In recent times, many countries have seen a decline in opportunities to conduct research and get a university education. This is due to cutbacks in grants as well as stricter immigration rules that have made it more difficult for universities to receive international students. Meanwhile, there is an enormous need for educated people and research.
It is therefore important that there are universities that believe in the value of science and invest in offering early-career researchers the opportunity to advance the frontiers of research and be involved in renewing teaching. In light of this, Lund University is now carrying out its largest ever international recruitment drive.
On 11 June, the University announced vacancies for 15 assistant professorships (also known as associate senior lectureships) covering all the University’s faculties. Eight of the positions have a specific focus on AI research and the others on areas in which the faculties want to develop cutting-edge research. Ten visiting professors will also be recruited, to give established researchers the opportunity to be involved in the further development of Lund University.
The background to the initiative is not only the gloomy situation for universities around the world, but also Lund University’s long-term aim to be better at recruiting international researchers. For several years we have worked to achieve better utilisation of the Wallenberg Academic Fellows (WAF) programme as an instrument for international recruitment. In April, it was announced that there will be no call for applications regarding WAF in 2027, as the Swedish Research Council (VR) will focus on funding for assistant professorships.
The message from the faculties to the University Management was then clear: don’t let the work that has already been done go to waste, carry out a rapid joint initiative that can result in strong recruitments and form a basis for nominations for the Research Council’s forthcoming funding for assistant professorships.
The Research Council’s funding is part of a long-term strategic investment that the Government presented in the latest Research Bill, and will also be linked to the future allocation of the basic grant to Sweden’s higher education institutions. Our joint work on the international recruitment drive that the University is now carrying out will therefore be of great importance.
Everything has happened very quickly. In about two months we have proceeded from a general idea to calls for applications that are now specified and open. On 8 May, when the Vice-Chancellor approved support for those faculties that chose to participate in the recruitment drive, I thought that only a few faculties would be able to implement a recruitment process within these tight limits. My prediction was that there would be perhaps 5-6 positions. It’s very pleasing to find that I was wrong – all the faculties are involved and we are announcing vacancies for 15 assistant professorships and 10 visiting professorships. All the faculties have done a fantastic job and shown great commitment.
For this initiative to be as successful as possible, we need to reach out to all potential candidates. We can all help out and contribute to achieving this. We can spread information about the positions via our networks and by using social media. Those who are attending research conferences during the summer can look out for particularly promising early-career researchers and postdocs and let them know that there are now incredible opportunities at Lund University. In addition, we can also think about which established researcher we would ideally like to have as a visiting professor and colleague in Lund and then let the person know about the call for applications.
If all goes well, no less than 25 new colleagues from all over the world will be working with us in 2026 and together we can make Lund University even better. And together we can help to find them!
/Per Mickwitz
Read more:
A dedicated webpage for the initiative: Shape the future of research
Read the online news item: The largest global researcher recruitment drive ever
Regeringen.se: Assignment for the Swedish Research Council to establish a programme for strategic recruitment U2025-01318.pdf (in Swedish)
