Center for Bilingualism Research

The Center for Bilingualism Research is an interdisciplinary unit within the Department of Swedish and Multilingualism at Stockholm University.

At https://www.su.se/centrum-for-tvasprakighetsforskning/ (https://www.su.se/centrum-for-tvasprakighetsforskning/), research and teaching in bilingualism and multilingualism are conducted from sociolinguistic, educational, neurocognitive, and language-structural perspectives. Research areas include language and language use in multilingual contexts; linguistic variation; bilingual education; multilingualism and education in developing countries; language preservation and language shift; language ideology and language policy; second language acquisition in children, adolescents, and adults; effects of age of acquisition, language aptitude, and other individual factors; the bilingual brain's language processing; phonetic, grammatical, and lexical aspects of language learning and language loss – among others. At Stockholm University, there are active interdisciplinary networks around language and power, linguistic ethnography, etc., where the Center's researchers and doctoral students are active. The department also houses the Multilingualism Laboratory, where experimental research using behavioral methods, eye-tracking, and electroencephalography (EEG) is conducted, and where audio and video recordings and interviews can be carried out.

The center offers a master's program and a doctoral education in bilingualism, courses in bilingualism at undergraduate and advanced levels, courses in Swedish as a second language at the undergraduate level, and within the subject teacher education.

In total, about 170 people work at the department, of which currently about 15 are at the Center for Bilingualism Research. For more information, see the Center's website: https://www.su.se/centrum-for-tvasprakighetsforskning/ (https://www.su.se/centrum-for-tvasprakighetsforskning/).

Subject/Subject Description

Bilingualism

Job Responsibilities

The fixed-term positions include teaching at undergraduate and advanced levels. At the undergraduate level, it involves modules in Swedish as a second language within teacher education and in standalone courses within undergraduate education. These courses are taught exclusively in Swedish, thus a good command of Swedish is a requirement. At the advanced level, it involves teaching within the master's program in bilingualism. Since this is an international program, teaching (and often thesis supervision) is conducted in English, thus a good command of English is also a requirement. The courses cover socio- and educational linguistics, psycho- and neurolinguistics, and language-structural perspectives on multilingualism, second and foreign language acquisition, simultaneous and sequential bilingual development in children and adolescents, and encompass theory and methodology within multilingualism and second language research, language and educational policy issues, the grammatical and phonological structure of Swedish in a cross-linguistic perspective, etc. Teaching includes giving lectures, leading seminars, course administration, thesis supervision, and examination.

Course responsibility and distance teaching may occur. Some teaching may take place in the evenings. The positions also include research and administration. The holder of a position, depending on its scope and duration, is expected to contribute to the research environment, for example by participating in the department's research seminars, conducting independent research, writing research articles, applying for internal and external funding, participating in conferences, etc., and also being willing to take on study administrative tasks.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible for appointment as a lecturer is one who has obtained a doctoral degree in bilingualism, multilingualism, Swedish as a second language, or another subject and focus relevant to bilingualism research. The pedagogical, administrative, and scientific competence must be well documented in a way that allows for an assessment of its quality. As a general eligibility requirement, it is required to have both a good ability to collaborate and the ability and suitability otherwise required to perform the tasks well.

Assessment Criteria

Scientific competence is primarily assessed within the framework of the eligibility requirement, but also based on scientific activities beyond the dissertation (such as completed postdoctoral research, published works, participation in scientific conferences, etc.). Particular weight is given to experience in research focused on bilingualism and multilingualism, second language acquisition, minority languages, language and educational policy, etc. In the selection among eligible applicants, documented experience of teaching at universities and colleges is considered, especially experience of teaching within the areas of competence that the positions pertain to. Great importance is also placed on a good ability to collaborate.

The university will primarily consider those who, after a comprehensive assessment of competence, merits, skills, and personal abilities, have the best conditions to carry out the current tasks and contribute to a positive development of the activities.

About the Position

The scope and duration of the positions can vary between 20% and 100% during the period from August 25, 2025, to June 30, 2026 – the scope and duration are determined by the needs of the operations and the opportunities and wishes of those offered employment. Stockholm University applies individual salary setting, so please state your salary expectations. Start date August 25, 2025, or by agreement.

We Offer

With us, you get the dynamics of the interplay between higher education and research that makes Stockholm University an exciting and creative environment. You work in an international environment and receive favorable conditions. The university is located in the National City Park with good connections to the city.

Stockholm University is committed to being a workplace free from discrimination and providing equal rights and opportunities for all.

Contact

Inquiries about the position can be made to Director Niclas Abrahamsson, niclas.abrahamsson@biling.su.se (mailto:niclas.abrahamsson@biling.su.se), and Head of Department Karolina Wirdenäs, karolina.wirdenas@su.se (mailto:karolina.wirdenas@su.se).

Application

You apply for the position via Stockholm University's recruitment system. As an applicant, you are responsible for ensuring that the application is complete in accordance with the university's instructions and that it is received by the university no later than the last application date.

The university's employment regulations, general instructions, and application template in Swedish can be found on the website: https://www.su.se/om-universitetet/jobba-på-su/att-söka-en-anställning (https://www.su.se/om-universitetet/jobba-p%C3%A5-su/att-s%C3%B6ka-en-anst%C3%A4llning).

Stockholm University contributes to the development of a sustainable democratic society through knowledge, enlightenment, and the pursuit of truth.