Assistant Professor in Soil Microbiology

The Faculty of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences
The Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology
SLU is a world-class university in the biosciences and environmental sciences, with a vision to play a key role in the development of sustainable living, based on science, education, and knowledge of the state of the environment. Here, the Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology contributes with research and teaching focused on fundamental and applied aspects of interactions between microorganisms and plants, as well as mycology, microbial ecology, and evolution. Plant pathology, biodiversity, and nutrient cycling in agricultural and forest ecosystems are central areas. The department offers courses at the undergraduate, advanced, and doctoral levels in biology as well as soil, environment, forestry, and agricultural sciences within several professional and general education programs, such as the Agronomy program in soil and plant, Soil, Water and Environment, Plant Biology for Sustainable Production, and Forest Ecology and Sustainable Management, but also provides standalone courses in mycology, nature conservation, and microbiology.

The Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology offers a stimulating, international research environment. We are now seeking an assistant professor for the soil microbiology research group who combines computational research with experimental validation to understand and predict the ecology and significance of microorganisms in soil ecosystems. The group constitutes a strong research environment and conducts fundamental research on the ecology of microorganisms in terrestrial ecosystems with applications in sustainable agriculture. Research is conducted in collaboration with other departments at SLU, primarily the Department of Soil and Environment, the Department of Ecology, and the Department of Plant Production Ecology. Collaborations also occur with national and international research colleagues and various stakeholders in society.

The department is part of SLU Biocentrum, a research environment with modern infrastructure, including a plant cultivation facility. At SLU, there are field research stations and a large number of long-term agricultural experiments with extensive data series, and SLU also coordinates the national infrastructure SITES for terrestrial and limnological field research. In Uppsala, part of the national infrastructure SciLifeLab is located, which offers expertise and advanced technology platforms in life sciences and bioinformatics. The department has its own computing cluster and also has access to national computing resources through NAISS.

Read more about the department here (#).

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at SLU here (#).

Subject Description

The subject covers terrestrial microbial ecology with a focus on combining computational and experimental research to increase knowledge of the ecology and significance of microorganisms for the functioning of soil ecosystems.

Job Responsibilities

The assistant professor is expected to develop an independent research profile within the subject of the position. Research is expected to be conducted in close collaboration with researchers within the department and other parts of SLU, as well as through national and international collaboration.

In addition, the holder within the subject of the position shall:

• seek external funding competitively and publish scientific articles
• contribute to the development of a research group within the subject of the position
• participate in and initiate interdisciplinary collaborations where relevant
• be a co-supervisor for doctoral students
• teach at the undergraduate, advanced, and doctoral levels
• continue pedagogical education
• collaborate with relevant stakeholders in the industry and with decision-makers

The department has a bilingual working environment. The assistant professor will be able to perform most of their tasks in English. As a public authority, the university has Swedish as its main language according to the requirements of the Language Act, and the holder is expected to be able to communicate in Swedish within four years of taking up the position. The department will support the holder in achieving this.

Eligibility

Eligible for employment as an assistant professor is someone who has obtained a doctoral degree or has equivalent scientific competence. Primarily, candidates who have achieved this eligibility no more than seven years before the application deadline should be considered. However, those who have obtained a doctoral degree or have achieved equivalent competence earlier may also be considered if there are special reasons. Special reasons are considered to be leave due to illness, parental leave, or other similar circumstances.

To be employed as an assistant professor, the applicant must be scientifically competent in the subject of the position.

Good ability to communicate in English, both orally and in writing, is a requirement.

Assessment Criteria

The assessment criteria for employment shall primarily be the degree of skill required for eligibility for employment.

In the assessment for employment as an assistant professor, particular emphasis will be placed on the applicant's scientific competence in the subject of the position.

In addition, the applicant's ability to develop an independent research profile within the subject of the position and to meet the requirements for promotion to associate professor within the framework of the merit-based employment will be assessed.

The position will be offered to the eligible candidate who, after a qualitative overall assessment, is deemed to have the best conditions to carry out and develop the current tasks and contribute to a positive development of the operations.

Application Deadline

2026-01-12

Location

Uppsala

Extent

100 %

Employment Form

The employment is temporary in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance. An appointment as an assistant professor is a merit-based position that constitutes the first step in an academic career at SLU. An assistant professor has the right to apply for assessment for promotion to associate professor during their employment based on criteria established in connection with the announcement of the position as assistant professor.

Start Date

By agreement.

Application:

It is desirable that the application be written in English, as applications will be assessed by experts both in Sweden and abroad.

For guidance on your application, SLU's Employment Regulations for Teachers at SLU and General Assessment Criteria for Employment of Teachers can be read here (#).

Welcome to apply via the application button below.

Union Contacts:

Union Contacts (https://internt.slu.se/min-anstallning/facket/kontaktpersoner/)