Associate Professor in Human Paleo- and Population Genomics

Uppsala University’s tenure track system grants associate professors the possibility to be assessed for promotion to the position as professor. The university provides support in various areas, such as scientific and educational development, leadership development as well as patent and innovation support.

The Department of Organism Biology (IOB) invites candidates for a position as Associate Professor in Human Paleogenomics and Population Genomics. IOB offers an excellent research environment with successful programs focusing on evolution, genomics, and the interaction between heredity and environment in model organisms, including humans. Our work includes interdisciplinary themes and infrastructure in genomics, epigenomics, image analysis, paleontology, archaeology, and evolution. For more information about IOB, see www.iob.se.

General description of the research program
The position is located within the Human Evolution Program at the Department of Organism Biology (Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Sweden). The program conducts extensive research in population genetics and human evolution, offering numerous opportunities for collaboration with colleagues working on related projects. The program also includes the VR-funded Center for the Human Past (https://centerforthehumanpast.se/) and the VR-funded research environment on prehistoric health and demography. The research environment is international, with English as the working language. For more information about the Human Evolution Program, visit: https://www.uu.se/en/department/organismal-biology/research/human-evolution.

Description of subject area of the employment:
"Human paleogenomics and population genomics" encompasses research on changes in genomes over time and space, and how these changes can be used to understand evolutionary and demographic processes in humans and related species. The research is based on evolutionary and population genomics principles and utilizes large-scale empirical genomic data from modern and prehistoric individuals. The research has a broad perspective, including hominids and organisms that coexist with humans, such as domesticated species and pathogens.

Work duties:

• Research, teaching, and administration. Teaching responsibilities include course management, administration, and supervision of doctoral students. The applicant is expected to conduct research within human paleogenomics and population genomics.
• Follow developments within the subject area and the development of society in general that is important for the work at the university.
• The position may include some administrative tasks, as the employee is expected to contribute collegially to the research and educational environment within the program, department, and the university overall. 

Qualifications Required:

• PhD in a data-driven field such as computational biology, population genetics/genomics.
• Research Expertise and Teaching Expertise. It is necessary that the pedagogical skills, the research expertise and the professional skills are relevant to the content of the employment and the tasks that will be included in the employment.
• The applicant should have completed relevant education in university pedagogy, including ten weeks of training or acquired equivalent knowledge. If special circumstances apply, this training for teachers in higher education may be completed during the first two years of employment.
• Documented ability to teach in Swedish or English, unless special reasons apply.
• Personal capabilities necessary to carry out fully the duties of the appointment. 

Assessment Criteria/Ranking of applicants that fulfil the above-mentioned qualifications required
The ranking of eligible applicants will be based primarily on research and teaching expertise, which will be given equal weight.

Research Expertise comprises research merits. In addition to academic merits, research merits from other activities, including technology development, may also be taken into account including research merits obtained outside the academy, which includes for example technology development and innovation ability. In assessing research expertise research quality must be the prime consideration. The scope of research, primarily in regard to depth and breadth, must also be afforded consideration. Particular weight will be given to merits in population genomics, paleogenomics, and human evolutionary history.

Furthermore, consideration must be given to the capacity to plan, initiate, lead, and develop research and education in the third cycle, the ability to acquire funding for research in competition, as well as the demonstrated capacity to interact with others both within academia and in the wider community.

Teaching Expertise comprises educational and teaching qualifications. This expertise can have been achieved outside the academy through supervision, internal training, mentoring programs, etc. In assessing teaching expertise teaching quality must be the prime consideration. The scope of teaching experience, in terms of both breadth and depth, must also be afforded consideration. Particular emphasis will be placed on experience of teaching and supervision in genomics, population genomics, bioinformatics, evolutionary biology, and human evolution.

Furthermore, consideration must be given to the capacity to plan, initiate, lead, and develop teaching and instruction, as well as the ability to connect research to teaching in respect to research in the subject at hand, subject didactics, as well as teaching and learning in higher education. The ability to interact concerning issues of teaching and learning in higher education with actors inside and outside the University is also included in teaching expertise

Management Expertise is important and will be weighted heavily, especially the capacity to build and lead a research group, recruit and supervise doctoral students and postdocs, and secure external research funding.

Other expertise: Documented ability to successfully collaborate scientifically.

All merits must be documented to assess both quality and scope.

In filling this position the university aims to appoint the applicant who, following a qualitative holistic assessment of her/his competence and expertise, is judged to have the best potential to carry out and develop the relevant duties and to help advance operations.

Further information
In an overall assessment of the applicant’s qualifications, parental leave, part-time work relating to care of children, union assignments, military service, or the like are to be regarded as work experience.

University appointment regulations

Faculty appointment regulations

Instructions for application

For further information about the position, please contact: Professor Mattias Jakobsson, mattias.jakobsson@ebc.uu.se

Salary: Individually negotiated salary.

Starting date: As otherwise agreed

Type of employment: Permanent full-time position.

Scope of employment: 100%

Please submit your application by 1 September 2025, UFV-PA 2025/1632.

If you are an international candidate, you will find a lot of information about working and living in Sweden at www.uu.se/joinus.