Associate Senior Lecturer in History of Religions - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The Centre for Theology and Religious Studies (CTR) has existed since the University’s foundation in 1668, albeit under different names. CTR offers courses in specialist areas such as the history of religions and religious behavioural science, biblical studies, church and mission studies and studies in faith and world views. Research is conducted in all the disciplines of religious studies and theology.

CTR is part of Lund University’s wider vision to be a role model for how future knowledge is created and communicated. Like the University as a whole, CTR aims to understand, explain and improve our world and the human condition through education, research and external engagement. Specifically, CTR’s goal is to use education and research to develop analytical skills and impart knowledge about religious phenomena from the past and present in the pursuit of a fair and well-functioning society.

History of Religions is a subject at CTR that principally involves the study of religious traditions outside the Christian cultural sphere. Religion is considered here as an historical and changeable phenomenon rooted in the culture and society of its time. History of Religions as an academic discipline has principally involved the philological and anthropological study of the non-Christian religions and their cultural, social and political role in history and the present day.

CTR currently has expertise in History of Religions within the areas of Judaism, Islamology and Asian religions. With an aim to maintain the breadth of the subjects in History of Religions, a position is being advertised for an associate senior lecturer in History of Religions with an empirical specialisation other than the above-mentioned areas. The research specialisation can be historical and text-oriented or focus on contemporary religious life. The successful candidate should also be very familiar with the methodological and theoretical discussion within History of Religions.

Duties

Personal research accounts for at least 50% of the position. The successful candidate is also expected to actively participate in the research seminar on History of Religions and the department’s joint activities. The position involves planning and conducting teaching in History of Religions in the first and second cycles, primarily in areas other than Judaism, Islam and Asian religions. Teaching is in the form of lectures, seminars and supervision, including both campus-based and online sessions. The position also involves administrative duties.

At CTR, we nurture the work environment, which is why employees are expected to be an active presence in the departmental environment and participate in the collegial community. A good ability to cooperate is a requirement.

The position is to provide an opportunity for career development regarding teaching and research. Scope is primarily to be given for career development regarding research. An opportunity is provided within the framework of the position for five weeks’ training in teaching and learning in higher education.

Required qualifications

A person qualified for appointment as an associate senior lecturer is a person who has been awarded a PhD or has the corresponding research expertise. 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 application for employment as an associate senior lecturer. However, a person who has been awarded a PhD or achieved the equivalent expertise at an earlier date may also be considered if there are exceptional circumstances. Exceptional circumstances are sick leave, parental leave or other similar circumstances.

Further requirements for appointment are:

Assessment criteria

• a good ability to develop and carry out high-quality research or artistic research, and
• teaching skill

The assessment will also focus on the applicant’s ability to achieve sufficient qualifications for promotion to senior lecturer within the time frame of the associate senior lecturer position.

Equal attention will be given to the applicants’ teaching and research expertise.

Specific qualifications of additional merit in descending order:

• broad experience of teaching History of Religions
• demonstrated ability to obtain external research grants
• the ability to teach in Swedish, Danish or Norwegian
• expertise in subject didactics and/or experience of History of Religions in teacher training
• experience of educational development that includes digital tools and teaching environments. 

Instructions for the application

The application must conform to the instructions that can be downloaded at
www.ht.lu.se/en/the-faculties/academic-vacancies/instructions-for-applicants. The applicant is responsible for making sure that the application is complete, in accordance with the vacancy announcement and instructions, and for submitting it to the University by the application deadline through the recruitment portal.

The Academic Appointments Board normally selects a shortlist of applicants. This selection can be done in one or several steps and if needed with the help of external experts. The applicants who are selected for external assessment may be invited to submit physical copies of the papers that they wish to submit for expert assessment within 14 days.

Conditions

Fixed term appointment, four years, according to Chapter 4, Section 12 b The Higher Education Ordinance with possibility for promotion to senior lecturer. The University applies individual salary-setting.

Promotion

An associate senior lecturer can apply during their period of employment to be promoted to an indefinite-term position as senior lecturer if she or he is qualified for such a position and is also considered suitable when assessed in line with the qualification requirements and assessment criteria below. Applications can only be made once and should be submitted to the Joint Faculties of Humanities and Theology six months before the position ends at the latest.

For appointment as a senior lecturer, the individual must have:

• been awarded a PhD or have the corresponding research expertise or some other professional expertise that is of value in view of the subject matter of the post and the duties that it will involve,
• demonstrated teaching expertise,
• completed at least five weeks of training in teaching and learning in higher education or acquired equivalent knowledge by other means.

General assessment criteria: the degree of research, teaching, administrative and other expertise that is of value in view of the work duties and subject matter of the post as well as other personal skills of relevance to perform the duties well.

For employment as senior lecturer the following is specifically required:

• a good national and international standing as a researcher,
• good teaching ability, including a good ability to conduct, develop and lead teaching and other educational activities at different levels and using a variety of teaching methods,
• an ability to participate in supervising doctoral students to achieve a PhD,
• an ability to cooperate with wider society and to communicate his or her activities as well as otherwise leading and developing activities. 

Additional requirements for promotion

For promotion, the applicant must be qualified to the extent that they meet the requirements for appointment as an associate professor in accordance with the guidelines of the Joint Faculties of Humanities and Theology and they must also have applied for and been awarded external research funding in competition.