Assistant Professor of Environmental Science

Stockholm University

Reference Number: SU FV-4428-25

Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Employment Type: Full-time, fixed-term (tenure track)
Last Application Date: 28 February 2026

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About Stockholm University

Stockholm University is a leading European university and one of the world’s top 100 institutions for higher education and research. The university hosts over 30,000 students, 1,300 PhD students, and 5,500 employees, primarily based at Campus Frescati.

Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab) is a national research infrastructure providing advanced large-scale technologies and expertise in the life sciences. In Stockholm, SciLifeLab is located at Campus Solna, approximately 20 minutes from Campus Frescati.

This position is part of the SciLifeLab Fellows Career Program.

Participating Departments

The position will be placed in one of the following departments, depending on the applicant’s research profile:

• Department of Environmental Science
• Department of Geological Sciences
• Department of Physical Geography
• Department of Zoology

All departments belong to the Faculty of Science and conduct internationally recognized research and education. Each department employs between 50 and 170 staff members and maintains active doctoral training programs.

Subject Area

Biodiversity

Subject Description

The subject of biodiversity is interpreted broadly and includes variation and evolution:

• Within species
• Between species
• Among communities
• Across spatial and temporal scales

Research may involve molecules, genes, individuals, species, and ecosystems, including their evolution, interactions, and environmental conditions. Emphasis should be placed on patterns and processes that have previously been difficult to study, but which are now accessible through recent methodological advances such as:

• High-throughput sequencing
• Artificial intelligence
• Advanced imaging
• Mass spectrometry
• Tomography
• Exposomics

Main Responsibilities

• Conduct high-quality research in biodiversity
• Teach and supervise students at:
  • Undergraduate (basic) level
  • Master’s (advanced) level
  • Doctoral (PhD) level
• Contribute to the development of the Planetary Biology Program at SciLifeLab, Campus Solna

Qualification Requirements

To qualify for appointment as Assistant Professor (biträdande lektor), applicants must:

• Hold a doctoral degree awarded in Sweden or an equivalent degree from another country
• Normally have received the doctoral degree no more than seven years prior to the application deadline

Applicants who completed their doctorate earlier may be considered under special circumstances, such as:

• Parental leave
• Sick leave
• Other comparable reasons

All teaching positions at Stockholm University require:

• Ability to collaborate effectively
• General suitability to perform academic duties

Assessment Criteria

The selection process will emphasize:

• Research excellence (primary criterion)
• Teaching skills and experience
• Relevance of scientific merits to the subject area

About the Employment

• This is a tenure-track position regulated by the Higher Education Ordinance (SFS 2024:673)
• Initial employment period: 6 years
• Possible extension up to 8 years under special circumstances (e.g., parental or sick leave)

Promotion

• The assistant professor may apply for promotion to Associate Professor (permanent position)
• Promotion criteria are established by the Faculty of Science
• Application for promotion must be submitted at least nine months before the end of the assistant professor appointment

Departmental Research Profiles

Department of Environmental Science

• Microbial diversity in environmental processes
• Anthropogenic impacts on ecosystems
• Pollutant degradation and transformation
• Airborne processes such as aerosol formation

Department of Geological Sciences

• Molecular palaeontology
• Deep-time biodiversity and evolution (>1 million years)
• Resistant biomolecules and diagenetic products
• Fossil and non-DNA archives of life

Department of Physical Geography

• Biodiversity across spatial scales (micro to global)
• Microbial diversity and biogeography
• Ecosystem functions and ecosystem services under global change

Department of Zoology

• Biodiversity within and across species
• Animal ecology, behaviour, physiology, and genetics

What We Offer

• A dynamic and international research environment
• Strong interaction between research and higher education
• Location within the National City Park with excellent transport links
• Access to SciLifeLab infrastructure and expertise
• Generous financial support for research, including funding for postdoctoral researchers and PhD students during the six-year appointment
• Commitment to equal opportunities and a discrimination-free workplace

Contact Information

For scientific inquiries, please contact the Head of the relevant department:

• Anna Sobek, Department of Environmental Science
  anna.sobek@aces.su.se
• Helen Coxall, Department of Geological Sciences
  helen.coxall@geo.su.se
• Sara Cousins, Department of Physical Geography
  sara.cousins@natgeo.su.se
• Niclas Kolm, Department of Zoology
  niclas.kolm@zoologi.su.se

For application process questions:

• Mikael Stenberg, Administrator
  mikael.stenberg@su.se

Application Instructions

Applications must be submitted via Stockholm University’s recruitment system.

Applicants are responsible for ensuring that:

• The application is complete
• All required documents are submitted
• The application is received before the deadline

Language

• Applications should be written in English, as they will be evaluated by international experts

Application Note

Applicants must explain:

• How their research complements and benefits
  • One or more of the four departments
  • SciLifeLab’s research and teaching environments

Employment Details

• Type of employment: Temporary (tenure track)
• Contract type: Full time
• Extent: 100%
• Salary: Individual salary setting
• Number of positions: 1
• City: Stockholm
• Country: Sweden