Assistant Professor in Energy Sciences with focus on district heating and cooling and sector coupling

We are looking for an up-and-coming researcher who wants to conduct pioneering research to take up a position as Assistant professor in Energy Sciences with focus on district heating and cooling and sector coupling

What we offer the successful candidate

Do you want to become a research leader of tomorrow through pioneering projects and research ideas? If so, you have the opportunity to start as an assistant professor (associate senior lecturer) as part of Lund University Programme for Global Excellence. We are looking for a promising, academically young, researcher who can build and lead research within Energy Sciences with focus on district heating and cooling and sector coupling

As an Assistant Professor you will develop your qualifications over a period of 6 years after  which you may be promoted to a tenured position as a senior lecturer, with opportunities for further career advancement.

You will receive five weeks of training in teaching and learning in higher education and get the opportunity to learn Swedish through the University’s Swedish language courses for new international staff.  As you prepare to move to Sweden, we offer you support through our relocation service, and if you’re bringing your family, they’ll receive support and make new connections through Lund’s International Citizen Hub who provides a gateway to Swedish society and your new community.

At the turn of the year 2026/2027, Sweden's largest scientific funder, the Swedish Research Council, will announce attractive funding for Assistant Professors with an international background. Our ambition is that appointments within the framework of the Lund University Programme for Global Excellence will be nominated for this funding. Read more about the Swedish Research Council here.

Ready to shape the future of research?  Learn more about why Lund University might be the right choice for you here , and more about working in Sweden here. These films will also give you more information about Working in Lund, Moving to Lund and Living in Lund.

Read more about the University joint announcement: https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/lund-university-programme-global-excellence

The subject for this position focuses on research in district heating, district cooling, and sector coupling, with an emphasis on technology, digitalization, resilience, and energy markets. The work centers on developing and analyzing future energy systems in which heating, cooling, electricity, industrial processes, and renewable energy sources interact, as well as contributing to the development of existing systems so that they can become more efficient, robust, and environmentally sustainable. The research encompasses both technical and system-level questions, such as the integration of waste heat, energy efficiency measures, digitalized control and optimization strategies, issues related to security of supply, and how sector‑coupled solutions can enhance flexibility and reduce the climate impact of the overall energy system.

Duties – what we expect from you

We want you to thrive and make the most of your time at Lund University and LTH, Department of Energy Sciences. As an assistant professor, you will therefore have the opportunity to engage whole- heartedly in the research you are passionate about. As the holder of this position, most of your time will be allocated for your own research in collaboration with strong research environments, research infrastructures and international platforms.

In addition to conducting research, during your time as an Assistant Professor you will also develop your teaching expertise, outreach and collaboration skills, along with Swedish language proficiency. Throughout your employment, you are an active member of your department and participant in its diverse work.

We hope that one of your first duties will be to conduct an innovative research project that is funded by the Swedish Research Council.

At the Department of Energy Sciences you will mainly work on:

• Research within district heating and cooling and sector coupling
• Teaching in the first, second and third cycles of studies.
• Supervision of degree projects and doctoral students.
• Actively seeking external research funding.
• Collaboration with industry and wider society.
• Administration related to the work duties listed above.

You will work in close collaboration with the research group for district heating and efficient energy systems and be part of an interdisciplinary research environment that brings together expertise in engineering, organization, economics, and behavior

Qualifications for employment as an assistant professor

Qualification requirements for employment as an assistant professor are fulfilled by someone who has been awarded a doctorate or has the corresponding research competence.

Primary consideration should be given to someone who has been awarded a doctorate or achieved the equivalent competence within seven years of the deadline for application for employment as an assistant professor. However, someone who has been awarded a doctorate or achieved the equivalent expertise at an earlier date may also be considered if there are special grounds. Special grounds are sick leave, parental leave or other similar circumstances.

Requirements – what you must have

To be able to be appointed as an Assistant Professor within the framework of Lund University Programme for Global Excellence, the applicant must have:

