Assistant Professor in sociology of law with focus on law, rights and social movements

Vacancy announcement introduction: What we offer the successful candidate

Those who want to become a research leader of tomorrow, through pioneering projects and research ideas, have the opportunity to start as an assistant professor at Lund University. You develop your qualifications over a period of 4 years and can then be promoted to permanent employment as a senior lecturer.

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.

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

Duties – what we expect from you

As an assistant professor, 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 need to develop your teaching skills during your time as an assistant professor, practice Swedish, contribute to a collegial work environment and show an ability to engage with the wider community. And, of course, you will also participate in the department’s everyday work and development.

At the Department of Sociology of Law, you will primarily work with research, teaching and contacts with social stakeholders outside the university. You will work closely with the research groups at the department that investigate how societal actors mobilize legal norms and institutions to bring about social and political change. Several research environments at the department explore the connection between legal regulation and social and political mobilization in areas such as mobilization for climate justice, legal mobilization and migration, mobilization for restorative justice and indigenous peoples, mobilization through legal arenas (such as court hearings).

Qualifications for employment as an associate senior lecturer

You hold a doctoral degree or have corresponding research expertise in sociology of law, law, social sciences or other subject considered relevant by the employer. We will primarily prioritise those applicants who have obtained a doctoral degree within the last 5 years from the closing date for applications for the position, unless there are special grounds. Special grounds normally refer to parental leave and illness (see Chapter 4, Section 4a of the Higher Education Ordinance).

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 in law, rights and social movements in global and local contexts outside Sweden. A project plan illustrating an innovative project within sociology of law, describing what research you intend to pursue within the scope of the position. The research plan should include a maximum of 2000 words including references. Documented good leadership skills, e.g. through elected office assignments, leadership courses and assessed leadership skills be verified by reference check. It is important to be able to collaborate with all staff categories. Good communication skills which will be assessed through trial lecture and interview. Very good oral and written English language skills. Good motivation and the ability to learn new languages. As an employee at Lund University, you are expected to be able to read and assess students' assignments in Swedish after two years of employment, in this case in the criminology program with a specialization in sociology of law. You currently hold an international position in the research field, and you have not received a salary or grant from Sweden since before 31 December 2021.

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 Sociology of Law and for that reason we consider it preferable if you can also demonstrate that you:

Contribute in a positive way to the work environment by actively participating in seminar activities, at faculty meetings and in the development of the department's activities in general. Have or have had a postdoctoral position. You have received research funding from funders outside Sweden.

We strive for an environment with diversity as a foundation.

Promotion – what is required to be promoted to senior lecturer

An assistant professor may, upon application, be promoted to permanent employment as senior lecturer if he/she is qualified for the position and is deemed suitable in an assessment of the application in accordance with the eligibility and assessment criteria for promotion to senior lecturer established by the Faculty of Social Sciences and set out in the vacancy notice/person specification. It is important to know that you can only apply for promotion once. Applications must be submitted to the Faculty of Social Sciences no later than six months before the end of the employment. The applicant’s eligibility and suitability for such employment will be assessed through a review of the progress they have made during their appointment with regard to research and teaching, focusing on the following criteria:

Well-documented research expertise. This includes a proven high standard as a researcher. Special emphasis will be placed on international publication, and documented ability to apply for external funding. Well-documented teaching expertise. Special emphasis will be placed on the applicant’s proven ability to conduct teaching and supervision at various levels of study, and that how the quality and breadth of their teaching have developed over time. This includes teacher training to the extent required for appointment as senior lecturer. Progress in academic leadership through an increased ability to develop, manage and conduct education and research and/or demonstrated commitment/leadership in university-wide duties. Good ability to collaborate and communicate research with societal actors. In the assessment of qualifications for a senior lectureship, equal attention will be paid to the applicant’s teaching and research expertise.

Application

Applications are to be made electronically via Lund University's applications portal by the August 20, 2025. 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 application is to include:

• A brief cover letter.
• CV, including certificates/grade transcripts.
• Statement of scientific and pedagogical activity.
• Brief statement of experience in leadership, administration and/or external engagement.
• Complete list of publications (co-authorship certificate required for co-authored publications).
• List of the doctoral dissertation and other research publications the applicant would like to have considered.
• The research publications the applicant would like to have considered (no more than three).
• Any other documents that you would like to have considered.
• A project plan illustrating what research the applicant intends to pursue within the scope of the position. The research plan should include a maximum of 2000 words including references (Times New Roman, 11 points).

Recruitment process

The recruitment process may include mock lectures, interviews and reference checks. During the interviews, applicants will be given the opportunity to describe and develop their own views on the subject and their potential future role at the department. It is important that the applicant provides references who can illustrate their professional skills as well as qualities that are of importance for the position, e.g. ability to co-operate, leadership skills as well as the ability to create commitment, participation and positive development for the organisation.

Form of employment

Start date for this position is 2026-02-02. It is a fixed-term position, 4 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.