Assistant Professor of Humanities

Lund University

Institution: Lund University – Joint Faculties of Humanities and Theology
Reference Number: PA2026/925
Type of Employment: Temporary, Full-time (100% FTE)
Start Date: 1 February 2027 or by agreement
Location: Lund, Skåne län, Sweden
Application Deadline: 31 May 2026

About Lund University

Founded in 1666, Lund University is consistently ranked among the world’s top universities. It has around 46,000 students and 8,500 staff across Lund, Helsingborg, and Malmö. The University is committed to understanding, explaining, and improving the world and the human condition.

The Joint Faculties of Humanities and Theology (HT) comprise eight departments and about 700 employees, with 4,000 students. HT conducts research and education to understand humans as cultural and social beings, and provides strong research infrastructure and international collaboration opportunities.

Position Overview

The University is seeking an up-and-coming researcher to conduct and lead pioneering research in a strategically prioritised area as an Assistant Professor (Associate Senior Lecturer).

Themes:

• Apocalyptic and Post-Apocalyptic Studies (Centre for Theology and Religious Studies)
• Cognitive Modeling (Department of Philosophy)
• Environmental Humanities – Long-term Perspectives (Department of Archaeology and Ancient History)
• The History and Memory of the Holocaust (Department of History)

Program: Lund University Programme for Global Excellence

Opportunities:

• Develop research qualifications over four years
• Apply for a tenured Senior Lecturer position in the final year
• Potential promotion to Professor in the long term
• Five weeks of teaching and learning training
• Swedish language courses for international staff
• Relocation support and guidance via International Citizen Hub

Funding:
Eligible for the Swedish Research Council (VR) funding call for assistant professors with an international background starting 2026/2027.

Duties

• Conduct innovative research within a strategically prioritised research area
• Develop and lead research projects, particularly if VR funding is secured
• Collaborate with strong research environments and international platforms
• Develop teaching expertise and engage in outreach and collaboration
• Contribute to department activities and collegial work

Qualifications

Required:

• Doctoral degree (PhD) or corresponding research expertise in the relevant subject:Doctoral degree obtained within 7 years of the application deadline (exceptions for parental leave, military service, illness)
  • Archaeology and Ancient History (Environmental Humanities)
  • Cognitive Science or Computational Neuroscience (Cognitive Modeling)
  • History (The History and Memory of the Holocaust)
  • Systematic Theology, Philosophy of Religion, or Theological Ethics (Apocalyptic Studies)
• Ability to initiate, develop, and implement high-quality research
• Teaching ability
• Experience conducting research outside Sweden relevant to the call
• Research plan for an innovative project in the chosen strategic area (mandatory)
• Documented leadership experience
• Very good English communication skills
• Aptitude for learning new languages
• No remuneration or grants from Swedish employers or funding bodies since 31 Dec 2022

Merit-based Qualifications:

• Postdoctoral experience
• Experience obtaining international research funding
• Ability to contribute to an inclusive work environment
• Credentials supporting swift adaptation to the position

Promotion to Senior Lecturer

After the assistant professor term, applicants may apply for permanent employment as a Senior Lecturer, assessed on:

• Research development and scholarly progression
• National and international recognition and competitive publishing
• Grant acquisition and research leadership
• Teaching ability and supervision of doctoral students
• Engagement with society and other leadership activities

Employment Conditions

• Fixed-term position: 4 years (Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 4, Section 12a §)
• Opportunity to apply for promotion to Senior Lecturer
• Lund University offers generous benefits, annual leave, and occupational pension
• Individual salary-setting

Application Instructions

• Submit electronically via Lund University’s recruitment system Varbi
• Deadline: 31 May 2026, 23:59 CET
• Follow the Instructions for applications to Assistant Professor positions in the Global Excellence program
• A research plan is mandatory and central to application assessment
• Ensure application completeness and adherence to instructions

Contact Information

• Recruitment Coordinator: Anna Kvist – Profile
• Dean: Johannes Persson – Profile

Union Representatives:

• OFR/ST: +46 46 2229362
• SACO: +46 46 2229364