• A good ability to initiate, develop and implement high-quality research
• Significant documented research experience (e.g. from postdoc or doctoral studies) from another university/institute or relevant experience from industry/public sector.
• Documented technical expertise in district heating, district cooling, and sector coupling
• Recent and relevant experience from research in the subject outside Sweden
• As part of your application, you are required to submit a research plan that clearly describes the research within the field of “energy science with a focus on district heating, district cooling, and sector coupling” that is expected to be carried out during the first five years of employment. Based on the plan, at least one competitive application for external research funding should be possible to formulate. The plan must clearly relate to the research area as described in the specific subject description for the position. Furthermore, the research plan should demonstrate how the applicant’s research strengthens the research activities conducted by the research group for district heating and efficient energy systems within the Division of Sustainable Energy Systems.
  https://www.energy.lth.se/sv/om/avdelningar/hallbara-energisystem
  The research plan should comprise 1,000–1,500 words and will be given significant weight in the evaluation of the application.
• Documented good leadership skills, e.g. through elected office assignments, leadership courses and assessed leadership skills
• Good teaching ability
• Good communication skills
• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.
• A motivation and the ability to learn Swedish
• Demonstrates strong collaboration skills, initiative, the ability to work independently on assigned tasks, and a demonstrated interest in leadership.
• Not received any salary or grant from Swedish employers or funding bodies from 31 December 2022 onwards

Additional qualifications – other credentials that we consider desirable 

We want you to thrive at Lund University and be able to make the best of your time at the Department of Energy sciences for that reason we would like you to demonstrate that you can:

• Contribute in a positive way to the work environment
• Have experience of applying and obtaining research funding from funding bodies outside Sweden
• Currently hold an international position (outside of Sweden) in the research field
• Experience with business model development in the district heating sector
• Experience from practical work at a district heating company

The extent to which the applicant, through their experience and skills, may complement and strengthen ongoing research, undergraduate education, departmental innovation, and how they can contribute to the future development of the department will also be taken into consideration.

Form of employment

This is a full-time, fixed-term employment of 6 years. The employment is regulated in accordance with Chapter 4 Section 12a§ HEA. The purpose of the appointment is for the teacher to be given the opportunity to develop research autonomy and acquire the scholarly and teaching qualifications required for eligibility for appointment as a senior lecturer.

Instructions on how to apply

Applications shall be written in English. Please draw up the application in accordance with LTH’s Academic qualifications portfolio – see link below. Upload the application as PDF-files in the recruitment system. Read more:

http://www.lth.se/english/working-at-lth/to-apply-for-academic-positions-at-lth/

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The Department of Energy Sciences at Lund University, Faculty of Engineering (LTH), conducts research and education in energy engineering and energy systems, with a focus on both fundamental and applied areas. The department’s activities cover core subjects such as heat transfer, fluid mechanics, combustion engines, power plant technology, energy distribution, and energy efficiency.

At the Division of Sustainable Energy Systems, approximately 20 employees work, of whom about two-thirds are doctoral students. The division is characterized by a strong international profile, a multidisciplinary composition, and active collaboration with both academia and industry. The research group Efficient Energy Systems leads several research projects related to district heating, district cooling, and energy system integration, such as:

• development of flexible, digitalized district heating systems
• sector coupling between electricity, heating, and industrial processes
• waste heat recovery and low temperature systems
• resilience and risk management in district heating systems
• market design and business models for future heat markets

The workplace actively works to create an inclusive, safe, and inspiring work environment. The department has established routines for supervisor support, skills development, and regular research group meetings. There is also a strong focus on collaboration, collegial learning, and providing early‑career researchers with good opportunities to develop independence and establish their research profile

You can find more information about the department here: https//www.energy.lth.se

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Promotion to Senior Lecturer in Energy Sciences with focus on district heating and cooling and sector coupling.

During the period of employment, an assistant professor can apply for promotion to a permanent position as Senior Lecturer if he or she has the required qualifications listed below, and is deemed suitable. An assistant professor can only apply for promotion once.

Qualification requirements

Appointment to senior lecturer requires that the applicant has:

• A PhD or corresponding research competence or professional expertise considered important with regard to the subject matter of the post and the work duties it will involve.
• Demonstrated teaching expertise.
• Completed five weeks of training in higher education teaching and learning, or acquired equivalent knowledge by other means.

Assessment criteria

The assessment criteria specify the aspects to be considered, and the level to be achieved, for the assessment criteria to be deemed fulfilled. The following assessment criteria must be fulfilled for appointment to senior lecturer:

• A good national and international standing as a researcher. The requirement for international experience shall be assessed with consideration to the character and traditions of the subject.
• Good teaching ability, including a good ability to conduct, develop and lead teaching and other educational activities on different levels and using a variety of teaching methods.
• An ability to supervise doctoral students to achieve a PhD.
• An ability to collaborate with wider society and communicate his or her activities.
• A general ability to lead and develop activities.

Additional requirements

• Good ability to collaborate, independence and drive.
• Sufficient knowledge of Swedish to carry out administrative and educational tasks that require an understanding of Swedish.
• Progression in research and teaching expertise.
• Demonstrated ability to attract external research funding in competition.