Associate Senior Lecturer in Botany, specialising in vascular plant systematics

The University of Gothenburg tackles society's challenges with diverse knowledge. 58 000 students and 6800 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

The University of Gothenburg offers a research environment in which internationally recognized, world-class research is combined with an open and collaborative academic culture. Early-career researchers have the opportunity to develop themselves, build international networks, and contribute to research of global significance. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the university contributes to a better future.

Research at the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences (BioEnv) examines organisms and processes in a diversity of ecosystems, from the alpine and tundra, through forests, grassland/meadow, and freshwater systems, to the coast and sea. In these environments, we work at different levels of biological organization from genes, through individuals and populations, to communities and ecosystems. Our research spans ecology, evolution, physiology, and systematics, and addresses questions in the context of both natural and man-made environments.

The department's activities are conducted at two main locations: Natrium on Medicinaregatan 7B in Gothenburg, and the Kristineberg Marine Research Station in Fiskebäckskil. The current position is located at the premises in Gothenburg, which is where Herbarium GB is situated. The latter hosts more than one million specimens from around the world (~60% imaged; ~28% with digitized metadata) and forms part of a global network of almost 4,000 herbaria.

Subject area

Botany, specializing in vascular plant systematics.

Subject area description

Vascular plant systematics is the scientific study of the diversity, evolutionary relationships, and taxonomy of vascular plants. In the 21st century, systematics is a highly integrative discipline, one that engages a diversity of data types and methodologies, and has strong connections to evolutionary biology, ecology, and conservation biology. For this position we seek a plant systematist having competence in the tools of modern systematics, a strong interest in natural history collections, and whose research makes first-hand use of material housed in such collections.

It is anticipated that this person will: (i) via the quality of their research, strengthen the department's profile in biodiversity science; (ii) engage actively with undergraduate and graduate students, through teaching, research, and mentorship; (iii) contribute to strategic development and curation of the Herbarium GB collections; and (iv) foster collaboration between the herbarium, the department, and the Gothenburg Botanical Garden.

Duties

This associate senior lectureship initially comprises 60% research and teaching in botany and 40% curation of the vascular plant collections at Herbarium GB. The curation component comprises contribution to strategic development of the collections, basic curation, and curation-related research.

Teaching and research tasks include:

• Development of and engagement with a sustained, substantive, and productive research program focusing on vascular plants. A significant component of the research should be collections-based, making use of herbarium material.
• Building and leading a research group, including applying for external research funding and publishing in high-quality scientific journals.
• Teaching topics in plant taxonomy, systematics, and related subjects at undergraduate and graduate levels. This includes lecturing, coordination of practical exercises, course leadership, and project supervision.
• Supervising doctoral students.
• Participation in the development and renewal of teaching, in both content and form.
• Development of collaborations with other research groups at University of Gothenburg and with researchers at other institutions. The department is especially keen to strengthen its collaboration with the Gothenburg Botanical Garden, with respect to research, teaching, and collection management.
• Participation in and development of societal collaboration projects.

Curation tasks include:

• Participation in the development of strategic goals and drafting of grant applications for Herbarium GB.
• Curation and development of the vascular plant collections in Herbarium GB.
• Execution and publication of research relating to or arising from curation activities.
• Promoting integration of Herbarium GB into university- and botanic garden-based teaching, research, and community activities.
• Support of digitization and database cataloguing in line with international standards for specimen data.
• Support of visiting researchers and promoting collaboration with national and international institutions.

Competence development is included in the position, particularly training in teaching and learning in higher education and supervision corresponding to 20 higher education credits (PIL101, PIL102, PIL103 and PIL201, or equivalent, Courses offered in English | The PIL Unit). For candidates who do not speak Swedish, competence development in Swedish is also included.

Eligibility

Eligibility for employment as an associate senior lecturer is regulated by the Higher Education Ordinance and the University of Gothenburg's employment regulations.

To be eligible for appointment as an associate senior lecturer, the applicant must have been awarded a PhD or has the corresponding research expertise. Primary consideration should be given to a person who has been awarded a PhD or achieved the equivalent expertise within seven years of the deadline for application for employment as an associate senior lecturer. However, a person who has been awarded a PhD or achieved equivalent expertise at an earlier date may also be considered if there are exceptional circumstances. Exceptional circumstances are sick leave, parental leave, or other similar circumstances.

Ability to teach in English is a requirement.

Assessment criteria

The assessment criteria for appointment as associate senior lecturer are governed by the Higher Education Ordinance and the Appointments Procedure for Teachers at the University of Gothenburg. We seek candidates who have demonstrated the ability to independently initiate, develop, and conduct high-quality research within the subject area of the position. For appointment as an associate senior lecturer at the Faculty of Science and Technology, academic and teaching qualifications must be adequate in relation to the subject content and job description of the advertised position.

For this position, emphasis is placed on research qualifications and expertise, particularly in herbarium specimen-based research, with curation skills considered to be of similar importance. The assessment categories of collaboration with the wider community and management and administrative expertise are considered advantageous.

