Associate Senior Lecturers in Molecular medicine at Gothenburg University (2 positions)

Göteborgs universitet möter samhällets utmaningar med mångsidig kunskap. 56 000 studenter och 6 600 medarbetare gör universitetet till en stor och inspirerande arbetsplats. Stark forskning och attraktiva utbildningar lockar forskare och studenter från hela världen. Med ny kunskap och nya perspektiv bidrar Göteborgs universitet till en bättre framtid.

Molecular medicine seeks to increase understanding of molecular mechanisms of disease towards the aim of improved prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease. To these ends, molecular medicine leverages physical, chemical, biological, informatic and medical tools. The Wallenberg Molecular Medicine Fellows program aims to recruit outstanding young scientists within the area of molecular medicine and to provide them with resources, core facilities and a research environment that enables them to realize their full scientific potential and significantly advance the field of molecular medicine in Sweden.

Four centers have been established within the program, in Gothenburg, Linköping, Lund, and Umeå, with extensive collaboration between centers, with SciLifeLab centers in Stockholm and Uppsala, as well as the national Data-driven life science (DDLS) program. Collectively, the centers have recruited >100 fellows and are currently in the process of recruiting >12 additional fellows for the period 2025-2028. More information about the centres can be found at https://wcmm.se/ . Fellows in the Molecular medicine program and DDLS program become part of the Program for Academic Leaders in Life Science (PALS, https://www.palsnetwork.se/ )

The program was established in collaboration between the Knut and Alice Wallenberg (KAW) Foundation and each of the four contributing Universities and Hospital regions, as part of a national agenda to further strengthen Sweden´s position within molecular medicine.

The Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine at the University in Gothenburg was established in collaboration between the KAW Foundation, Hospital Region West and AstraZeneca. The Centre includes activities at the Sahlgrenska Academy and Faculty of Science at the University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, and AstraZeneca in order to ensure unique translational research environments in the interface between academia, health care and the pharmaceutical industry. Activities at the Centre in Gothenburg are particularly focused on molecular medicine for metabolic and degenerative diseases, neuroscience, inflammation, and cancer as well as life science chemistry. The Centre has to date recruited 27 young researchers within these areas who contribute to the center. More information about our research groups and ongoing research activities within our focus areas can be found at www.wcmtm.gu.se

In the present announcement, we are searching for candidates with expertise and good scientific credentials in translational molecular medicine for a tenure track position as Associate Senior Lecturer (Assistant Professor). Both candidates with experimental and clinical research background are welcome to apply. The incentive for the position is a support package including funding for group members as postdoctoral associate and/or PhD student as well as support for expenditures. Within the program of the Wallenberg Centre, two successful candidates will be given the possibility to develop their full potential as leading independent scientists in a flourishing academic environment linked to the Sahlgrenska University Hospital and AstraZeneca in Gothenburg. The employment holders will become part of the scientific environment and network that is established both locally and nationally within the four Wallenberg Centres for molecular medicine in Sweden, as well as being members of PALS.

The successful candidates will be employed at the Faculty of Medicine (Sahlgrenska Academy) of Gothenburg University (https://www.gu.se/en/sahlgrenska-akademin ) which is closely linked to the Sahlgrenska University Hospital, the Science faculty at GU, Chalmers University of Technology, and AstraZeneca R&D, providing an exceptionally broad and interdisciplinary local research environment, greatly facilitating collaboration across disciplines. Important infrastructure platforms are available including the Sahlgrenska Core facilities, the Swedish NMR Centre, and the SciLifeLab Gothenburg node. Research methodologies and approaches used at the Sahlgrenska academy infrastructures relevant for this position includes but is not limited to genomics, metagenomics, proteomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics, glycomics, cellular imaging, oligonucleotide therapy development, software development, machine-learning and other statistical analyses of large-scale health-related public data.

Like most Scandinavian countries, Sweden provides a high quality of life with generous vacation leave and national health care. Like all employers in Sweden, we offer 480 days of parental leave, free to take by the mother and/or the father anytime until the child is 12 years old. Families in Sweden are guaranteed day care positions within 4 months of registering and education is free. The university is located within Gothenburg, Sweden’s second largest city, with an outstanding public transportation system and lively international culture.

The subject area concerns research in the general area of molecular medicine.

The research program should fit within the broader portfolio of the Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, focusing on metabolic and degenerative diseases, neuroscience, inflammation, and cancer as well as life science chemistry. The research activities should be directed towards translational molecular medicine.

The successful candidate is expected to initiate a competitive research program and start or further develop an independent line of research within in the field described above. The successful candidate is expected to actively participate in the local meetings and activities within WCMTM as well as in meetings within the network of the three other Wallenberg Centres of Molecular Medicine in Lund, Linköping and Umeå, DDLS and Science for Life Laboratories in Stockholm and Uppsala. The successful candidate is expected to actively contribute to cooperation within the subject area of the position, and to actively apply for external funding.

