Associate Senior Lecturer in North American Studies

Associate Senior Lecturer in North American Studies

The Swedish Institute for North American Studies (SINAS) is a division within the Department of English. The institute’s primary purpose is to conduct and promote research and teaching in the field of North American studies, mainly focusing on the United States. We take broad humanistic and social science perspectives on U.S. society, history, and politics and have a special research profile focused on relations between Sweden and the United States.

The institute conducts teaching in the subject area at undergraduate and advanced levels, as well as independent research on U.S. history, politics, and society. SINAS has also developed significant activities aimed at disseminating knowledge, building networks, and generating interest in the field at Uppsala University and in Sweden, in the form of seminars, workshops, lectures, symposia, and conferences. Since its founding, an important part of SINAS’s work has been public participation in the dissemination of knowledge about the U.S. in collaboration with the surrounding community.

Description of the subject area:

North American Studies is an international and interdisciplinary research field that has developed in both the United States and Europe since the mid-20th century. At Uppsala, there is a particular focus on studies of the United States. The complexity and change of U.S. society over time, from various perspectives, theories, and methodologies, are central. A prominent theme in the field has been so-called “transnational American Studies,” which emphasizes the U.S.’s global and transnational relations. In this context, the consequences of studying the United States from outside its borders are particularly important. Interest in U.S. society and politics is strong in Sweden, which also influences SINAS’s orientation. A particular focus on studies of Swedish-American relations has also emerged.

Duties

The purpose of the position as Associate Senior Lecturer is to provide the teacher with the opportunity to develop independence as a researcher and to enhance their academic and pedagogical qualifications in order to meet the requirements for a position as Senior Lecturer. The duties include research in North American studies (50% of full time) as well as teaching and administration (maximum 50% of full time). Teaching includes courses in American Studies, and other courses within the Department of English. Teaching also includes supervision, course responsibility, course administration, and course development. The position entails collaboration with the surrounding community and active participation in the development of SINAS’s activities, in cooperation with the director and other staff. As an Associate Senior Lecturer, you are expected to actively apply for external research funding and to follow developments in your subject area, as well as take part in the development of research and teaching. The person appointed is expected to take an active and regular part in all SINAS activities in Uppsala.

Eligibility requirements:

To be eligible for appointment as Associate Senior Lecturer in North American studies, the applicant must have a PhD in a relevant humanities or social science subject, have demonstrated teaching proficiency, and have the personal qualities required to fulfill the duties of the position well. The doctoral thesis and subsequent research must have a clear focus on U.S. history, society, and/or politics, including its transnational relations with the rest of the world.

Priority will be given to applicants who have obtained a PhD or reached the equivalent competence no more than five years before the application deadline. In order to meet the requirement of pedagogical competence, the applicant should have completed at least five weeks of relevant training in tertiary-level teaching or acquired the equivalent competence in other ways. If there are special reasons, the teaching training can be completed during the first two years of employment.

Documented ability to teach in English and to use Swedish as a working language is required.

The candidate must have the personal qualities required to carry out the duties of the position well. Such qualities include excellent cooperation skills, collegial responsibility, and flexibility.

It is required that the applicant’s academic, pedagogical, and professional competences are relevant to the subject area and duties of the position.

Assessment criteria for candidates who meet the eligibility requirements:

When selecting among eligible applicants, particular weight will be given to academic and pedagogical competence. The assessment of pedagogical competence will be accorded the same weight as assessment of academic proficiency.

Owing to the nature of a tenure-track position, the applicants’ academic and pedagogical qualifications should be assessed primarily from a qualitative perspective. An applicant’s quantitative advantage as regards qualifications should thus not be decisive if it can be explained by them having been active in academia for a longer period of time.

Academic competence refers to research qualifications in North American Studies, especially the study of U.S. history, politics, and society, including the U.S.’s global and transnational relations. In assessing academic competence, research quality will be the primary consideration. The scope of the research, particularly its depth and breadth, will also be considered. Special weight will be given to interdisciplinary work within North American studies.

