Vacant job

Umeå University aims to provide the next generation of research leaders with the best conditions for building groundbreaking research through the initiative Umeå University Northern Star Fellows. As part of a university-wide initiative, we offer 10 early-career researchers the opportunity to develop long-term research activities over six years and gain the merits required for promotion to Associate Professor. All calls within this initiative can be found at: https://www.umu.se/northern-star/northern-star-fellows/ (https://www.umu.se/northern-star/northern-star-fellows/).

Read more about Umeå University Northern Star Programme, a brand new excellence program designed to strengthen quality and international competitiveness in research here: https://www.umu.se/northern-star/ (https://www.umu.se/northern-star/).

The Faculty of Humanities at Umeå University is advertising two positions as Assistant Professor (Biträdande universitetslektor) as an opportunity for researchers to develop long-term research activities over six years and gain the merits required for promotion to Associate Professor. The call is broad and open to all subjects within the Faculty of Humanities where scientific research is conducted. Of the two positions, at most one may be awarded to the same subject at the faculty. More information about the faculty's research can be found here: https://www.umu.se/humanistisk-fakultet/forskning/forskargrupper/ (https://www.umu.se/humanistisk-fakultet/forskning/forskargrupper/).

Main Responsibilities

The purpose of the employment is to give the applicant the opportunity to develop their independence as a researcher and gain both scientific and pedagogical merits to meet the requirements for eligibility for promotion to Associate Professor. The duties include actively contributing to the development of the research environment within their field of research, as well as applying for external research funding for their research activities and environment. Teaching at undergraduate and advanced levels, as well as supervision of doctoral students, are also included.

In addition to teaching and research, the role includes teaching-related administration and personnel, subject, and planning meetings.

The employment is fixed-term for six years on a full-time basis and consists of at least 70% independent research and at least 20% pedagogical merit-building.

Applicants who do not speak Swedish at the time of employment are expected to learn Swedish within six years from the first day of employment.

Qualifications for the position of Assistant Professor

Eligible for appointment as an Assistant Professor is someone who has completed a PhD in a research area relevant to the Faculty of Humanities or has equivalent scientific competence. Preference should be given to those who have completed their PhD or attained equivalent competence no more than seven years prior to the application deadline for the position of Assistant Professor. However, those who have completed their PhD or attained equivalent competence earlier may also be considered if there are special reasons. Special reasons refer to leave due to illness, parental leave, or other similar circumstances, according to Chapter 4, Section 4a of the Higher Education Ordinance.

Very good knowledge of English, both spoken and written, is a requirement for the position.

For more information about the position, please see the advertisement here: https://www.umu.se/jobba-hos-oss/lediga-jobb/ (https://www.umu.se/jobba-hos-oss/lediga-jobb/).

The eligibility and assessment criteria can be found in the Employment Regulations for Teachers at Umeå University: https://www.umu.se/regelverk/personal-lika-villkor-och-arbetsmiljo/anstallningsordning-for-larare-vid-umea-universitet2/ (https://www.umu.se/regelverk/personal-lika-villkor-och-arbetsmiljo/anstallningsordning-for-larare-vid-umea-universitet2/).

Application

The application must be written in English and submitted via the e-recruitment system Varbi no later than 2026-10-01.

All documents must be submitted in electronic form. Information regarding which documents should be attached to the application can be found in the Faculty of Humanities' Guidelines for Applications for Employment and Promotion: https://www.umu.se/humanistisk-fakultet/tva-dokument/ (https://www.umu.se/humanistisk-fakultet/tva-dokument/)

Other Information

The employment is fixed-term for six years on a 100% basis and the start date is 2027-07-01.

The position includes a resource package to establish an independent research group. This includes funding for one doctoral student and 100,000 SEK per year in operational funds.

The place of work is Umeå, and high physical presence in the environment is a requirement.

Umeå University is a government agency, which means employees receive special benefits; read more about this here: https://www.umu.se/jobba-hos-oss/formaner/ (https://www.umu.se/jobba-hos-oss/formaner/).

Further information about the position can be obtained from Philip Buckland, Deputy Dean, 090-786 52 92, [email protected] or Carina Rönnqvist, Research Coordinator, 090-786 76 10, [email protected].

We look forward to receiving your application!