Researcher with a focus on Ecology and Society

The Department of Ecology is recruiting a researcher with a focus on Ecology and Society. The Department conducts internationally strong empirical and theoretical research and education in ecology aimed towards sustainable forestry, agriculture and biodiversity conservation. While the focus at the department is natural science, there are also significant multi- and interdisciplinary collaborations, including with research teams in the social sciences and humanities. Such interdisciplinarity is required to understand and provide guidance to the wicked environmental problems the world faces today.

Read more about our benefits and working at SLU by visiting: https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/

Subject area

The subject area encompasses basic and applied research with a focus on the relationship between Ecology and Society. The research area is interdisciplinary in nature, on the intersection of Ecology and the Social sciences/Humanities, and has two foci, namely Ecology’s entanglement with society 1) through digital technology – connecting to the budding fields of Digital Conservation, Ecology 2.0 and Digital Ecology; and 2) through participatory approaches – notably environmental citizen science but also other forms where human-nature relationships are key.

About the position

The researcher will have their own area of responsibility. The position includes teaching and research in the subject. The research is expected to be conducted in collaboration with social science and humanity scholars at SLU, as well as through national and international collaboration.

The role includes the following responsibilities and duties:

• developing an internationally visible research grouping within the field, through competitive research applications and publication in international journals with a high impact factor;
• contributing to the development of inter- and transdisciplinary approaches within the Department and wider SLU through research, teaching and collaboration with academia, industry, and wider society;
• assuming a strategic and leadership role in relation to employees and the department, which may include personnel management and budget responsibility;
• applying for external research funds from both national and international funders, to finance one’s own position and that of co-workers;
• developing, leading and participating in teaching at either first, second or third cycle level;
• collaborating with other research teams within the department and wider SLU, communicating research results and sharing relevant knowledge with wider society.

Your profile

The successful applicant must:

• have a doctoral degree in Ecology;
• demonstrate interdisciplinary research expertise across Ecology and the social sciences or humanities (as demonstrated by at least 100 publications spanning both ecological and interdisciplinary/social scientific journals);
• demonstrate continuity of working as ecologist in parallel to working as interdisciplinary scholar;
• have an extensive track record with working on the subject area foci (explicitly digital technology and environmental citizen science);
• have demonstrated the ability to develop and lead an interdisciplinary research team;
• have successfully competed for research funding, including for interdisciplinary work;
• have demonstrated (interdisciplinary and wider) teaching expertise;
• have demonstrated the ability to integrate research and academic perspectives into their teaching;
• have experience of collaborating with stakeholders and wider society;
• have knowledge of English and Swedish.

Assessment criteria

The assessment criteria for appointment as a researcher will primarily be based on the degree to which the applicant possesses the required eligibility specified for the position:

• the ability to initiate, conduct and direct outstanding research through collaboration;
• the ability to successfully obtain external research funding in competition with others;
• documented experience with inter- or transdisciplinary research;
• documented ability to collaboratively synthesise work across disciplines;
• documented ability to combine theory and empiricism in research.

Assessing an applicant’s teaching expertise:

• development, implementation and examination of their own teaching and educational programmes;
• supervision and examination of BSc, MSc and PhD students.

The ability to interact and collaborate with relevant stakeholders and wider society will be taken into account when assessing collaborative skills:

• develop activities within academia and at university level;
• communicate research of colleagues and own research results to academics and society at large.

Location:

Uppsala, Sweden.

Form of employment:

Permanent employment. SLU may use probationary employment.

Scope:

80-100%, according to the agreement.

Start date:

By agreement. 

Application:

Please submit your application before deadline 5 March 2024. You can submit your application by clicking the button below. 

Union representatives:

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

The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) has a key role in the development for sustainable life, based on science and education. Through our focus on the interaction between humans, animals and ecosystems and the responsible use of natural resources, we contribute to sustainable societal development and good living conditions on our planet. Our main campuses are located in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala, however, the university also operates at research stations, experimental forests and teaching sites throughout Sweden.

SLU has around 3,000 employees, 5,000 students and doctoral students and a turnover of over SEK 3 billion. We are investing in attractive environments on all of our campuses. We strive to provide a work environment characterised by inclusivity and gender equality, where different experiences generate conversations between people and pave the way for science, creativity and development. Therefore, we welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

Contact person

URL to this pagehttps://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/jobs-vacancies/?rmpage=job&rmjob=9742&rmlang=UK