Professor of Rhetoric

Workplace description & subject area

Rhetoric as a field brings together researchers in disciplines ranging from languages and literature to media and communication studies and political science. At Lund University, Rhetoric is part of the Joint Faculties of Humanities and Theology. Lund University has had the honour of hosting the Christian W. Jansson Foundation Chair of Rhetoric since 2006. 

We offer courses and study programmes in rhetoric across the first, second and third cycles. At present, second-cycle courses are given as part of a specialisation within the Master’s Programme in Language and Linguistics, but a new international Master’s programme in rhetoric is under development. For further information about our courses, see here. 

The research, which covers the period from antiquity to the present, is thematically focused on didactics and politics. The subject is involved in vibrant networks made up of Swedish and Nordic colleagues and takes part in active collaborations with wider society, not least with the school system where the subject of rhetoric is expected to become more important in upper secondary schools. 

Duties

As a professor of rhetoric, you are expected to lead and develop a research environment encompassing a wide range of approaches to the field. The duties also include responsibility for driving the theoretical and methodological development of the subject, in a way that unites the different approaches and deepens the academic dialogue between them.

The work includes systematically applying for external research funding that can contribute to the growth, development and internationalisation of the research environment. Of particular priority is the responsibility for establishing an international Master’s programme and strengthening and developing our doctoral programme. Teaching on the courses and study programmes in rhetoric and driving the development of these are also very important tasks.

The role of professor presupposes active participation in the daily operations of the department. You are to uphold a positive communication climate and good work environment. You must be well acquainted with, or be able to quickly familiarise yourself with, the Swedish higher education system and the funding landscape, follow societal developments of importance to the work of the department, faculty and University, and collaborate with wider society.

Required qualifications

A person who has demonstrated both research and teaching expertise shall be qualified for employment as a professor. For appointment as a professor there is a requirement for training in teaching and learning in higher education amounting to at least five weeks or that equivalent knowledge has been acquired in some other way. If there are valid reasons, for example that the applicant has lacked opportunities to acquire the requisite knowledge in his or her former positions, an appointment can still be made. In such cases, the appointee is to complete the required training in teaching and learning in higher education within the first two years of employment.

Further requirements for appointment are:

• A PhD or equivalent research expertise or other professional expertise of relevance to the subject matter and the duties of the position.
• Documented excellent research expertise in the field of rhetoric.
• Strong leadership and collaboration skills.
• Spoken, reading and written proficiency in academic English. If the new employee does not have sufficient command of Swedish or another Scandinavian language for teaching and communication in the workplace, a professional development plan will be devised that specifies how the employee is to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills in Swedish within a specified time frame. This plan will be drawn up in consultation between the employee and the Head of department.

Assessment criteria

The assessment criteria for appointment as a professor shall be the degree of the expertise required as a qualification for employment.

• A very high level of research qualifications including a very good national and international standing as a researcher. The requirement for international experience shall be assessed with consideration to the character and traditions of the subject. Demonstrated by:
  • extensive, documented research contributions and through the applicant having sustained internationally recognised activity of high quality,
  • internationally competitive publishing, demonstrating both breadth and depth,
  • documented expertise in planning, initiating, leading and developing research,
  • documented ability to obtain research grants in competition,
  • documented experience and expertise in master’s and doctoral supervision.
  • a broad international network and active participation in the national and international research community reflected, for instance, through documented experience of assignments as an expert, editor, peer reviewer (referee) or project manager, by membership in formal networks and various positions in elected office.
• A very high level of teaching expertise, which involves a very good ability to conduct, develop and lead teaching and other educational activities on different levels and using a variety of teaching methods.
  • Demonstrated through both experience of the educational activities described above and a reflective attitude to the applicant’s own teaching role.
• A good ability to supervise doctoral students to achieve a PhD.
• A good ability to participate in and develop public engagement and other outreach activities.
• A good general ability to lead and develop activities.
  • Demonstrated through documented experience, with positive testimonials and clear results, of leading, coordinating and developing research activities and collaborating with others.
  • Documented experience of administrative work.

In the assessment, equal consideration is given to teaching expertise and research expertise. Personal skills in general that are important for successfully carrying out the duties will also be considered. 

Desirable qualifications in descending order of importance

• A research profile focused on contemporary expressions and applications of rhetoric.
• Very strong experience in research management and documented experience of obtaining external research funding in competition, not only for own research but also on behalf of the research of others.
• Experience of supervising doctoral students.
• Very strong ability to develop the research area within Sweden and internationally.
• Very strong ability to develop teaching.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with wider society.
  

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.

The applicants who are invited to trial lectures and interviews might be requested to complete their application with a short plan for the activity that they intend to manage within the framework of the possible employment, with special focus on how to develop the environment and which collaborations they plan to establish or further develop locally, nationally and internationally.

More information on the recruitment process can be found here: https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/about-university/work-lund-university/applying-position/recruitment-process-research-staff-teach.

Conditions

Lund University is a public authority which means that you receive specific benefits, generous annual leave, and an advantageous occupational pension. The University applies individual salary-setting. More information about being an employee at Lund University can be found here: Work at Lund University.