Associate Senior Lecturer in Ecosystem Science

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 56 000 students and 6 600 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

At the Department of Earth Sciences, we have ca 75 employees who work in the fields of Physical Geography, Ecosystem Sciences, and Geology. We have specializations in regional climate, polar climate, paleoclimate, urban climate, alpine and polar ecology, GIS and remote sensing, hydrogeology, geophysics, quaternary geology, and micro-geochemistry. Our three priority research themes are "Climate and Climate Change", "Earth Surface Processes" and "The Geosphere". The Department is well-equipped with labs, such as a drone lab, GIS teaching labs, an Ice Lab, and biogeochemical analysis labs. The Department also manages the infrastructure at Skogaryd Research Catchment (www.gu.se/en/earth-sciences/skogaryd-research-catchment-0), which offers an excellent opportunity to conduct research within the intended focus area of the position. The Department’s work focuses on Fennoscandia and Polar regions.

Our mission is to develop and deliver research, education, and services to society that improve our understanding of how the Earth System functions and the impact of human actions in particular. Our department works to achieve diversity in the workplace and to create a family-friendly environment. Sweden also offers generous benefits for parental leave and childcare. Further information about the Department is available on our website: www.gu.se/en/earth-sciences.

The position is partly funded by Mistra (The Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research; https://mistra.org/#eng) through their initiative 'Mistra Environmental Research Leaders', which targeted universities that had identified a need to recruit key competencies in the form of future environmental research leaders (https://mistra.org/nyheter/mistra-miljoforskningsledare-15-beviljade-ansokningar/#eng). The Associate Senior Lecturer is expected to actively participate in Mistra’s leadership program.

The Associate Senior Lecturer is also expected to be active within 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 University of Gothenburg. BECC brings together scientists from natural and social sciences to perform research essential to understanding the impacts of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystem services as well as measures to mitigate and adapt to those changes. The current research themes in BECC are “Carbon cycle & Climate change”, “Ecosystem Services under Global Change” and “Biodiversity under Global Change”.

Subject area

Ecosystem Science

Subject area description

Ecosystem science is an interdisciplinary research field that explores the interactions between biological, chemical, and physical processes in nature, as well as how these are influenced by human activity. Research in this area aims to understand the structure, function, and temporal changes of ecosystems, with a particular focus on sustainability, climate impact, and resilience. The subject integrates methods from ecology, earth sciences, biogeochemistry, and social sciences to analyze complex environmental challenges in both natural and urban landscapes.

This position specifically focuses on soil carbon dynamics in relation to changes in climate and land use, where the Associate Senior Lecturer is expected to conduct research on the formation and consumption of greenhouse gases in the plant-soil ecosystem, and how greenhouse gas dynamics are linked to land use.

Duties

In the Associate Senior Lectureship position, the main task is research (up to 80%) and some teaching (up to 20%). Duties include writing scientific papers, applying for external financing, and attending scientific meetings. Duties may include supervision of bachelors’ and masters’ student projects, as well as supervision of PhDs and Postdocs. Teaching is performed at the bachelor, masters, and PhD levels. The position may also include certain administrative duties at the Department or Faculty level.

If the applicant does not have Swedish as their native language, the position includes the opportunity to learn Swedish in order to meet the B2 level requirement according to the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).

Eligibility

To be eligible for an appointment as Associate Senior Lecturer, the applicant must have been awarded a PhD in Ecosystem Science, Physical Geography, Environmental Science, Ecology or another subject deemed equivalent for the position by the employer. Primary consideration should be given to a person who has been awarded a PhD or achieved the equivalent expertise within five years of the deadline for employment as an Associate Senior Lecturer. However, a person who has been awarded a PhD or achieved equivalent expertise at an earlier date may also be considered if there are exceptional circumstances. Such exceptional circumstances refer to leave due to illness, parental leave, or other similar situations. The reasons, dates, and extent must be clearly specified in the application and supported by documentation.

