Assistant professor in physics with a focus on neutron scattering from correlated electron systems

The Department of Physics is one of the largest departments with Lund University, with seven research divisions and a number of research centres, covering a broad spectrum of modern physics. In particular, NanoLund is the Centre for Nanoscience at Lund University, providing Sweden’s largest research environment for nanoscience. Two large research facilities are in close proximity: the European Spallation Source (currently under construction) and the MAX IV synchrotron.  These two facilities provide complementary neutron and x-ray measurement techniques to scientists in Sweden and the rest of the world.  

We are looking for an up-and-coming researcher who wants to conduct pioneering research to take up a position as assistant professor (associate senior lecturer) in physics with a focus on neutron scattering from correlated electron systems.

What we offer the successful candidate 
Those who want to become a research leader of tomorrow in research, through pioneering projects and research ideas, have the opportunity to start as an assistant professor (associate senior lecturer) at Lund University. You develop your qualifications over a period of 6 years and can then be promoted to permanent employment as a senior lecturer and eventually professor. 

You will receive five weeks of training in teaching and learning in higher education and also get the opportunity to learn Swedish through the University’s Swedish language courses for new international staff. We offer you support for the move to Sweden. If you have a family, they will find new contacts and support through Lund’s International Citizen Hub.

In order to support the formation of a research team, resources corresponding to at least one doctoral studentship will be linked to the appointment.

The Swedish Research Council, Sweden's largest scientific funder, will announce attractive funding for assistant professors with an international background at the turn of the year 2025/2026. Lund University is now making a joint announcement that also aims to find candidates that the university can nominate to the Swedish Research Council at the end of 2025. 

Read more about the Swedish Research Council: https://www.vr.se/english.html  

Read more about the University joint announcement: https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/shape-future-research

Lund University is a public authority which means that you receive special benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension.  
Read more on the University website about working with us.

The Faculty of Science offers a career programme for assistant professor (associate senior lecturers). 

Job description
Employment as an assistant professor (associate senior lecturer) is a career-development position which aims to develop the holder’s independence as a researcher and educator.

As an assistant professor (associate senior lecturer), you will have the chance to apply a long-term focus on the challenging research questions you are passionate about. To qualify as a senior lecturer, you will also need to develop your teaching skills during your time as an assistant professor (associate senior lecturer), learn Swedish for teaching, be a good colleague and show that you are good at interacting with the surrounding community. And, of course, you will also participate in the department’s everyday work and development.

At the Department of Physics you will mainly work on developing a strong research programme in neutron scattering from correlated electron systems, as a part of the growing magnetic materials research activity.  The research should be primarily of an experimental nature, but may be complemented by theoretical or computational work through your own efforts or by collaboration with other research groups.  The specific area of research is open within this wide field, but the proposed research programme must indicate potential future connections to the instrument suite at the European Spallation Source.

You will work closely with the magnetic materials group, led by Prof. Elizabeth Blackburn, within the Division of Synchrotron Radiation Research.  This Division focusses on experimental studies of electronic, magnetic, structural and chemical properties of materials, using synchrotron and neutron methods, and has access to a wide range of both large facility and lab-based techniques.  This includes equipment for measuring magnetization, susceptibility and electrical transport up to 7 T, and facilities for solid state synthesis, including for single crystal and thin film growth.

You are expected to teach and develop courses at the basic and advanced levels in areas of relevance to the division’s research.  The extent of teaching corresponds to 10-20% of the position.  Recruitment and supervision of bachelor’s and master’s students as well as one or more doctoral students is a part of the expected teaching duties.       

We encourage our employees to interact with the wider community. Even in the case that your research may not be directly applied to innovations with societal benefit, you are expected to participate in outreach activities such as popular science lectures to the public. Leadership tasks will mainly involve active participation in the joint decision-making of the division. This may also include assignments within the department’s or faculty’s committees and boards.

Qualifications for employment as an assistant professor (associate senior lecturer)
You hold a doctoral degree or have corresponding research expertise in physics, materials science, or a related field, as well as a well-documented research background in experimental neutron scattering. We will primarily prioritise those applicants who have obtained a doctoral degree within the last 7 years from the closing date for applications for the position. If you have documents recognised in Sweden proving that there are special grounds, such as parental leave, military service or illness, after graduating that have prevented you from working as a researcher, the doctoral degree in the subject can in such cases have been awarded earlier.

