Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor in Biodiversity

The Department of Biology was established in 2010 through the merger of the Departments of Ecology, Cell and Organism Biology, Biological Undergraduate Education, and the Biological Museums. The department is located at Campus North, which provides unique opportunities for pioneering education and research in the biological sciences. In total, more than 300 people are currently employed at the department, including approximately 70 doctoral candidates. The Biological Museums house one of the world’s largest university collections (approximately 12 million specimens) of animals and plants, primarily insects and vascular plants from the Nordic countries. Research at the department is organized into five broad subject-based divisions, comprising smaller research groups, and encompasses many areas within the biological sciences. The department offers several Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes in “Biology” and “Molecular Biology,” attracting both Swedish and international students. Further information about the Department of Biology is available here.

The Division of Biodiversity and Evolution consists of fifteen lecturers and professors, together with their associated research groups, as well as a number of independent researchers. The research conducted within the division is situated at the intersection of biodiversity, ecology, and evolution, with strong connections to conservation biology, ecosystem ecology, biological environmental monitoring, and the Biological Museum.

Job description

Work duties
The position involves research, teaching, and outreach. The appointee is expected to contribute to strengthening research and teaching within the subject area. Over time, the appointee is also expected to contribute to the department’s activities by undertaking various types of leadership assignments. The content and distribution of duties may change over time, but at least 50% of the position should include research.

Research
The appointee is expected to establish an independent research environment within population, community, landscape, or ecosystem ecology, with a focus on conservation biology and/or biodiversity-related ecosystem services in terrestrial ecosystems. The research should complement and relate to the ongoing research conducted at the Department of Biology, thereby strengthening existing areas through a broadening or deepening of focus. Connections to current research directions may advantageously be combined with the development of new areas of inquiry. The appointee is expected to secure external funding for their research from national (e.g. The Swedish Research Council Vetenskapsrådet, the FORMAS Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development) and international (e.g. ERC, Horizon Europe) funding bodies, as well as through collaborations with government agencies or organisations engaged in related issues. A start package, including financing for a PhD-student position and some equipment, will be offered by the department. 

Teaching
The appointee is expected to contribute to teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, as well as to the development of courses and programmes within the subject area. In the short term, the appointee is expected to contribute to teaching in, for example, BIOC05 Naturvård (“Nature Conservation”), BIOC13 Ecology, BIOR39 Biological monitoring, BIOR69 Population and Community Ecology, BIOR83 Conservation Biology, and the Master’s track in Conservation Biology, which admits approximately 20 students annually. The position also includes the supervision of BSc/MSc degree projects and doctoral students. In the longer term, the appointee is expected to assume responsibility for courses.

Outreach
The holder of the position is expected to engage with society by disseminating information about their activities and, where appropriate, ensuring that research results are of practical benefit through the development of existing, and the initiation of new, relevant collaborative activities at the department.

Leadership Responsibilities
The position does not initially include any administrative or leadership duties. However, over time the appointee is expected to participate in such tasks at both unit and departmental levels. Consideration will also be given to how the candidate may contribute to the development of cross-departmental collaboration in environmental science-related biodiversity research and teaching, particularly between the Biology Department and the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (MGeo).

Qualification requirements
A person is qualified to be employed as a senior lecturer if they have demonstrated teaching expertise and been awarded a PhD in the biological or environmental sciences or equivalent research expertise, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 4 Section 4. 

The position requires at least five weeks’ training in teaching and learning in higher education or corresponding knowledge that has been obtained in some other way. An exception to this requirement may be made in special cases. Applicants who do not possess training in teaching and learning in higher education are to undergo such training within two years of taking up the position.

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

Requirements for position:

• The applicant must demonstrate scientific expertise in population, community, landscape, or ecosystem ecology, with a focus on conservation biology and/or biodiversity-related ecosystem services in terrestrial ecosystems.
• The applicant must include a research plan in their application that shows how the applicant’s research profile, and their planned research, can contribute to, complement, or interact with existing research at the Department of Biology.
• The applicant must demonstrate a very strong ability to secure national or international research funding.
•  The applicant must have experience in supervising undergraduate students and PhD-students.
• The applicant must possess varied and well-documented teaching proficiency. Documentation should be provided in the form of certificates from e.g. the head of department or head of school.
• The applicant must be able to demonstrate good pedagogical ability and teaching proficiency.
• The applicant must have excellent English language skills with strong communication abilities.

Meriting factors for the position

• Experience in course development and course leadership is meriting.
• Experience in supervising postdoctoral researchers is highly meriting.
• A broad international network is meriting.
• Ability to engage with society and communicate scientific results is meriting.
•  Documented skill and experience in leadership roles are meriting.

In the appointment process, consideration will be given to how the applicant can benefit from available infrastructure and further strengthen the Department of Biology’s profile in terrestrial biodiversity research with a focus on conservation and/or ecosystem services. Consideration will also be given to how the applicant can contribute to the development of collaboration between Biology and the department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (MGeo). Applicants are expected to present their current research as well as a research plan for the coming years, demonstrating how these activities will contribute to the department’s research. 

Scientific merits will be assessed primarily based on the quality and volume of peer-reviewed scientific publications. As much attention will be given to the assessment of teaching expertise as to the assessment of research expertise. Significant emphasis will also be placed on the applicant’s ability to collaborate with research and teaching staff, both internally and externally.

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

For a non-Swedish speaking staff members, language level B2* must be achieved in Swedish within three years.
*Common European Framework of Reference for Language, CEFR.

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.

Please note that it is very important that you follow the application instructions and that a research plan is attached.