Senior Lecturer in Chemical Ecology - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

At the Department of Biology, we perform fundamental research in many different areas, ranging from biosynthesis and protein production to interactions within ecosystems, and from the genetic code to behaviour. We also perform research on a number of applied topics, such as conservation biology, pest control and the effects of climate change. The Biological Museum holds a large and unique collection from which specimens are lent across the world. The department has excellent facilities with almost everything a biologist could wish for, including molecular laboratories, electron- and confocal microscopes, climate-controlled rooms, a wind tunnel and a field station. A total of around 300 people, of which about 70 are PhD students, work at the department.

The new position is intended to strengthen department’s long tradition of research within chemical ecology. By using a broad spectrum of techniques, our researchers study the function of chemical signals, how those signals have evolved, and how they can be used in for instance pest control. Our chemical ecology researchers contribute to the international PhD student course Sensory Ecology, which attracts doctoral students from all over the world. The Department of Biology is also a member of the Max Planck Centre for Next Generation Insect Chemical Ecology in collaboration with Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany. 

Job description
The principal duties of the position consist mainly of research and teaching at both the undergraduate and postgraduate level. Teaching is expected to account for around 30% of full-time work at the senior lecturer level. Teaching typically accounts for up to around 20% for a full professor. In addition, the successful candidate is expected to supervise Master’s and PhD students. Administrative duties at the department-, faculty- or university level may be included in the position, and the appointee is expected to interact with authorities and society at large. The description of duties associated with the position, as well as the ratio between research and teaching, may change over time.

The successful candidate is expected to develop an active research programme in chemical ecology by actively applying for external research funding and by developing collaborations with research groups within the university as well as with other organisations and universities, both national and international, that work on similar research questions.

The purpose of the new position is to strengthen the department’s existing research in chemical ecology, which currently focuses mainly on insects. It is therefore of particular importance that the applicant’s research fits with or complements current research themes. The ability to build synergistic collaborations with multiple research groups at the department is also desirable.

A starting grant will accompany the position.

Eligibility
Qualifications for appointment as a senior lecturer include demonstrated teaching expertise and a completed PhD (or equivalent research competence or other professional expertise of similar value for the position and the duties it will entail, as specified by the Higher Education Ordinance, chapter 4, section 4).

For this position, the qualified applicant must have a PhD within the fields of biology or chemistry, or from another field deemed relevant for chemical ecology or chemical communication.

The applicant is required to have completed at least five weeks of training in higher education teaching and learning, or to have acquired equivalent knowledge by other means. In certain cases, this requirement can be waived.

A general qualification required for academic staff at Lund University is that they are suited for, and have the required general ability, to fulfil the duties of the position. 

Basis of assessment
The applicant must have a documented scientific competence within the field of chemical ecology, and possess a research profile that is related to, and complements, the research programs currently pursued by tenured academic staff at the department. The applicant’s scientific merits will be judged principally on the basis of the quality and quantity of their peer-reviewed scientific publications.

As part of their application, the applicant must describe their current research and also present a research plan for the coming years, explaining how they can add to, strengthen and renew research at the department, including which synergistic collaborations within the department they can envision. The applicant will be assessed on their potential to strengthen and complement the department’s research and teaching in chemical ecology and chemical communication, as well as how the applicant can benefit from available infrastructure.

Currently, the scope of research and postgraduate education is strongly dependent on the skills and abilities of individual researchers to attract external funding. The applicant must therefore possess a documented ability to competitively attract external funding from national and/or international funding sources.

Documented experience and ability to teach within the candidate’s own and neighbouring fields, at both basic and advanced levels (including postgraduate levels), is of merit, as is documented experience of supervision of Masters and PhD students.

Documented experience and ability of leadership is of merit.

The applicant must possess excellent abilities in written and spoken English and be a skilful communicator. Personal qualities of merit are creativity, a strong motivation, an ability to collaborate, a proficiency for working in teams, openness, endurance, an interest in (and a talent for) teaching, an interest in sharing knowledge and collaborating inside and outside academia, a respectful attitude towards colleagues, and the ability to give constructive feed-back. The ability to collaborate with research and teaching personnel both internally and externally is of significant importance.

The assessment of pedagogical merits will be given the same priority as the assessment of scientific merits.

When making the appointment, consideration will be given to the Lund University Appointment Rules.

It is expected that within three years a non-Swedish-speaking appointee will sufficiently master the Swedish language to teach and to communicate with the university administration in Swedish.

Promotion
A highly merited senior lecturer may, after commencement of the position, apply to be promoted to professor.

Design and content of the application
Your application must be written in English, since it will be assessed by international experts. The application should be formulated according to the Faculty of Science’s Instructions for applications for an academic position. Please upload the application as PDF-files in the university’s recruitment system.