Associate Senior Lecturer/Assistant Professor in Biomolecular materials with a focus on de novo design and synthesis

This recruitment is connected to the Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability (WISE, wise-materials.org). Funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, WISE is the largest-ever investment in materials science in Sweden. Over a 10-year period, WISE will involve major initiatives at Sweden’s leading universities, including Lund University. The vision is a sustainable future through materials science.
Read more: https://wise-materials.org

The current position concerns research and teaching in Biomolecular materials with a focus on de novo design and synthesis. The appointment will be based at the Department of Chemistry at Lund University. The successful candidate will be appointed as a WISE Fellow and, in addition to salary support, will receive a generous start-up package including funding for two PhD students and two postdoctoral researchers. WISE Fellows will engage in collaboration, training, and activities within the WISE program both nationally and at Lund University. 

The Department of Chemistry (www.kilu.lu.se) conducts research across all core areas of chemistry, with broad themes aimed at advancing a sustainable society. Key research areas at the department with potential for synergies with the current recruitment include materials chemistry, biophysical chemistry, structural biology, and molecular biotechnology.

The department consists of three research units: the Center for Molecular Protein Science (CMPS), the Center for Analysis and Synthesis (CAS), and the Division of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry. The likely placement for this position is within CMPS, although other units may be considered depending on the candidate’s research interests. CMPS currently hosts around 15 research groups active in biochemistry, structural biology, biophysical chemistry, and molecular biotechnology. A description of the research environment and groups can be found at: https://www.cmps.lu.se/research/

The subject of the position is the design of (non-natural) biomolecular materials using de novo methods and synthesis. The field has gained momentum through recent advances in AI-based protein design. This area of research lies at the interface of biochemistry, synthetic chemistry, and materials science, and draws on approaches from computational chemistry, physical chemistry, structural biology, and biotechnology. At the Department of Chemistry, we have strong research activities across all these areas, providing excellent conditions for further development of the field.

The aim is to design proteins or other biomacromolecules that spontaneously self-assemble into higher-order structures with tailored material properties. Both proteins and other (synthetic) biomacromolecules, such as DNA, offer the major advantage of being producible in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way using molecular biology methods.

Type 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 senior lecturer.

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

The Faculty of Science offers a career programme for associate senior lecturers/assistant professors. 

In order to support the formation of a research team, resources corresponding to two PhD students and two postdoctoral researchers will be linked to the appointment.

The duties primarily consist of research and teaching at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Teaching currently corresponds to 10–30% of a full-time position, averaged over the full employment period. The content of the duties, as well as the distribution between research and teaching, may change over time.

The successful candidate is expected to build a strong research program within the subject area and related fields. This includes actively applying for external research funding and developing collaborations both within the university and with other public authorities and organizations engaged in similar topics.

Teaching responsibilities include courses at both basic and advanced levels in the subject area, courses within doctoral education, as well as the supervision of degree projects and doctoral students.

Qualification requirements 
A person is qualified for appointment as an associate senior lecturer/assistant professor if they have been awarded a PhD or have the corresponding research expertise. Primary consideration should be given to candidates who have been awarded a PhD or achieved the equivalent expertise within seven years of the deadline for application for employment as an associate senior lecturer/assistant professor. A person who has been awarded a PhD or achieved the equivalent expertise at an earlier date may also be considered if there are special grounds. 

The applicant must hold a PhD in the general field of biomolecular sciences and have documented experience in the subject area — biomolecular materials with a focus on de novo design and synthesis. The applicant must also have successfully completed a postdoctoral stay in a research environment other than the university where the PhD was obtained.

Teaching staff at Lund University are required to be suitable for the position and to have the general ability to fulfil their work duties well.

Assessment criteria
Good ability to develop and carry out high-quality research and possess teaching skills. 

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

The applicant should: 

• demonstrate scientific competence through publications in the field of design of non-natural biomolecular materials, 
• present a research plan in the subject area with a clear independent focus, assessed as having potential to secure external funding, 
• demonstrate strong proficiency in English and good communication skills,
• demonstrate the ability to plan, develop, and conduct teaching. 

It is considered an additional merit if the applicant: 

• demonstrates the ability to establish, renew, and develop the current research field,
• demonstrates the ability to obtain external research funding,
• demonstrates documented leadership experience,
• has experience in planning, developing, and delivering teaching,
• has experience supervising students at undergraduate and/or graduate level, 
• can be expected to complement and strengthen research and education within the department,
• demonstrates good collaboration skills, perseverance, personal maturity, and the ability to organize and structure work,
• demonstrates the ability to collaborate nationally and internationally, both within the applicant’s own subject area and with researchers in related fields. 

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. 

What we offer 
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.

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.

Befordran
För att befordras från biträdande universitetslektor till universitetslektor ska språknivå B1* i svenska uppnås.
* Gemensam europeisk referensram för språk, Gers.

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.