SciLifeLab is looking for a new Director

Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab) is a national resource for advancing molecular biosciences in Sweden (www.scilifelab.se ). It operates as a nationally funded research infrastructure, fostering collaboration between researchers and promoting the development of state-of-the-art technologies.

The overarching mission of SciLifeLab is to facilitate molecular bioscience research in Sweden that transcends the capabilities of individual researchers, universities, and research disciplines. With a focus on human health and environmental biology, scientists at SciLifeLab investigate life on Earth. The goal is to enhance the international competitiveness of Swedish research by investing in research excellence, technology-driven infrastructure and expanding the focus on data-driven bioscience.

As a national infrastructure, SciLifeLab provides access to cutting-edge instrumentation and scientific expertise to thousands of national and international users. It offers more than 40 infrastructure units, organized in 10 platforms: Bioimaging and Molecular Structure, Bioinformatics, Chemical Biology and Genome Engineering, Diagnostics, Drug Discovery, Genomics, Metabolomics, Proteomics, Single Cell Biology, and Spatial Omics. The infrastructure service engages around 450 full-time equivalents (FTEs), 70% being scientists with PhD degrees. SciLifeLab encompasses research capabilities in precision medicine, laboratory preparedness for pandemics, and planetary biology. The user community comprises over 1700 scientists/year, including 300 SciLifeLab-affiliated group leaders nationwide. Since 2021, SciLifeLab has coordinated an externally funded national program in data-driven life science (DDLS) in four strategic research areas, supported by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation. SciLifeLab also has approximately 50 SciLifeLab and DDLS fellow positions for young group leaders recruited globally to tenure-track positions at the host universities.

SciLifeLab was established in 2010 as a collaborative effort among four host universities: Karolinska Institutet, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm University and Uppsala University. Today, SciLifeLab has expanded to include sites at other major Swedish universities in Lund, Gothenburg, Linköping and Umeå. However, the two largest centers remain SciLifeLab-Campus Solna in Stockholm and SciLifeLab-Navet in Uppsala. The basic budget for SciLifeLab in 2024 exceeds 800 MSEK (80 M€) including support from the government and from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, excluding incomes from user fees or external grants to infrastructure or research group leaders.

SciLifeLab is currently seeking a new Director who will lead the strategic development of SciLifeLab as a national infrastructure for technology and bioscience data, as well as foster a vibrant research community. The new Director is expected to create a comprehensive plan and vision for strengthening Swedish bioscience research through SciLifeLab. The Director of SciLifeLab serves as the scientific leader of the organization and reports directly to the national SciLifeLab board. In collaboration with the SciLifeLab Co-directors, management team, and partner university representatives, the Director will drive the continued growth of SciLifeLab as a world-leading research infrastructure and enhance the research capabilities of Swedish communities across all domains of molecular bioscience.

The appointed SciLifeLab Director will serve a six-year term starting in July 2024. The primary responsibility will be to lead SciLifeLab, but the successful candidate will have the opportunity to establish a research program supported by a research grant and a start-up package. The Directorship may be combined with an appointment as full professor at one of the four host universities: Karolinska Institutet, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm University, or Uppsala University.

The successful candidate is expected to possess the following qualifications:

• An internationally recognized reputation for excellence in research, evidenced by an outstanding publication record and a proven track record of securing substantial external funding.
• Established expertise at the professor level in molecular bioscience/life science research.
• Motivation and skills to lead the interplay between state-of-the-art infrastructure development and cutting-edge technology-driven, data-driven and hypothesis-driven research.
• A broad international network and the ability to enhance Sweden’s international position in large-scale molecular bioscience.
• Experience in academic leadership and management, including leading interdisciplinary and international projects.
• Excellent communicative, collaborative, and organizational skills.
• The ability to represent and promote SciLifeLab and its partner universities when engaging with national and international stakeholders, including government bodies, public organizations, and private entities.
• A track record of engagement in translational, innovation or collaborative activities with the healthcare sector, industry, or other stakeholders.

The responsibilities of the SciLifeLab Director includes:

• Strengthening SciLifeLab’s national role in molecular bioscience research, as well as technology- and data-driven research initiatives.
• Promoting the development of SciLifeLab as a national infrastructure with operations spanning the country.
• Developing SciLifeLab as a hub for national and international bioscience stakeholders, including universities, research and funding organizations, the healthcare sector, industry, government bodies, and other societal sectors.
• Influencing and aligning with governmental research and infrastructure policies, and facilitating the funding opportunities for SciLifeLab’s infrastructure, research and data-related activities.
• Representing SciLifeLab at the national and international levels and forging partnerships with relevant stakeholders.
• Organizing and supporting national and international evaluations of SciLifeLab’s infrastructure and research, presenting SciLifeLab to the international advisory board, and overseeing annual reporting to the government.
• Preparing agenda items for the SciLifeLab board, such as the annual budget, research programs and strategies, funding initiatives, and nominations for key positions. Implementing and monitoring board decisions.
• Leading and coordinating the work of the management group and strategic council, and collaborating with the SciLifeLab Operations Office in the day-to-day activities.
• Collaborating with the leadership of the host universities and site directors across the country to ensure optimal alignment and promote synergies between local and national SciLifeLab activities.
• Fostering the advancement of data science and computational capabilities.
• Promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of the organization and its user community.
• Ensuring the ethical and legal operations of SciLifeLab and implementing open and FAIR data handling and sharing activities, with the support of the SciLifeLab Data Center.

For questions and information about the Directorship, please contact the chair of the SciLifeLab board, Ylva Engström, via email at [email protected]

For information on the recruitment process or to express your interest, no later than July 28, 2023, please contact the Executive Search partner Michaël Berglund, consultants Ebba Alm and Ewa Kuszelewski, via email at [email protected]