Senior Lecturer in Earth Science

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 56 000 students and 6 600 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

Associate Senior Lecturer in Earth and Environmental Data Science

At the Department of Earth Sciences, we have ca 70 employees who work in the fields of Physical Geography, Ecosystem Sciences, and Geology. We have specializations in regional climate, polar climate, paleoclimate, urban climate, alpine and polar ecology, GIS and remote sensing, hydrogeology, geophysics, quaternary geology, and micro-geochemistry. Our three priority research themes are "Climate and Climate Change", "Earth Surface Processes" and "The Geosphere". The Department is well-equipped with labs, such as a drone lab, GIS teaching labs, an Ice Lab, and biogeochemical analysis labs. The Department’s work focuses on Fennoscandia and Polar regions.

Our mission is to develop and deliver research, education, and services to society that improve our understanding of how the Earth System functions and the impact of human actions in particular. Our department works to achieve diversity in the workplace and to create a family-friendly environment, and in addition, Sweden has generous family leave and childcare policies. Further information is available on our website: https://www.gu.se/en/earth-sciences.

This position is co-funded by the Strategic Research Area “Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in a Changing Climate” (BECC; www.becc.lu.se), which is a cooperation between Lund University and University of Gothenburg. BECC brings together scientists from natural and social sciences to perform research essential to understanding the impacts of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystem services as well as measures to mitigate and adapt to those changes. The current research themes in BECC are “Carbon cycle & Climate change”, “Ecosystem Services under Global Change” and “Biodiversity under Global Change”. BECC and the Department co-finance the infrastructure at Skogaryd Research Catchment (https://www.gu.se/en/earth-sciences/skogaryd-research-catchment-0). The Associate Senior Lecturer is expected to be active within BECC.

Subject area

Earth and environmental data science

Subject area description

Earth and environmental data science is a highly interdisciplinary field which can integrate elements of data science, geography, and environmental sciences. The focus is on advancing knowledge of the dynamics and complex interactions within the Earth system. Relevant techniques used in this subject include Earth Observation (EO) and remote sensing, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning, statistics, geospatial data analysis, environmental modelling, or other advanced analytical techniques. The research emphasizes data analysis and interpretation to develop improved predictive and explainable models. This will lead to a deeper understanding of patterns and drivers of environmental change, as well as the impacts of climate change.

Data sources for analysis may include geographic data, EO data, remote sensing data e.g. from drones, field-based sensors, national and international observatory field network data (e.g., SITES, ICOS), modeled data, meteorological data, crowdsourced data, and other relevant biological or environmental data.

Duties

In the associate senior lectureship position, the main task is research (up to 80%) and some teaching (up to 20%). Duties include writing scientific papers, applying for external financing, and attending scientific meetings. Duties may include supervision of bachelors’ and masters’ student projects, as well as supervision of PhDs and Postdocs. Teaching is performed at the bachelor, masters, and PhD levels. The successful candidate will take part in some administrative tasks at the Department or Faculty level.

Eligibility

To be eligible for appointment as associate senior lecturer, the applicant must have been awarded a PhD in Physical Geography, Data Science, or other related natural science or mathematics field, or have the corresponding research expertise. Primary consideration should be given to a person who has been awarded a PhD or achieved the equivalent expertise within seven years of the deadline for employment as an associate senior lecturer. However, a person who has been awarded a PhD or achieved the equivalent expertise at an earlier date may also be considered if there are exceptional circumstances. Such exceptional circumstances are sick leave, parental leave or other similar reasons.

The eligibility criteria for employing teaching staff are set out in Chapter 4, Section 3-4 of the Higher Education Ordinance and in the Appointments Procedure for Teachers.

Assessment criteria

For this position, you are expected to have expertise and conduct research in advanced analysis of Earth and environmental data with a strong focus on remote sensing and also a focus on statistical analysis to understand the state and dynamics of the environment at various geographic scales. The successful candidate must have knowledge of the theory and analysis of remote sensing data, possess good programming skills (e.g., Python and/or R), have experience with geographic information systems (GIS), and a good background in statistics, including machine learning.

Scientific proficiency should be documented in the form of scientific publishing and participation in scientific conferences. If applicable, documented ability to obtain external grants and experience in scientific advising is meritorious. The successful candidate should be interested in conducting research at the infrastructures supported by the BECC research program and is expected to participate in BECC meetings and research projects.

Assessment criteria for employment as a teacher are specified in the Higher Education Ordinance and the University of Gothenburg's employment regulations. The Faculty of Science and Technology uses these criteria for the assessment of scientific and pedagogical competence and general suitability. The scientific and pedagogical qualifications must be adequate in relation to the subject content and job description of the advertised position. Special emphasis is placed on scientific competence and skill. The assessment criteria used for interaction with society and management and administrative skills are meritorious.

Scientific competence

Scientific competence shall be demonstrated by your own research, holding a good quality. For employment as an associate senior lecturer, the applicant shall have demonstrated scientific proficiency. The assessment of academic competence includes an evaluation of the scientific work relevant to the position and an assessment of the applicant's potential for further scientific work in the subject area to which the position relates. When assessing the applicant's merits, the following criteria, among others, shall be given weight.