The eligibility criteria for employing teaching staff are set out in Chapter 4, Section 3-4 of the Higher Education Ordinance and in the Appointments Procedure for Teachers.

Assessment criteria

For the position as Associate Senior Lecturer, the faculty’s assessment criteria apply (see below). Particular emphasis will be placed on expertise in production and consumption of greenhouse gases in the soil–plant ecosystem, as well as experience with greenhouse gas dynamics related to land use. A deep understanding of peatlands and their role in the Earth system is critical, along with specific knowledge of their interaction with the biogeochemical cycles of carbon and nitrogen. The successful candidate will have a broad knowledge of ecosystem processes and the ability to effectively communicate scientific information to decision-makers and the general public. Interest in climate issues, especially how changes in land use can contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as well as an understanding of methods for climate reporting and greenhouse gas calculations within the IPCC emission factors and the UNFCCC reporting system, are considered merits. Experience in field measurements of greenhouse gases and/or modeling of plants and soil, as well as strong programming skills (e.g., Python and/or R), experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and a solid background in statistics, including machine learning, are also considered merits.

Assessment criteria for employment as a teacher are specified in the Higher Education Ordinance and the University of Gothenburg's employment regulations. The Faculty of Science and Technology uses these criteria for the assessment of scientific and pedagogical competence and general suitability. The scientific and pedagogical qualifications must be adequate in relation to the subject content and job description of the advertised position. Special emphasis is placed on scientific competence and skill. In addition to pedagogical proficiency, interaction with society is also important. Leadership skills as well as administrative competence are considered merits.

Scientific competence

Scientific competence shall be demonstrated by your own research, holding a good quality. For employment as an Associate Senior Lecturer, the applicant shall have demonstrated scientific proficiency. The assessment of academic competence includes an evaluation of the scientific work relevant to the position and an assessment of the applicant's potential for further scientific work in the subject area to which the position relates. When assessing the applicant's merits, the following criteria, among others, shall be given weight.

• Ability to plan and manage research activities.
• High quality of scientific output.
• Ability to obtain external research grants.

Pedagogic skills

For employment as an Associate Senior Lecturer, the applicant must have certain teaching qualifications and demonstrated pedagogic skills. The assessment of pedagogical competence includes both an evaluation of the pedagogical qualifications and an assessment of the applicant's potential for further pedagogical activities in the subject area to which the position relates. When assessing the applicant's qualifications, the following criteria, among others, shall be given weight.

• Some experience of teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
• Some ability to develop pedagogical activities.
• Some experience of supervision.

Interaction with society

For the position of associate senior lecturer, interacting with society and informing about one's activities is a merit and can be demonstrated by the following criteria:

• Some experience in dissemination of information.
• Some experience in community outreach.

Leadership and administrative skills

For the position of associate senior lecturer, leadership and administrative skills are an asset and can be demonstrated through the following criteria:

• Some experience in unit/department/university management or equivalent.
• Some experience as a member of boards, committees or other assignments in areas relevant to the functioning of the University.
• Some experience of leadership in relevant networks/associations/organizations

General suitability

The assessment of general suitability includes an evaluation of whether the applicant, with regard to this job description, has the personal qualities required to fulfill the duties of Associate Senior Lecturer well, to interact with other staff and to contribute to the good development of the Department’s activities.

It is desirable that the candidate has research topic interests that align with the strategic research interests of the Department, Faculty, and BECC program. To this end, a brief written statement of how the applicant’s planned research can benefit and be integrated with the Department’s research should be included in the application.

The successful candidate should be interested in conducting research using the infrastructures supported by the department and is expected to be active within BECC, both by participating in meetings and by contributing to or initiating research projects.

Fluency in English (oral and written) is necessary.

Employment

Type of employment: 6 years fixed term, merit-based employment as Associate Senior Lecture. After evaluation, promotion to a permanent position as Senior Lecturer is possible. See more information below.

Extent: 100 %, full-time

Location: Department of Earth Sciences, Gothenburg, Sweden

First day of employment: Latest 1 July 2026