The position includes planning and performing teaching in doctoral, master’s and undergraduate programs. Teaching includes lectures, exercises and examinations as well as the supervision of doctoral, master’s and undergraduate students. A successful candidate without university-level teacher training should participate in educational courses for higher education within two years of employment.

The eligibility criteria for employing teaching staff are set out in Chapter 4 of the Higher Education Ordinance and in the Appointment Procedure for Teaching Posts at the University of Gothenburg. 

A PhD degree in a subject area relevant to the position or equivalent scientific competence is a requirement. An applicant with a degree that is judged to be comparable is also eligible. Preference is given to applicants who have been awarded a PhD degree, a comparable degree or achieved equivalent scientific competence no more than five years before the expiration date of this announcement. Applicants who have obtained a doctorate earlier may also be given primary consideration if there are special reasons. Special reasons include leave of absence due to illness, parental leave or other similar circumstances. The reasons and extent of leave of absence should be clearly specified in the application and confirmed by certificates. Ability to teach in English or Swedish is a requirement. The applicant is expected to develop proficiency to teach in Swedish until the time of promotion. The university offers courses in Swedish as a second language.

Assessment of the applications will be based primarily on scientific merits and secondarily on pedagogical and administrative merits and skills. All aspects will be carefully assessed. When assessing scientific proficiency, particular emphasis will be placed on the level of independently performed research in molecular medicine. More specifically, the employment holder must have documented experience in translational molecular medicine.

The scientific assessment will be based on publications in leading international journals, where quality and impact are given more weight than total production. Favourable consideration will be given to candidates with demonstrated success in attracting external funding in national or international competitions, and participation in national and international collaboration projects. Scientific proficiency is also assessed through the scientific quality of the submitted research program and the proven ability to develop and lead research activities with relevance to the present employment.

Priority will be given to candidates with appropriate postdoctoral experience outside the university where the doctoral degree has been awarded, as well as to candidates who can show international mobility and experiences from several research environments. Further, at the time of the interview, personal suitability and how the applicant plans to start/further develop a research group and interact with the research groups at the Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, Salgrenska University Hospital, the Department of Chemistry and Molecular biology at the Faculty of Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology, Astra Zeneca, the other Swedish Wallenberg Centres, DDLS, and SciLifeLab, will be assessed.

When assessing pedagogical proficiency, particular emphasis will be placed on well-documented pedagogical experience of planning, performing and leading teaching, particularly in bioinformatics, computational biology and genomics. Favourable consideration will be given to documented ability to supervise students at undergraduate and post graduate program level in these areas.

The overall assessment of the applications will take into account proficiency and potential for development, ability to carry out the duties of the position, to cooperate with others, and to contribute to the positive development of the organisation.

The successful candidate is expected to apply for supplementary funding with national and international grants. An individual scientific and educational development plan will be determined upon agreement between the individual and the head of department. Promotion to Senior lecturer is expected within four to five years.

Type of employment: Fixed-term employment, four years

Extent: 100%

Location: Host department at Sahlgrenska Academy depends on the research profile and personal preferences of the successful candidate.

First day of employment: As soon as possible, as agreed.

A position as Associate Senior Lecturer (Assistant Professor) is a fixed-term position and defined as a career-development position. The purpose of the position is to allow you to develop as an independent researcher and establish scholarly and educational qualifications to fulfil eligibility requirements as a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor). The position may be extended by at most two years because of sick leave, parental leave or other special reasons result in additional time is required to fulfil the purpose of the position. An Associate Senior Lecturer can apply for promotion to Senior Lecturer. If the Associate Senior Lecturer is deemed suitable and fulfils the criteria for promotion established by the Faculty Board he/she shall be promoted to and employed as Senior Lecturer. Refer to the requirements for being promoted to senior lecturer at the Sahlgrenska academy (assessment criteria, Swedish only).

The selection process will include evaluation by external experts, interviews and oral presentations. The assessment of qualifications and experience will consider parental leave, sick leave or other similar circumstances. The reasons and extent of leave of absence should be specified in the application and supported by a certificate. The candidate will be given the opportunity to meet representatives of the participating departments at the Sahlgrenska Academy to evaluate in which environment the planned research program fits best.

Regarding the position, please contact:

Gustav Smith, Professor/Chief Physician at the Sahlgrenska Academy, director of the Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, E-mail: [email protected]

Camilla Skånberg, research coordinator at the Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, E-mail: [email protected]  

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande  

Submit your application via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal by clicking the “Apply” button. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per the vacancy notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline.  

Together with your application, the following should be attached:

The reference number of the application should be clearly stated when mailing complementary documents. The application is to be written in English since it may be assessed by international experts.

Applications must be received by: 2024-02-20

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
https://www.movetogothenburg.com/
http://www.science.gu.se/english/about/career

You can also see an interview here with people whp have moved to Sweden:
https://www.gu.se/en/sahlgrenska-akademin/about-us/become-one-of-us-at-sahlgrenska-academy

We can offer relocation services.

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations. Salary is determined on an individual basis.  

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.