Associate Senior Lecturer (DDLS fellow) in data driven epidemiology and biology of infection

Lund is strategically positioned close to the continent, hosting major national and European research infrastructures, such as MAX.IV Laboratory and the European Spallation Source (ESS). In the field of infection biology we offer attractive environments at the Faculty of Medicine in collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering, the Faculty of Science and the regional university healthcare, within Microbiology, Virology, Immunology, Infection Medicine and Epidemiology, as well as cutting-edge infrastructures, high-capacity computational resources, extensive biobanks and career support programs.

In this tenure track position as Associate Senior Lecturer (DDLS Fellow) we are addressing outstanding junior scientists with international research experience. The position is located within the Faculty of Medicine, and the appointed candidate will be enrolled in the Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine (WCMM) at Lund University. Departmental placement will be determined at the time of appointment. The position is time-limited to five years with the possibility for promotion to Senior Lecturer.

Background
Data-driven life science (DDLS) uses data, computational methods and artificial intelligence to study biological systems and processes at all levels, from molecular structures and cellular processes to human health and global ecosystems. The SciLifeLab and Wallenberg National Program for Data-Driven Life Science (DDLS) aims to recruit and train the next-generation of data-driven life scientists and to create globally leading computational and data science capabilities in Sweden. The program is funded with a total of 3.1 billion SEK (about 290 MUSD) over 12 years from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg (KAW) Foundation. The DDLS program will recruit 39 high-profile junior group leaders and launch over 210 postdoctoral positions and establish a research school for 260 PhDs, including industry PhDs and postdocs. Fellows will be recruited to the 11 participating host universities/organizations, but brought together under a national DDLS program coordinated by SciLifeLab. The DDLS program has four strategic areas: cell and molecular biology, evolution and biodiversity, precision medicine and diagnostics, epidemiology and biology of infection. For more information, please see www.scilifelab.se/data-driven.

During 2022-2024, the two first rounds of 36 junior group leaders joined us as DDLS Fellows, and now we are looking to recruit an additional group. Each DDLS Fellow will receive a recruitment package of 17 MSEK (about 1.6 MUSD) for a 5-year period, covering their own salary and other resources, such as two PhD students and postdoc positions. The Fellow positions are tenure-track with the host organizations assuming responsibility of the long-term faculty appointments following a tenure evaluation.

The future of life science is data-driven. Will you be leading that change with us? Then join us in this unique program!

At Lund University, we are looking to fill the position as DDLS fellow in data driven epidemiology and biology of infection.

Data driven epidemiology and biology of infection covers research that will transform our understanding of pathogens, their interactions with hosts and the environment, and how they are transmitted through populations. Research will have a strong focus on computational analysis or predictive modeling of pathogen biology or host-microbe systems for which multidimensional, genome- scale experimental data are now available or it may use population-scale genetic, clinical, or public health data from pathogen surveillance efforts and biobanks.

The subject area concerns research in the general area of epidemiology and biology of infection with a strong computational profile. This research subject area aims to lead to innovative development and/or application of novel data-driven methods relying on machine learning, artificial intelligence, or other computational techniques.

Lund University foresees that the outcome of the research will contribute to gained knowledge of medical importance, for example understanding of host-pathogen interactions, infection biology including structure-function relationships and transmission of infectious diseases, that could translate into identification of novel targets for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes, as well as tools for infectious disease monitoring and prediction.

Work duties
The ideal candidate is expected to initiate and maintain a strong data-driven research program in synergy with on-going preclinical and clinical research at the faculty within the field of epidemiology and biology of infection.

The successful candidates will primarily be conducting research and research supervision. Up to 20% of the employment can be devoted to teaching at the faculty on graduate as well as postgraduate level so that the criteria for promotion to a tenure position as Senior Lecturer can be fulfilled within five years. 

The candidate is also expected to take active part in interactions and exchange programs within local and national DDLS fellow programs, Science for Life Laboratories, as well as the WCMM program at Lund University.