• ability to plan and manage research activities
• good quality of scientific production
• ability to obtain external research grants

Pedagogic skills

For employment as an associate senior lecturer, the applicant must have certain teaching qualifications and demonstrated pedagogic skills. The assessment of pedagogical competence includes both an evaluation of the pedagogical qualifications and an assessment of the applicant's potential for further pedagogical activities in the subject area to which the position relates. When assessing the applicant's qualifications, the following criteria, among others, shall be given weight.

• some experience of teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level
• some ability to develop pedagogical activities
• some experience of supervision

Interaction with society

For the position of associate senior lecturer, interacting with society and informing about one's activities is a merit and can be demonstrated by the following criteria:

• some experience in dissemination of information
• some experience in community outreach
• some experience in innovation and entrepreneurship

Leadership and administrative skills

For the position of associate senior lecturer, leadership and administrative skills are an asset and can be demonstrated through the following criteria:

• some experience in unit/department/university management or equivalent
• some experience as a member of boards, committees or other assignments in areas relevant to the functioning of the University
• some experience of leadership in relevant networks/associations/organizations

Teaching and supervision experience, particularly in fields related to the position, is meritorious and should be documented including production of teaching material and similar. Fluency in English (oral and written) is necessary.

The assessment of general suitability includes an evaluation of whether the applicant, with regard to this job description, has the personal qualities required to fulfill the duties of associate senior lecturer well, to interact with other staff and to contribute to the good development of the Department’s activities. It is desirable that the candidate has research topic interests that align with the strategic research interests of the Department, Faculty, and BECC program. To this end, a brief written statement of how the applicant’s planned research can benefit and be integrated with the Department’s research should be included in the application.

Employment

Type of employment: 6 year fixed term, merit-based employment as associate senior lecture. After evaluation, promotion to a permanent position as senior lecturer is possible. See more information below.
Extent: 100 %, full-time
Location: Department of Earth Sciences, Gothenburg, Sweden
First day of employment: As soon as possible or as agreed 

Selection process

In addition to review by external experts, the selection process may include trial lectures, interviews and reference checks. The assessment of qualifications and experience will take into account documented parental leave, sick leave or other similar circumstances affecting research output and academic seniority. The reasons and extent of absence should be specified in the application.

Contact information

Hans Linderholm, Head of Department of Earth Sciences at University of Gothenburg, Professor in Physical Geography, HansL@gvc.gu.se, Tel: +46 70 858 9504

Heather Reese, Deputy Head of Department of Earth Sciences at University of Gothenburg, Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography with specialization in remote sensing and GIS, Heather.Reese@gu.se, Tel: +46 76 618 2803

Unions

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here:

https://www.gu.se/en/work-at-the-university-of-gothenburg/how-to-apply-for-a-position

Application

Submit your application via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal by clicking the “Apply” button. The Faculty of Science and Technology uses merit portfolios to clarify the merits and qualifications that are to be considered. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per the job announcement, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline.

The merit portfolio in your application consists of five parts:

• Personal data, degrees and evaluations
• Scientific portfolio
• Pedagogical portfolio
• Collaboration portfolio
• Leadership and administrative portfolio

Together with your application which includes the merit portfolio, the following should be attached:

• Cover letter
• CV, including a complete list of publications, and record of received research grants (with amounts).
• A list of maximum ten selected scientific publications and a motivation for choosing each one. Describe your own role and input on each the selected publications.
• Copies of the most relevant publications in full format (maximum ten publications).
• Description of how the applicant’s current and future research can be integrated with ongoing research at the department, faculty and in the BECC-program (maximum two pages).
• Description of pedagogical experience, including evaluations of teaching quality. The description should also include pedagogical reflection and teaching philosophy (maximum two pages).
• Copy of PhD degree certificate, and other certificates/documents/transcripts that support the applicant’s qualifications.

The application should be written in English as it may be reviewed by international experts with English as a working language. Any documents that are not available in electronic format should be mailed in two copies to:

Department of Earth Sciences
Attn: Eugenia Andersson
University of Gothenburg
Box 460
S-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden 

Applications must be received by: 10 May 2025

Other

After employment, the successful candidate is expected to apply for external national and international research grants.

If the applicant does not have formal training in teaching and learning in higher education at the University of Gothenburg, the applicant is expected to have completed training in teaching and learning in higher education or otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge within one year from the date of employment.

If the person hired is an international recruit and does not have Swedish language skills of at least level B2 according to CEFR (“Common European Framework of Reference for languages”), Swedish language courses will be mandatory. The University of Gothenburg will offer courses in Swedish within the framework of the employment. The person will also be offered relocation support.

Promotion to Senior Lecturer is expected to take place within six years. Applications for promotion are expected to be submitted at least 6 months before the end of the employment period.

