Senior lecturer position in biology with a focus on vegetation ecology and botany

Description

The subject of biology has just over 50 employees and belongs to the Department of Environmental and Life Sciences at the Faculty of Health, Natural Sciences and Engineering. Biology offers bachelor’s programs, master’s programs and subject teacher training in biology and natural sciences. Biology is also a postgraduate subject and currently has 10 active doctoral students. Our main research areas are terrestrial plant and landscape ecology, aquatic ecology (research group NRRV, natural resource running water), evolutionary biology and biology didactics.

Research in terrestrial plant and landscape ecology focuses on how landscape patterns and processes affect ecological systems and biodiversity. The group works to understand the ecological and environmental consequences of land use, habitat fragmentation and landscape dynamics over time. Research areas include the spread of invasive species, grasslands and wetlands, interactions between humans and nature, habitat modeling and the development of tools for sustainable landscape management. For other research areas, see the biology subject website: https://www.kau.se/biologi

We are now looking for a senior lecturer in biology with a focus on vegetation ecology and botany, within an area that complements and broadens the research conducted within the landscape ecology research group.

Job duties

The duties include teaching and research. You are expected to take responsibility for courses and develop courses primarily at bachelor’s level in biology, such as ‘floristics and fauna’ and ‘botany’. Additional teaching assignments may occur, for example within teacher training or the master’s program.

You are also expected to conduct research that complements and expands the research already conducted in the subject, as well as supervise students and doctoral students in your field. We expect a senior lecturer to initiate new externally funded research projects in collaboration with colleagues within the department.

You are expected to collaborate with the surrounding community for mutual exchange, and to work to ensure that the knowledge and expertise available at the university benefits society. To contribute to a positive work environment and promote the development of the subject, you are expected to be present and active in daily activities and the working community.

Eligibility requirements

A person who has demonstrated pedagogical and scientific competence is eligible to be employed as a university lecturer in biology with a specialization in vegetation ecology and botany. In addition, a doctoral degree or equivalent scientific competence in biology is required, or some other professional skill that is of importance with regard to the subject content of the position and the tasks to be included in the position.

The position also requires good knowledge of Swedish (or another Nordic language), both spoken and written, since teaching at the basic level is conducted in Swedish.

According to Karlstad University’s employment regulations, teachers must have completed higher education pedagogy training. If such training is lacking, employment can still take place, provided that the employee commits to completing it within the framework of the competence development period during the first two years of employment, or alternatively applies to have the corresponding knowledge validated.

Additional eligibility requirements according to the employment regulations:

• High quality and topicality of scientific production
• Ability to interact with the surrounding community, as well as to inform about activities and results
• Ability to conduct and develop research/activity in the relevant subject
• Demonstrated good ability to plan, implement, develop and evaluate teaching, examination and other pedagogical activities, at different levels and using varying teaching methods

All employees at Karlstad University must have a good ability to collaborate and treat colleagues and students with respect. They must also take responsibility for both the operations and their own work, and contribute to a good working environment.

Assessment criteria

Equal weight will be given to scientific and pedagogical skills in the assessment. The assessment is based on the criteria specified in the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 4, Section 4.

The assessment primarily concerns experience and qualifications from the last five years (longer periods of time may be taken into account in the event of, for example, parental leave, illness or similar circumstances).

Particular emphasis will be placed on:

• solid and documented pedagogical skills in terms of planning, implementation and evaluation of teaching, supervision and examination,
• solid and documented scientific skills and high scientific production in vegetation ecology or/and botany,
• very good knowledge of species of vascular plants, mosses and lichens in the Swedish natural environment,
• good oral and written skills in English.

Great importance will be attached to:

• personal qualities such as good collaboration and communication skills and a positive attitude towards colleagues and students,
• ability to take initiative, initiate activities and achieve results and ability to plan, organize and prioritize work in a structured and efficient manner,
• documented success in obtaining external research funding, preferably larger grants,
• how well the applicant’s research complements the research group’s current expertise in landscape ecology; ranking is based on the scope, depth and relevance of the applicant’s expertise.

Emphasis will be placed on:

• how well the research that the applicant has conducted can develop and strengthen research at Karlstad University, for example by contributing new methods or areas of expertise (e.g. eDNA or other molecular methods).
• competence in statistical analysis,
• experience in communicating research results to different groups in society,
• the ability to collaborate both within academia and with external actors,
• an extensive national and international contact network within the relevant research area.

Terms and Conditions
The position is a full-time permanent position with commencement in May 2027 or as agreed. A probationary period may apply.

Application

The application is made in the university’s web-based recruitment tool Varbi. Information about what your application may look like can be found in “What should be included in my application?”
You as the applicant are responsible for ensuring that the application is complete in accordance with the advertisement, that any documents in languages ​​other than Swedish, Norwegian, Danish or English are translated and that your competence is documented in a way that allows for an objective, qualitative assessment. A complete application must be received by the end of the application period. An incomplete application may mean that your competence cannot be assessed in all respects.

The application must contain:

• CV,
• personal letter describing your qualifications in relation to the content of the position,
• in-depth account of pedagogical qualifications,
• certificate of higher education teaching training, if completed, or description of equivalent knowledge,
• in-depth account of scientific activities,
• account of experience from other activities,
• account of experience from leadership and administration,
• plans for future operations,
• report on collaboration, experience from international networks, etc.,
• publication list (in the case of co-publication, the own role must be stated),
• statement of language skills,
• a copy of an issued doctoral degree or certificate of equivalent scientific competence, or a certificate of other professional skills that are of importance with regard to the subject content of the position and the tasks that will be included in the position,
• a maximum of 10 scientific publications and a maximum of three other publications,
• two references, at least one of which is from a previous or current manager.

All documents and publications that you wish to be part of your application should be attached to the digital application (not just links). Name each uploaded document so that it is clear what it contains.

Documents that cannot be sent electronically, such as books and publications, must be sent in triplicate to the address below.

Karlstad University
HR Administrator
651 88 KARLSTAD

Enter reference number: REK2026/23

Application deadline: 2026-08-16              

Welcome with your application!