The assessment of research and curation skills includes

• Proficiency in vascular plant systematics, taxonomy, and nomenclature, as evidenced by publications and participation in scientific conferences.
• Experience of herbarium curation and/or collections-based taxonomic research.
• Advanced knowledge of modern techniques in taxonomy and systematics, including phylogenetic and phylogenomic tools.
• A clear vision of the future role and operation of herbaria, and thoughts on the priority actions required to realize that vision.
• Experience of herbarium digitization, georeferencing, and/or database development.
• Knowledge of the Northern Eurasian and/or Eurasian floras, specifically floristics and regional plant identification.

Personal qualities such as initiative, organization skills, pedagogical insight, and communication skills will also be taken into consideration.

In the recruitment process, an overall assessment of competence and qualifications will be made to appoint the candidate who is deemed to have the best potential to carry out and further develop the duties of the position and thereby contribute to the positive development of the department and Herbarium GB.

Employment

Type of employment: Fixed-term employment for five years
Extent: Full-time (100%)
Location: Gothenburg
Starting date: By agreement

Employment as an associate senior lecturer is a merit-based position and a step in a career path that aims to enable you as a researcher to develop your independence and build your own research profile to be considered for a permanent position as a senior lecturer. The associate senior lecturer appointment may be renewed, but for a maximum of two years in total, if additional time is required to achieve the purpose of the appointment due to sick leave, parental leave or other special reasons.

Promotion to senior lecturer

An associate senior lecturer is entitled to be considered for promotion to a permanent position as senior lecturer in the same subject area as the associate senior lecturer, provided that the individual is qualified for such an appointment and is deemed suitable following an assessment based on the established criteria for promotion to Senior Lecturer.

During the employment period, no later than 6 months before it ends, the associate senior lecturer is expected to apply to be promoted to a permanent position as senior lecturer. It is to be noted that the application for promotion must be made within the same subject in which the applicant is employed. The requirements for promotion to senior lecturer can be found in the procedures of the Faculty of Science and Technology: https://s3.gu.se/earkiv-publikt/GU1816-1319333663-232803.pdf

Other information

To create good conditions for a work-life balance, we offer academic freedom, flexible working arrangements, and generous vacation. You are entitled to several benefits such as health care compensation, parental allowance supplement and a favorable occupational pension. Read more about the university's employment benefits here: Employment benefits | University of Gothenburg

If you do not have formal higher education teaching training, you will have the opportunity to take higher education teaching training within the framework of your employment. Participation in these courses is mandatory.

If you do not have knowledge of Swedish at least level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), you will be offered language courses as part of your employment. Participation in these courses is mandatory.

Internationally recruited staff are offered relocation packages and tax meeting/Global Mobility.

Selection process

Review of applicants will take place after the application deadline. Eligible applicants' documents will then be sent to external experts. In addition to expert review, trial lectures and interviews, the selection process may also involve reference checks.

Contact information

If you have questions about the employment, you are welcome to contact:

• George Anthony Verboom, Professor in Botany
  +46 76 618 59 23, E-post: tony.verboom@bioenv.gu.se
• Åsa Arrhenius, Head of Department
  +46 31 786 26 25, E-post: asa.arrhenius@bioenv.gu.se

Website: https://www.gu.se/en/biological-environmental-sciences

If you have questions about the employment procedure, you are welcome to contact HR at the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, hr@bioenv.gu.se.

Unions

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: https://www.gu.se/en/work-at-the-university-of-gothenburg/how-to-apply-for-a-position#collective-agreement-and-union-representatives

Application

Apply for the position via the University of Gothenburg's recruitment portal by clicking on the "Apply" button. As an applicant, you are responsible for ensuring that the application is complete in accordance with the advertisement and that it is received by the University no later than the application deadline.

The application must be accompanied by:

1. Cover letter explaining your interest in and, with reference to the stated requirements and merits, your suitability for the position (maximum one page).
2. CV, including a complete list of publications and an account of external funding received (with amounts) and a link to profile in Inaturalist or similar platform.
3. A statement of scientific merits and justification for the selection of up to ten scientific publications that you refer to in the application. Specify your contribution to each of the selected publications (maximum three pages).
4. Full electronic copies of your selected publications (maximum of ten).
5. A description of ongoing and planned research as well as other planned activities of relevance to the position (maximum two pages).
6. A statement of teaching qualifications, with information on the scope and type of teaching and a statement on its quality. The report must also include pedagogical reflection and teaching philosophy (maximum two pages).
7. An account outlining your experience of working in herbaria and presenting your vision of the future role and operation of Herbarium GB, and your thoughts on the priority actions required to realize that vision (maximum two page).
8. PhD diploma.
9. Certificates and other documents that you wish to refer to.

Your application must be written in English as it may be reviewed by international experts with English as the working language. As an applicant, you are responsible for ensuring that the application is complete in accordance with the advertisement and that it is received by the University no later than the application deadline. Publications that cannot be attached to the application digitally must be sent in one copy each to:

Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences
Attn: Maria Thell

University of Gothenburg
Box 463
405 30 Göteborg
Sweden

Mark the envelope PAR 2026/753, Associate senior lecturer in Botany specialising in vascular plant systematics". The publications must be received by the application deadline.

The application must be received by 2026-11-30.

Information for International Applicants

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/

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

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.