Associate Senior Lecturer/Assistant Professor in Environmental Science specialising in quantitative assessments of multiple benefits of nature-based solutions - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The position is co-financed by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research (Mistra) and Lund University’s Faculty of Science, with additional support from the strategic research environment BECC. Mistra's Environmental Research Leaders programme is aimed at higher education institutions that have identified a need to recruit key expertise in the form of future environmental research leaders. Under this programme initiative, Mistra part-finances the employment and leadership development of up to 15 associate senior lecturers/assistant professors across Sweden. 

This position will be placed at the newly formed Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. By merging the Centre for Environmental and Climate Science, the Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science and the Department of Geology in a joint and co-located organisation, the new department will strengthen the link between different research fields, develop new educational programmes and promote collaboration with society. The Department and its wider environment including the Lund University Profile area Nature-based Future Solutions and the strategic research areas BECC and MERGE, bring together excellent research and education addressing the joint challenges of climate change, loss of biodiversity, geo-resources and social justice. In both research and education activities we assess benefits of nature-based solutions that address societal challenges through actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural and modified ecosystems, benefiting people and nature at the same time. The department has several international master programs that will benefit from scientific knowledge on nature-based solutions and that will be the base of the teaching activities for the successful candidate.

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 successful candidate will participate in the mandatory Mistra leadership programme. The Faculty of Science offers a career programme for associate senior lecturers/assistant professors.

The duties include primarily research (80% of the working hours), but also teaching in basic and doctoral education (up to 20%), as well as contributions to the common duties at the department. The work duties, and their distribution between research and teaching, may be subject to change over time.

The associate senior lecturer/assistant professor will build a research group and develop the future research and educational environment. This involves actively seeking external funding and developing synergies with interdisciplinary expertise, methods, models, data and infrastructure at the department, the profile area Nature-based Future Solutions and the strategic research areas BECC and MERGE, as well as with other departments, government agencies and organisations.  

The position also includes a start-up package with funds to cover a doctoral studentship, a postdoc position and other costs. There will be opportunities to apply for further support through the strategic research area BECC. 

The associate senior lecturer/assistant professor will develop and apply concepts and methodologies for efficient quantitative assessments of multiple benefits of nature-based solutions (NBS). This includes the assessment of the combination and configuration of different NBS to reach multiple societal objectives, for example reducing flood and heat risk, protect biodiversity and carbon stocks, and provide a healthy living environment. Methods can involve the use and further development of heuristic models, mathematical programming, machine-learning and multi-objective optimization.

Teaching includes basic and advanced courses within the subject, for example in the international international education in applied computational science , courses in doctoral education as well as the supervision of undergraduate 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. 

Specifically, this position requires a PhD in an environmental science subject or other subject relevant for 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
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 requirements for the position are:

• Excellent ability to develop and conduct high-quality research relevant to the topic of the position. 
• Significant experience in developing and applying methods to quantitatively assess the effects of NBS for reaching multiple societal objectives.
• An attached research plan that outlines how the applicant aims to develop the research field, build the research group, achieve research outcomes and interact with society.
• Good teaching ability.
• Experience of research, innovation or similar outside the higher education institution at which the doctoral degree was obtained.
• Good ability to collaborate both within and outside of academia.
• Good ability to take initiative. 
• Strong proficiency in English and good communication skills.

Specific qualifications of additional merit:

• A completed postdoc on a topic relevant for this position.
• Documented general and specialised knowledge of computational and modelling methods.
• Documented ability to apply for and obtain external research funding.
• Documented experience of supervision or teaching in environmental science or related subjects.
• Pedagogical training for supervision and teaching in higher education.
• Project management experience in a research context.
• Clear interest in leadership.

Great importance will be attached to how the applicant’s experience and expertise can be judged to complement and strengthen the existing research and education within the department, as well as actively contribute to a positive, interdisciplinary work environment. The ability to develop and conduct high-quality research will be assessed based on the quality of the scientific publications relative to the time since obtaining of the doctoral degree. The attached research plan should constitute a base for obtaining external funding. 

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.

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

An associate senior lecturer/assistant professor 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/assistant professor 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.