Other work duties may be added.

Qualifications
According to Chapter 4, Section 4a of the Higher Education Ordinance a person is qualified for appointment 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 7 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.

Basis for DDLS Fellow assessment 
We expect the successful candidate to become one of the future research leaders at the Medical Faculty in the field of data-driven epidemiology and biology of infection. We are seeking highly motivated individuals with documented international research experience, a demonstrated potential for creativity and a high degree of excellence in the field, for example in computational biology, mathematical modelling and simulations, bioinformatics of large-scale datasets. The candidate will be evaluated with regard to: 1) The scientific excellence. 2) Teaching skills. 3) Leadership skills.

Particular weight will be given to scientific excellence in an international context. Emphasis will, in addition, be placed on the candidate's personal suitability and the candidate's potential to become eligible for a senior lecturer position within the time frame of the associate senior lecturer position. Specific assessment criteria are given below:

1) The scientific excellence
The candidate is expected to have conducted independent experimental research within the research area, to have published at a high scientific level and to have obtained research funding and grants in strong competition. Novelty of the scientific approach, giving added value to the existing research at the faculty within the field. Several years of research in an international environment, outside Sweden, is a very strong merit.

2) Teaching skills
A further merit is pedagogical skills in planning, execution, and evaluation of teaching as well as supervision and examination.

 3)Leadership skills
Evaluation is also made on the basis of documented administrative skills, including leadership, research supervision, ability to plan, develop and maintain research group organization, and the ability to interact with the surrounding society.

The Higher Education Ordinance and Lund University Appointment Rules apply to the appointments of teaching staff, see www.med.lu.se/recruitment_process.

Promotion to Senior Lecturer
According to Chapter 4, Section 12a § of the Higher Education Ordinance an Associate Senior Lecturer is  to be appointed on application to a permanent position as Senior Lecturer if he or she has required qualifications and is deemed to be suitable with reference to the
qualifications and assessment criteria for promotion and appointment as Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine. 

You will undergo a special assessment to determine if you fulfil the faculty’s requirements for employment as a senior lecturer. It is important for you to know that you can only apply once for promotion and that you must apply for promotion at least six months before your employment as an associate senior lecturer ends.

When you apply for promotion, you will be assessed based on whether you have:

• Completed at least 5 weeks of qualifying higher education pedagogical training and had teaching assignments according to the faculty’s requirement for an associate professor.
• Independently been the senior author of several peer-reviewed original articles in reputable international journals – the benchmark is three original articles of which at least two must have been published during the employment as associate Senior lecturer.
• Received external research grants in national or international competition as the main applicant, at a level that makes it possible for the applicant to continue to lead and finance your own research.
• Have supervised at least one doctoral student from admission to mid-term review as principal supervisor (consideration will be given to any absence of the doctoral student due to illness, parental leave or similar).
• Qualified as associate professor according to the guidelines of the Faculty of Medicine, see Guidelines for applications to be appointed as a Docent at the Faculty of Medicine, Lund University

Further information
The appointment will be made after preparation in the Academic Appointments Board. 

For information about the position please contact:   

Dean Maria Björkqvist, phone: +46462228084, e-mail: Maria.Bjorkqvist@med.lu.se or Pro Dean Jonas Larsson, phone +46462220580, e-mail: Jonas.Larsson@med.lu.se

Information on application formalities may be obtained from Recruitment Officer Robert Norrman, phone: + 46462224410, e-mail: Robert.Norrman@med.lu.se

Application
Applications are to be made electronically via Lund University's applications portal by the 4th of May 2025.

Applications are to be submitted in accordance with the Faculty of Medicine's guidelines for academic appointments (see www.med.lu.se/recruitment_process under the headings List of qualifications for lecturers and Create a CV).

The applicant’s name may be listed on the Faculty’s homepage unless the applicant has disagreed to this. The application should be written in English as international evaluators may be consulted.