Associate Senior Lecturer (WCMM Fellow) in Molecular Medicine with a focus on translational research in advanced therapies

In this call for proposals (Wallenberg Molecular Medicine Fellow), we are looking for prominent young researchers with international research experience.

The position is located at the Faculty of Medicine and placement in a department will be made in connection with the appointment. The position is a temporary assignment for five years. The contract can be renewed, if, due to absence due to illness, parental leave or other special reasons, additional time is needed to achieve the purpose of the appointment. For promotion, see below.

Background
The initiative to build the Wallenberg Centres for Molecular Medicine (WCMM) was taken in 2014 by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (KAW) through a generous donation over 10 years, which enabled the advertisement of career packages at four centres located at the universities of Lund, Gothenburg, Umeå and Linköping. KAW has decided to extend support for WCMM for the period 2023–2028. For the new funding period, the focus will be on recruiting new Fellows (associate senior lecturers) with appropriate recruitment packages. In addition, the initiative includes a programme for postdocs, with recruitment of international postdocs, as well as centre-wide activities such as a research school and a national network programme. WCMM in Lund focuses on regenerative medicine (reconstruction of normal cell, tissue and organ function through regeneration, transplant and repair) and for this position we are looking for a person in the field of molecular medicine with a focus on translational research in advanced therapies.

The appointed researcher will get a generous starting package of SEK 12 million, funded by WCMM, to cover four years of their own salary, the salary for a doctoral student and a postdoc, as well as running costs, including indirect costs. There is also the possibility of funding of operating and hire costs and research education, through the Faculty of Medicine’s standard models for the distribution of resources. Furthermore, part-funding of your own salary is also possibly through teaching commitments. The receiver is expected to cover any costs, in addition to what is covered by the starting package for research activities and the Faculty of Medicine’s standard funding models, with external grants. By decision, the Faculty of Medicine will provide full funding of your own salary (including OH) for year five, if this is required to achieve sufficient competence for promotion to senior lecturer.

The collaboration between WCMM and Region Skåne is highly significant. Skåne University Hospital (SUS) in Lund/Malmö is one of the largest hospitals in Sweden with more than 12,000 staff and a wide range of activities from primary care to highly specialised care. SUS has a long tradition of advanced research and education. Integrated interdisciplinary research environments will be established through an upcoming call for proposals for clinical research services in the area which is the subject of this call for proposals.

For further information on WCMM at Lund University, go to http://www.med.lu.se/wcmm

Tasks
The post holder is expected to initiate and build up a strong experimental research programme in synergy with ongoing preclinical and clinical research at the faculty. Tasks include research aimed at developing new treatment strategies based on cells and genes. This includes, for example, stem cell therapies, gene therapies and cell-based immunotherapy. This area is of high priority as part of ongoing investment in Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMP) at the Faculty of Medicine in collaboration with Region Skåne.

The post holder is also expected to actively participate in collaboration and exchange programmes between the four Wallenberg Centres in Lund, Gothenburg, Linköping and Umeå, as well as with Science for life – laboratories in Stockholm/Uppsala and the Program for Data-Driven Life Science, i.e. the Program for Academic Leaders in Life Science (PALS)

The position mainly involves research and supervision at postgraduate level. Up to 20% of the working hours may involve teaching within the faculty at different levels, so that the post holder will be able to meet the teaching qualification requirements needed for promotion to senior lecturer within five years. Other tasks may also be included within the scope of service.

Eligibility
According to Chapter 4, Section 4 a of the Higher Education Ordinance a person is qualified for appointment as Associate Senior Lecturer if the applicant holds a PhD or has corresponding research expertise. Priority should be given candidates who have completed their degree or achieved the corresponding competence no more than five years before the last date for applications. 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.

For teaching staff at Lund University, the general qualification requirement is to be suitable for and have the abilities needed to perform tasks well.

Promotion
Following application, an associate senior lecturer must be promoted to a permanent position as senior lecturer, if he or she is eligible for such a post and, in addition, is deemed suitable in an examination according to the qualification requirements and basis of assessment set out by the Faculty of Medicine for promotion to senior lecturer. These can be seen in the Faculty of Medicine’s general requirements profile and basis of assessment for employment as a senior lecturer, https://www.medicine.lu.se/faculty-medicine-lund-university/work-us/guidelines-academic-appointments under the heading Guidelines and rules for academic appointments.

Basis of assessment
The applicant who is given the position is expected to become a future research director in molecular medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, Lund University. We are therefore looking for a highly motivated person with documented international research experience, great creative potential and scientific excellence within the area described.

The applicants will be assessed with regards to: 1) Scientific expertise; 2) Teaching skills; 3) Administrative skills. Scientific expertise is of particular importance.

Furthermore, importance will be attached to the candidate’s personal suitability and assessed ability to achieve sufficient qualification for promotion to senior lecturer within the timeframe for the post of associate senior lecturer.

The specific criteria are as follows:

1) Scientific expertise
Demonstrated independence in experimental research within the area, including publications in high-ranking journals and grants awarded in competition. Originality of the applicant’s scientific activity, which gives added value to the faculty’s research in the field. Several years of experience of research in an international environment, preferably outside Sweden, is a very strong asset.

2) Teaching skills
Another asset is demonstrated teaching skill as regards planning and carrying out teaching, as well as experience of examination and supervision.

3) Administrative skills
Importance is also given to documented administrative skills, including leadership, research supervision, the ability to organise, develop and lead research groups, and the ability to collaborate with the outside world.

Other information
The rules of the Swedish Higher Education Ordinance and Lund University’s appointment rules apply to the appointment of teaching staff.

Further information is available from the Dean, Maria Björkqvist, Tel. +46462228084, e-mail: Maria.Bjorkqvist@med.lu.se

Professor Gunilla Westergren-Thorsson, Tel. +46462228695, e-mail: Gunilla.Westergren-Thorsson@med.lu.se

Information on the application procedure is available from the Recruitment Officer, Robert Norrman, Tel: + 46462224410, e-mail: Robert.Norrman@med.lu.se

The position will be filled following guidance from the Faculty of Medicine’s Academic Appointments Board.

Application
Applications should be sent electronically using Lund University’s applicant portal by 31 December 2024. The application is submitted according to the Faculty of Medicine’s instructions for applicants for teaching positions (see https://www.medicine.lu.se/faculty-medicine-lund-university/work-us/guidelines-academic-appointments) under the heading Instructions for applicants.

The applicant’s name will appear on the Faculty of Medicine’s homepage on the Internet, unless it is clear from the application that the applicant objects to this.