investigates the conditions for, and the relationship between, teaching and learning in one of the following subject areas: social studies, Swedish, mathematics, or science and technology.

Duties

A position as assistant professor in subject-matter education in one of the specialisations listed above is intended to enable the successful candidate to develop their teaching and research expertise for further academic career progression. The position therefore comprises 50% research and 50% teaching. The research will be conducted in collaboration with senior researchers at the Centre for Teaching and Learning in Schools and will form part of the research programme to be carried out within the strategic research area Excellence in School.

At the Department of Pedagogical, Curricular, and Professional Studies, we conduct research, provide education, and engage in collaboration concerning teaching and learning through subject-matter education, practice-oriented research, and critical research. Our research is organised into three research environments: Didactical Classroom Studies; Critical Education Research; and Phenomenography, Variation Theory, and Learning Study. As an assistant professor, you will be affiliated with one of our research environments and one of our divisions for subject-matter education. Read more about the department, and our divisions and research environments here: Department of Pedagogical, Curricular and Professional Studies, University of Gothenburg

The department’s teaching mostly takes place within the primary teacher education programme and the secondary teacher education programme, but also includes teaching on other programmes and courses and in continuing professional development. Teaching duties may also include school-based components of teacher education, core courses in educational studies, supervision of students at different levels (first-, second-, and third-cycle), and assessment of degree projects. Course coordination and administration are also included in the duties.

Teaching at the department is conducted primarily on campus and in Swedish, although some teaching in English also takes place. Good oral and written proficiency in English and in Swedish or another Scandinavian language is therefore required. Staff are also expected to be present on campus to a significant extent, thereby contributing to a stimulating academic environment.

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-matter education or another relevant field of doctoral studies, 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 and in one or more Scandinavian languages 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. International experience from doctoral and/or postdoctoral environments is considered an advantage.

Only applicants who meet the eligibility requirements will be assessed. In assessing applicants’ qualifications, most and equal weight will be given to research and teaching experience.

Teaching expertise will be assessed as thoroughly as research expertise. The application should therefore place as much emphasis on documenting teaching qualifications as on documenting research qualifications.

The assessment will also consider management and administrative expertise, collaboration with wider society, and personal suitability.

For the assessment criterion research expertise, the following aspects will be considered:

For the assessment criterion pedagogical expertise, the following aspects will be considered:

If the applicant does not, at the time of application, have qualifications in teaching and learning in higher education that meet the University of Gothenburg’s requirements (courses PIL101, PIL102 and PIL103), these qualifications must either be validated or the specified courses completed within one year of the start of employment (see Assessment and recognition of qualifications in teaching and learning in higher education | The PIL Unit)

For the assessment criterion leadership and administrative expertise, the following aspects will be considered:

For the assessment criterion collaboration with wider society, the following aspects, among others, will be considered:

For the assessment criterion personal suitability, consideration will be given to sound judgement in professional matters, the ability to perform the duties associated with the position, and the ability to collaborate with others and contribute to the development of the department’s activities.

In the appointment of a member of teaching staff, the applicant who, following an overall assessment of expertise and potential for development, is considered to have the best ability to perform the duties associated with the position shall be selected. It is important that the successful applicant is able to contribute to both research and teaching and has the personal qualities (and suitability) required to collaborate internally and externally in order to contribute to the academic development of the department and the subject area.

An overall assessment of applicants’ qualifications will be made, taking into account that an assistant professorship is a career-development position intended for relatively recently qualified doctoral researchers and teachers. The purely quantitative extent of an applicant’s achievements will therefore not be decisive. In assessing expertise, consideration will instead be given to the length of time over which the applicant’s overall achievements have been accumulated, as well as to the quality, originality, and impact of their publications. The position will be offered to the applicant who, following an overall assessment of expertise and potential for development, is considered suitable and to have the best ability to perform the duties associated with the position, collaborate with other members of staff, engage with external partners, and contribute to the positive development of the department’s activities. Extensive experience of academic environments outside Sweden is considered a strong advantage. 

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 apply, no later than six months before the end of the fixed-term appointment, to be assessed for promotion to a permanent position as senior lecturer in the same subject area as the assistant professorship, provided that they meet the eligibility requirements for such a position and are also deemed suitable following assessment using the established criteria for promotion to senior lecturer.

The following additional requirements for promotion apply in such an assessment:

Research expertise for promotion to senior lecturer must be demonstrated in particular through the applicant’s own research. Particular weight will be given to the demonstrated quality and originality of the research, research productivity during the period of employment, and progression in the applicant’s position within the scholarly community during the period of employment. Taking into account qualifications and achievements prior to the start of the appointment, applicants are expected to have an overall research record corresponding to the requirements for appointment as an unpaid docent at the Faculty of Education.

Completion of 15 higher education credits in qualifying courses in teaching and learning in higher education (or equivalent) is required for promotion, together with documented development of pedagogical expertise in both breadth and depth. This should include the ability to support student learning across a broader range of areas, in a greater variety of roles, with different groups of students, and at levels of education involving progressively greater demands.

Collaboration with wider society is expected.

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 for the 4, 7 and 8 December.

Contact information

If you have any questions regarding the position, please contact the Head of Department, Annika Lilja, annika.lilja@ped.gu.se, +46 31 786 24 33.

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact the HR Officer, Mikaela Hansson, mikaela.hansson@gu.se, +46 31 786 56 08.

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. Please indicate which specialisation in subject-matter education you are applying for: social studies, Swedish, mathematics, or science and technology.

The application should contain information and supporting documentation relevant to assessment in relation to the criteria specified under Assessment criteria.

The following documents should be included with your application:

A maximum of 10 research publications may be included with the application, together with a maximum of three teaching resources/pedagogical texts and a maximum of 3 reports/texts relevant to the assessment of collaboration, leadership, and administrative expertise.

In addition to the information explicitly requested under the headings above, the application is expected to include, for example, a clear quantitative summary of previous teaching within the subject area, showing how teaching hours have been distributed over time and across different courses, as well as qualitative documentation (such as descriptions of development work and course materials) that illustrates and provides evidence of the applicant’s pedagogical expertise. The list of publications must be structured so that peer-reviewed journal articles, peer-reviewed book chapters, and peer-reviewed books are presented under separate headings. Degree certificates, transcripts, and other certificates must be submitted together as a single PDF file.

Publications or other written works that cannot be submitted digitally with the application must be sent in duplicate to: Mikaela Hansson, Department of Pedagogical, Curricular, and Professional Studies, University of Gothenburg,  Box 300, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden. Please mark the envelope with the reference number for the position: PAR 2026/672.

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.