Assistant Professor in crop cultivation technology

Department of Biosystems and Technology

Do you want to contribute to the sustainable food systems of the future through new technology? Do you want to help shape research and education in technology development for sustainable primary production in an interdisciplinary context? Then this could be the role for you.

The position is an investment in new technology in the newly launched SLU and Sparbanken Skåne Center for Sustainable Primary Production located in Alnarp. The center will work towards a more sustainable and robust food chain that benefits long term economic growth and development in the society. Primary production is in focus, but the activities will also relate to the food system as a whole and to synergies with other production systems. Through outstanding research and education, the centre will collaborate with business and public actors to develop, disseminate and utilize knowledge and new solutions for a transition that balances economic, ecological and social sustainability. The position is located at the Department of Biosystems and Technology, which explores the interaction between soil, plants, animals, environment, climate and people in systems for sustainable production of food and renewable raw materials.

Subject area

The subject covers technology and digitalization with a focus on biosystems engineering in crop cultivation. The area of responsibility that the associate senior lecturer will develop is expected to be within a broad application of technology development in primary production, especially crop cultivation and horticulture.

Duties

The Associate Senior Lecturer/Assistant Professor will have their own area of ​​responsibility and will be given development opportunities to be able to qualify as docent and Senior Lecturer in the subject of the position. The position includes teaching and research within the subject area.

The research is expected to be conducted in collaboration with researchers within the department and SLU, in cooperation and knowledge exchange with the SLU and Sparbanken Skåne's Centre for Sustainable Primary Production, as well as through national and international collaboration.

The Associate Senior Lecturer/Assistant Professor is expected to develop the subject by

• Planning, leading and carrying out research projects as part of developing need-based technical solutions
• Applying for external funding in competition with a focus on the role of technology in sustainable primary production
• Publish scientific articles
• Initiate the development of his/her own research group
• Participating in postgraduate education as a co-supervisor
• Conduct research-based teaching at all levels of the educational cycle within technology-oriented subjects and leading courses for, among others, agricultural and horticultural engineering students
• Continuously develop oneself as a teacher and develop pedagogical leadership
• Collaborate and communicate with relevant stakeholders in the agricultural industry for e.g. identification of knowledge needs
• Participating in and leading professional development for practitioners in agriculture and related sectors
• Contributing to the further development of research and educational infrastructure to strengthen opportunities within the field of technology

The department has a parallel language work environment. The associate senior lecturer will be able to carry out most of their tasks in English. As the university is Swedish speaking, the holder is expected to be able to work and teach in Swedish within four years of taking up the position. The institution will support the holder to achieve this.

Qualifications

Eligible for employment as an associate senior lecturer are candidates who hold a PhD or have equivalent academic qualifications. Priority will be given to candidates who have received a PhD or equivalent qualifications no longer than seven years before the application deadline. Other candidates may also be considered if there are extraordinary grounds for doing so. Extraordinary grounds refer absence due to illness, parental leave or similar circumstances.

For employment as an associate senior lecturer, the candidate must hold a PhD in applied technology or in a related discipline with relevance to the subject of employment.

Good ability to communicate in written and spoken English is required.

Assessment criteria

The assessment criteria for appointment as an associate senior lecturer will primarily be based on the degree to which the applicant/candidate possesses the required qualifications specified for the position.

The assessment for appointment as an associate senior lecturer shall primarily be based on the applicant’s expertise and scientific skills within the subject area of the position.

Primary emphasis will be placed on experience in applying technology or implementing technical solutions within the subject of the position as well as experience in knowledge development, innovation and skills development in collaboration with business or the public sector.

Emphasis will also be placed on expertise in communication and ability to work across several of the department´s research areas.

Good knowledge of Swedish is a merit.

In addition, the applicant's ability to develop an independent research profile within the subject of the employment and to achieve the requirements for promotion to senior lecturer within the framework of the merit-based employment is assessed.

The position will be offered to the candidate who, after a qualitative overall assessment, is assessed to have the best qualifications to carry out and develop current tasks and contribute to a positive development of the department and SLU.

Form of employment

The employment is limited to four years in accordance with the Higher Education Act. A position as an Associate Senior Lecturer is a qualifying employment that constitutes the first step in an academic career at SLU. An Associate Senior Lecturer has the right during his/her employment to get promoted to Senior Lecturer (UK) or Associate Professor (US) if he/she is eligible for employment as a senior lecturer and assessed as suitable for such an appointment.

Application deadline:

2025-11-18

Place of work:

Alnarp

Scope:

100 %

Starting date:

By agreement.

Application:

It is desirable that the application is written in English, because the applications will be evaluated by expert advisers both in Sweden and abroad.

For the guidance of your application, there is SLU's appointment procedure for teachers at SLU and General assessment criteria for the appointment of teachers, which you can read here.

Please apply by clicking on the apply-button below.

Working at SLU

At SLU, you become part of a vibrant research environment that is based on active collaboration. As an employee at SLU, you have access to a number of benefits (including Swedish family healthcare, parental leave and generous paid leave policies). Read more about benefits at SLU here. SLU is often highly ranked in the various university rankings that are made around the world and is ranked as one of Sweden's most attractive workplaces.

Sweden also has a well-established pre-school structure and a free education system. Find out more facts and stories about Sweden at www.sweden.se

SLU in Alnarp is located in southern Sweden near the university cities of Lund and Malmö, and Copenhagen in Denmark. The Öresund region offers a rich history and culture and is a real academic and cultural hub.

Adacemic union representatives:

https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/employee-associations/kontaktpersoner-vid-rekrytering/