Professor in Statistics - Data Science

The Department of Statistics employs about 15 researchers, teachers, doctoral students, and other staff. We conduct research in several areas: analysis of high-dimensional data, Bayesian methods, spatial-temporal models, non-Gaussian modeling, applied research in social science, as well as stochastic models and computational statistics. More information can be found on the department's website https://www.lusem.lu.se/organisation/department-statistics/research-department-statistics.

Subject area

Statistics, data science

Job description

The professor is to work to strengthen and further develop the department’s research environment, internally, nationally and internationally and thus 50% of employment is allocated for research and professional development. The duties within this allocation include research, Ph.D. supervision, postdoctoral mentorship, research leadership, and responsibility for the department’s continued development in research, research article reviews, organizing seminar speakers, etc. Instigating and supporting work on external research applications is an important duty. The professor is to actively participate in the day-to-day work of the department.

Teaching, curriculum development, and administrative duties have all been allocated jointly 50% of the post, which can be reduced to 25% through external research funding. The position also includes administration connected with the duties above. Within teaching duties, advanced courses are anticipated, supervision of the master and bachelor students, and Ph.D. supervision. Development of courses or curricula oriented toward modern data science is expected.

The applicant is expected to develop the subject’s research contact network, nationally and internationally, and develop contacts with wider society. The professor is to be an outward-facing figure for the subject within Lund University and towards the international research community.

Eligibility and qualification requirements

Eligibility

To be eligible as a professor in statistics and data science, the applicant needs to have shown both scientific and pedagogical skills. In addition, according to Lund University's employment regulations, it is required for a professor to have completed at least five weeks of training in teaching and learning in higher education or to have acquired these skills in another way.

Qualifications

To be qualified, the applicant must have either

• a PhD degree in Statistics or Mathematics with the research profile in Statistics and Data Science,

or

• a PhD degree in Applied Mathematics or Computer Science that is accompanied by the main research profile in Data Science.

Very good oral and written proficiency in English is a requirement.

The qualified candidate must have

• expertise in one or more of the following subareas represented in the Department: random matrices, high-dimensional data analysis, non-Gaussian modeling, spatial and temporal stochastic modeling, Bayesian methods, or modern machine learning. This expertise should be supported by publications in top-tier journals (for example in Level 2 journals on the Norwegian list)

or

• exceptional expertise and scientific leadership in another areas of statistics, data science, and stochastic modeling that is accompanied by: 1) area coherent top-tier journal publication record and 2) significant external funding through agencies on par with VR or ERC and with the PI role.

Assessment criteria

The assessment criteria for appointment as a professor shall be the degree of expertise required as a qualification for employment (Higher Education Ordinance Chapter 4, Section 3). At Lund University, the following shall form the assessment criteria for the position of Professor:

• a very good national and international standing as a researcher;
• a very high level of teaching skill, including a very good ability to conduct, develop, and lead educational activities on different levels and using a variety of teaching methods;
• a good ability to supervise doctoral students to achieve a PhD;
• a good ability to engage with the wider society and communicate their activities;
• a good general ability to lead and develop activities.

For further information about the assessment criteria see "Assessment criteria for appointment as professor, adjunct professor and visiting professor at Lund University School of Economics and Management".

In the assessment of the applicants, the main importance will be attached to scientific merits. However, the experience and teaching qualifications are assumed to include very good pedagogical ability.

In the overall assessment of scientific proficiency, special emphasis will be placed on publications in highly ranked international journals with peer-review systems and significant external funding. More specific assessment criteria are

• the ability to publish high impact research showing scientific leadership;
• publications in highly ranked journals (at the level of group two journals on Norwegian List);
• recent publications in highly ranked outlets in statistical sciences and their applications (a field specific ranking such as Journal Rankings for ARC: Statistics would serve as a guidance);
• a proven ability to manage research projects and research programs, including seeking and obtaining funding for such projects and programs;
• extensive experience as a referee for highly ranked international journals, including some experience of editorial tasks for journals or edited volumes;
• extensive international conference presentation record based on invited talks;
• international collaborations with researchers at highly ranked research universities;
• experience in teaching at highly ranked institutions, including international experience in this regard.

Personal qualities that are in demand are openness, creativity, perseverance, and initiative. The ability to collaborate with colleagues, students and other parties will be taken into account in the overall assessment of both pedagogical skills and scientific skills. The applicant whose Swedish skills are inadequate to communicate efficiently will need to establish a specified plan for how language skills will be acquired. 

Application procedure

LUSEM uses academic qualifications portfolio to document and present qualifications. Please submit your application in three separate PDF-files according to the template and instructions. 

You find the template and the instructions here:

• Instructions to applicants
• Template academic qualifications portfolio (Word). If this link doesn't work, please try another browser.

The application should be written in English.

Please let us know if you have any questions on how to write the application.