Assistant Professor in Biology

Are you ready to shape the future of research and education? At Uppsala University, your ideas matter. We welcome top talents in Science and Technology to a world-class environment driving innovation and collaboration. Push the frontiers of science. It starts with you.

Uppsala University conducts world‑leading research in biology, spanning from the smallest building blocks of life to planetary perspectives. We offer a unique interdisciplinary research environment, specialised and well-functioning infrastructures, competitive funding, and excellent conditions for establishing a new research group. The host department also provides a start‑up package that covers the researcher’s own salary for a five‑year period, the salary of 1–2 doctoral students or postdoctoral researchers, as well as resources to support the establishment of the research group.

- The Department of Cell and Molecular Biology conducts successful interdisciplinary research on molecular structure, function and evolution. The research focuses on understanding how living organisms operate at the cellular level. This work is carried out at many different levels using a variety of methods. The department has seven research programs, each specialising in different areas within cell and molecular biology: Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Microbiology and Immunology, Molecular Biology, Molecular Biophysics, Molecular Evolution, Molecular Systems Biology, and Structural Biology. Biology forms the foundation of all research at the department, but the work overlaps with other fields such as medicine, computer science, mathematics, chemistry, engineering and physics. We are involved in several major research collaborations together with researchers from other departments and universities – both nationally and internationally.

Further information about us can be found here.

- Department of Ecology and Genetics conducts leading research on ecological and evolutionary processes at all levels of organization, from molecules to ecosystems. We now seek candidates broadly within ecology, evolutionary biology or conservation biology, working with animals or plants as model systems. Current research activities at the department include molecular evolution, population genetics, adaptation, biotic interactions, the evolution of life-histories, speciation, mating systems, sexual selection, as well as community- and macro-ecology. We have access to advanced national and local research infrastructure, including supercomputing, technologies in molecular biosciences, and microscopy at SciLifeLab. IEG runs a local Climate Lab with advanced climate chambers and greenhouses, we are developing a museomics lab and, together with IOB, a Competence Center for Hidden Biodiversity. We are now seeking to recruit a colleague with a research program that enriches or complements our current activities. 

Further information about us can be found here.

- The Department of Organismal Biology offers an international and dynamic research environment with strong research in evolutionary biology, systematics and biodiversity, developmental biology, and environmental physiology. We work with both model and non‑model organisms, as well as fossils, to investigate evolutionary questions such as the evolution of vertebrates and humans; topics in modern systematics including biodiversity and molecular evolution; and the physiology and development of animals and plants and how these are influenced by environmental factors. The department hosts the VR Excellence Centre for the Human Past, SciLifeLab’s Ancient DNA facility, the Tomography Support Centre and, together with the Department of Ecology and Genetics, the Competence Centre for Hidden Biodiversity. In addition, there is a newly established stem‑cell laboratory, a newly built facility for using chicken as a model organism, and close access to a modern animal housing facility.

Further information about us can be found here.

Your departmental placement will be determined during the appointment process. You will indicate one or more preferred departments as part of your application.

Subject area

We welcome you if you are a researcher or teacher in biology in the broadest sense. You will contribute to the development of research and teaching at one of the three departments described above.

Duties

You will work with:

• teaching. Teaching includes responsibility for courses, course administration and supervision of doctoral students.
• research. To lead the work of your research group and to actively apply for and secure external research funding.
• administration. Participate in the general academic duties of the department. This includes serving on committees, taking on responsibilities beyond your own research and teaching assignments, contributing to the evaluation and development of teaching and research activities, working collaboratively with colleagues, and providing support and constructive feedback to colleagues.
• keeping up to date in your subject area and following developments in society that are relevant to your work at Uppsala University.

In choosing between eligible candidates, emphasis will primarily be given to research and teaching expertise, according particular weight to research expertise.

Qualifications required

You must have:

• a PhD in a subject relevant to biological research questions. Preference will be given to applicants who have completed their PhD or attained equivalent expertise no more than seven years before the deadline for applications.
• research expertise in in biology, an independent scientific profile (e.g. publications without the PhD supervisor, own research funding), and international recognition (e.g. invited speaker at international conferences, reviewer of others’ research). In addition to academic qualifications, research merits gained outside academia may also be taken into account.
• had your main employment and conducted your research activities outside Sweden for at least the past four years immediately prior to the application deadline. Shorter stays in Sweden of a total of no more than twelve months may be accepted.
• a clear, ambitious, and feasible research plan.
• documented ability to successfully compete for and secure external research funding.
• documented skills and expertise in productive research collaborations and in successfully leading projects.
• teaching expertise, according particular weight to teaching qualifications in biology. In addition to academic qualifications, educational and teaching qualifications from other activities may also be taken into account, which include, for example, supervision, internal training or mentoring programs. The ability to link teaching to research is important.
• completed at least five weeks of teacher training for higher education of relevance to the organisation and its activities or be considered to have acquired the equivalent knowledge. The required training for teachers in higher education may be completed during the first two years of employment if there are exceptional grounds.
• a documented ability to teach in Swedish or English.
• ability to work with other people and otherwise meet the demands of suitability required to perform the duties well.
• teaching expertise and research expertise that are relevant to the subject area and the duties that the position involves.

Other desirable/valuable qualifications

It would be an advantage if you have:

• established an independent research group.
• published work in the most prominent scientific journals such as Science, Nature, Cell and PNAS. 
• been awarded larger research grants in competition, such as a starting grant for a period of at least 3 years from a university or from external research funder.
• your PhD and postdoctoral experience from an internationally leading university/research institute.

For more information on assessment and assessment criteria, see the Appointment Regulations for Uppsala University and the Faculty of Science and Technology’s Guidelines for the Appointement and Promotion of Teachers.

All qualifications must be documented in a manner that makes it possible to assess both their quality and their scope.

When the University appoints new academic staff, candidates will be selected based on a qualitative overall assessment of their competence and expertise, taking into account their potential to perform and develop the duties of the position and to contribute to the positive development of the department.

Application

Parental leave, part-time work due to childcare, trade union responsibilities, military service or similar activities are treated as work experience and should be listed in the CV.

Instructions for applications for employment

Period of employment 

The position of Assistant Professor is fixed-term for up to six years and is intended to provide qualifications for a permanent teaching position with higher eligibility requirements. During the appointment, there is the possibility to apply for promotion to Associate Professor. If the requirements are met and suitability is confirmed, the appointee may be promoted to a permanent position as Associate Professor.  

About the position 
Fixed-term employment for a maximum of 6 years. The scope is full-time. Starting date by agreement. Location: Uppsala 

Further information about the position please contact Mattias Jakobsson, +46701679757, mattias.jakobsson@ebc.uu.se

We look forward to receiving your application by 11 March 2026, UFV-PA 2026/118.

In the event of any disagreement between the English and the Swedish versions of this announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.

We offer you

Sweden offers good working conditions, including comprehensive social benefits such as generous family-focused policies that make healthcare, childcare, and children’s education available and highly affordable. At Uppsala University, we offer the opportunity for new international staff to learn Swedish through our language courses. If you have family, they will get new contacts and support through the Uppsala International Citizen hub.

If you are an international candidate, you will find a lot of information about working and living in Sweden at Join us – Uppsala University.

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