Assessment criteria for promotion from associate senior lecturer to senior lecturer

The position as associate senior lecturer is the first level of the tenure track system at the University of Gothenburg. The position is defined as an appointment based on qualifications whereby the holder, if approved, is promoted to a permanent position as a senior lecturer. Assessment criteria for promotion as a teacher are specified in the Higher Education Ordinance and the University of Gothenburg's employment regulations.

For promotion from associate senior lecturer to senior lecturer, applicants must:

1. be qualified for a position as a senior lecturer, i.e., have demonstrated teaching expertise, have completed a doctoral degree or have equivalent research competence or some other professional expertise that is of importance with regard to the subject content of the position and the duties that will be included in the employment, and
2. be deemed suitable for such employment in accordance with these assessment criteria that are to be applied in the promotion case in question.

Normally, applicants to be promoted to senior lecturer are required to be accepted as an associate professor (“oavlönad docent”) in the subject.

For promotion from associate senior lecturer to senior lecturer at the Faculty of Science and Technology, the criteria below are used for the assessment criteria of scientific and pedagogical competence and the special assessment criteria for interaction with society and general suitability. The scientific and pedagogical qualifications must be adequate in relation to the subject content and job description of the position. Management and administrative skills are considered meritorious. In addition, other skills that are of importance with regard to the content of the position and the tasks to be included in the position may constitute additional grounds for assessment for promotion. These possible additional grounds for assessment are stated either in the vacancy notice for the position of associate senior lecturer or as an appendix to the decision on employment as associate senior lecturer under special circumstances.

Assessment criteria for scientific competence

For promotion to the position of senior lecturer, the applicant must have demonstrated scientific competence that exceeds the competence required for admission as Associate Professor (i.e., “docent”). The assessment of academic competence includes an evaluation of the academic work relevant to the position and an assessment of the applicant's potential for further scientific activity in the subject area to which the post relates. In assessing the merits of applicants, the following criteria, among others, shall be taken into account:

• Ability to plan and lead research activities
• Good quality of scientific production
• Ability to obtain external research grants
• Experience in scientific positions of trust

 Assessment criteria for pedagogical competence

For promotion to the position of senior lecturer, the applicant must have good teaching qualifications and demonstrated teaching skills. The assessment of pedagogical competence includes an evaluation of the claimed pedagogical qualifications and an assessment of the applicant's potential for further pedagogical activities in the subject area to which the employment relates. When assessing the applicant's qualifications, the following criteria, among others, shall be given weight:

• Experience of teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level
• Ability to develop pedagogical activities
• Some experience in leadership and administration
• Experience of teaching and supervision in doctoral studies

Interaction with society

For promotion to the position of senior lecturer, the applicant must have some ability to interact with society, and to inform about their activities. At the Faculty, we define the task of collaboration as cooperation, dissemination of information and exchange with the surrounding community, and utility of research and development results. The assessment of the ability to collaborate includes an evaluation of the applicant's qualifications and an assessment of the applicant's potential for further activities within the subject area to which the position relates. When assessing the applicant's qualifications, the following criteria, among others, shall be given weight. For eligibility as a senior lecturer, there should be some experience in at least one of the criteria:

• Some experience in dissemination of information
• Some experience of interaction with society
• Some experience in innovation and entrepreneurship

Leadership and administrative skills

For promotion to the position of senior lecturer, leadership and administrative skills are an asset and can be demonstrated through the following criteria:

• Some experience in unit/department/university management or equivalent
• Some experience as a member of boards, committees or other assignments in areas relevant to the functioning of the university
• Some experience of leadership in relevant networks/associations/organizations

General suitability

The assessment of general suitability includes an evaluation of whether the applicant, with regard to the specific job description of the advertised position, has the personal qualities required to fulfill the duties of a senior lecturer well, to interact with other staff and to contribute to the good development of the Department’s activities.

The assessment criteria also include the following requirements, which are assessed by the Academic Appointments Board at the Faculty of Science and Technology:

• Completed pedagogical training in higher education, including supervisor training, corresponding to 20 credits (HPE101, HPE102, HPE103 and HPE201 or equivalent).
• Ability to teach in Swedish, demonstrated through a presentation to the Academic Appointments Board.
• Ability to give a lecture in an instructive and clarifying manner, demonstrated through a trial lecture for the Academic Appointments Board or by being admitted as an associate professor (“oavlönad docent”).

Other information

The University of Gothenburg is a government agency, which means special benefits, more holidays and a good pension. You can read more about our employee benefits here.

Like most Scandinavian countries, Sweden offers a high quality of life with generous vacation time and tax-funded healthcare. Like all employers in Sweden, we provide 480 days of parental leave, which can be used freely by the two parents up until the child is 12 years old. Families in Sweden are guaranteed a place in preschool within 4 months of applying, and education is free of charge. The university is located in Gothenburg, Sweden's second-largest city, with excellent public transport and a lively international environment.

Choosing a career in a foreign country is a big step. Thus, to give you a general idea of what we and Gothenburg have to offer in terms of benefits and life in general for you and your family/spouse/partner please visit: https://www.gu.se/en/about-the-university/welcome-services and https://www.movetogothenburg.com.

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden’s regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.