Pedagogical competence refers to qualifications in education and teaching. In assessing pedagogical competence, teaching quality will be the primary consideration. The scope, including both breadth and depth, of teaching experience will also be considered. Special weight will be given to teaching in North American studies, particularly U.S. history, politics, and society.

Administrative competence and leadership skills will be accorded significance. Administrative competence will be demonstrated by, for instance, the ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work effectively and appropriately for its purpose. This includes overall operational planning and the ability to work in a structured manner with an awareness of relevant goals and quality expectations. Documented experience of collegial development of academic activities is especially meritorious.

Other skills: experience of community collaboration (public scholarship) and of research communication will be considered. Collaboration skills are demonstrated by the ability and proficiency to plan, organize, and carry out interactions and activities with local and national communities. Popular science work, public debate, public lectures, and media participation are examples of forms of collaboration.

In this recruitment, Uppsala University will primarily consider the applicant who, after a holistic qualitative overall assessment of competence and skills, is considered to have the best potential to carry out and develop the relevant duties and to contribute to a positive development of the organization.

All qualifications must be well-documented to enable assessing both their scope and quality.

Period of employment and promotion

A position as an Associate Senior Lecturer can be held for a maximum of four years. At the end of their employment as an Associate Senior Lecturer, the candidate has the right to apply for permanent employment as Senior Lecturer. Promotion to Senior Lecturer will be based on a comprehensive assessment of the candidate’s academic, pedagogical, and administrative competence as well as leadership qualifications. In the assessment, special weight will be given to the work that has been carried out during the candidate’s employment as an Associate Senior Lecturer. A basic requirement is that the candidate should meet the criteria for employment as a Senior Lecturer according to Uppsala University’s employment regulations and the Faculty of Language’s complementary guidelines for employment. In addition, the candidate must have carried out their duties in a satisfactory manner. A written request to be assessed for promotion to Senior Lecturer must have reached the Board of the Faculty of Languages no later than six months before the end of the candidate’s employment as Associate Senior Lecturer.

Additional information

Parental leave, part-time work owing to caring for children, union work, military service or similar activities are considered work experience and should be included in the applicant’s CV.

For further information, please see the Appointment Regulations for Uppsala University and The Faculty of Languages supplementary guidelines.

Application procedure: All qualifications must be documented in a way that makes it possible to assess their quality and scope. The application, which may be in English or Swedish, must be completed by the deadline. It must be submitted through Uppsala University’s electronic recruitment system Varbi and should contain the following:

• Personal letter
• CV (a brief account of qualifications and previous positions)
• Account of academic qualifications
• Account of pedagogical qualifications
• Account of administrative competence, leadership qualifications, and collaboration qualifications
• Account of additional qualifications
• List of scholarly and pedagogical publications
• Publications or other works relevant to the position (max. 10)
• Self-reflective account of future research, teaching, and other qualifications
• Diplomas, degree certificates and other relevant documents
• The recruitment group may use interviews, trial lectures, and references. On request, applicants must therefore be prepared to submit a list of referees (no more than three) who can comment on the applicant’s professional competence and personal qualities relevant to the position, such as leadership skills and ability to cooperate with others
  
  

Any publications that are not available in electronic format should be submitted in two copies to Uppsala University, Faculty of Languages, Box 256, 751 05 Uppsala, Sweden. Mark the shipment with reference number UFV-PA 2025/3318.

For further information about the position, please contact Christer Larsson (Head of Department), christer.larsson@engelska.uu.se, and Dag Blanck (Director, SINAS), dag.blanck@engelska.uu.se.

About the position

Fixed-term position. Employment as Associate Senior Lecturer may be held for a maximum of four years, with the possibility of promotion to Senior Lecturer (HF Chapter 4, Section 12a).
Scope: 100%. Start date as agreed. Location: Uppsala.

Proposed starting date: 1 August 2026 (or as agreed)

Please submit your application by 3rd December 2025, UFV-PA 2025/3318

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