Requirements – what you must have in order to carry out duties
We hope that one of your first duties will be to conduct an innovative research project that is funded by the Swedish Research Council. Therefore, we are seeking those who have:

• A good ability to initiate, develop and implement high-quality research.
• Good teaching ability.
• Relevant experience from research using experimental neutron scattering outside Sweden.
• An independent research plan within correlated electron physics, that indicates potential future connections to the instrument suite at the European Spallation Source and that is deemed capable of forming the basis for external funding, that you submit with your application.
• Documented good leadership skills, e.g. through elected office assignments, leadership courses and assessed leadership skills, or relevant commitment at large-scale facilities. 
• Good communication skills.  
• Very good oral and written English language skills. 
• Good motivation and the ability to learn new languages.  

Additional qualifications – other credentials that we consider desirable 

We very much want you to thrive at Lund University and be able to make the best of your time at the Department of Physics, and for that reason we consider it preferable if you can also demonstrate that you:

• Contribute in a positive way to the work environment and have good collaborative skills.
• Have experience from a relevant postdoctoral appointment in a research environment other than the higher education institution where you obtained your PhD.
• Have obtained research funding from funding bodies outside Sweden.
• Currently hold an international position in the research field, and that you have not received a salary or grant from Sweden since before 31 December 2021.
• Have well-documented experience with experimental neutron scattering, and the use of this technique to successfully address scientific questions.
• Have experience with one of the following areas:
  - complementary laboratory measurement techniques,
  - sample growth and preparation,
  - synchrotron and/or x-ray free electron laser experimental techniques,
  - independent handling of large data sets.
• Demonstrated independence in your work and research ambitions after doctoral studies.
• Demonstrated development and participation in research collaborations with other groups.
• Experience in teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Many of our employees are men and we would like to include more women in order to bring different perspectives into the research. For this reason, we particularly encourage women to apply!

The main assessment criteria are research and teaching expertise, with greater emphasis placed on research expertise.

When appointing teaching staff, Lund University’s Appointment Rules apply, in addition to the provisions set out in the Higher Education Ordinance.

We expect non-Swedish speaking staff members to acquire sufficient knowledge of Swedish to be able to teach and communicate with the different bodies of the University in this language within three years.

Form of employment
Fixed-term position, 6 years, in accordance with Chapter 4, Section 12a of the Higher Education Ordinance, with the opportunity for promotion to permanent employment as a senior lecturer.’

Design and content of the application 
We recommend you write your application in English, as it may be reviewed by international external experts. The application is to be completed according to the Faculty of Science’s application instructions for teaching positions. Upload the application to the recruitment system as PDF files.

Promotion
To be promoted from assistant professor (associate senior lecturer) to Senior Lecturer, language level B1* in Swedish must be achieved.
*Common European Framework of Reference for Language, CEFR

An associate senior lecturer is, on application, to be promoted to senior lecturer employed for an indefinite period if they have the required qualifications and are deemed to be suitable with reference to the assessment criteria established by the Faculty of Science when applying for promotion. An associate senior lecturer can only apply for promotion once. 

Assessment criteria for promotion to a permanent position as senior lecturer:

1. Good national and international standing as a researcher
   The applicant conducts research of high quality that garners attention nationally and internationally.
   The applicant conducts research with a clear, independent profile.
2. Good teaching ability
   The applicant has good knowledge of the subject and can apply these in practice when teaching.
   The applicant has good teaching skills and demonstrates an ability to develop their teaching within the subject area. 
   The applicant has a reflective approach to teaching and learning.
   The applicant has five weeks’ training in teaching and learning in higher education, or the equivalent.
3. Ability to participate in the supervision of doctoral students
   The applicant has documented experience and the ability to supervise doctoral students.
   The applicant has a reflective approach to the supervision of doctoral students.
   The applicant has at least two weeks´ training in supervision, or the equivalent.
4. Ability to engage with wider society and communicate their activities
   The applicant has documented experience and the ability to engage with wider society and communicate their activities.
5. General ability to lead and develop activities
   The applicant has documented experience of and ability in academic leadership.