Senior Lecturer in horticultural genomics and breeding
Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet · Lomma · Tills vidare · Deadline 2026-11-01
Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet is recruiting a full-time, **permanent Senior Lecturer in horticultural genomics and breeding** based in Alnarp. The role focuses on generating knowledge of key traits—such as disease and pest resistance, product quality, and climate adaptation—that translate into breeding strategies for sustainable Nordic horticultural production. Duties include establishing competitive research, securing external grants, publishing, and building networks with industry and authorities. The appointee will also develop, lead, and conduct teaching across all levels and supervise students, including doctoral candidates. While most duties can be carried out in English, teaching in a Scandinavian language is expected, and the appointee must achieve a **functional level of Swedish within four years**, supported by the department. Applicants must hold a **doctoral degree in biology, horticulture, plant breeding or genetics, or equivalent scientific competence**. Eligibility requires demonstrated research experience in basic and applied work and breeding or pre-breeding, proven success securing external grants, completed higher education pedagogical training or equivalent knowledge, experience supervising doctoral students, and good English proficiency. Scientific and pedagogical skills carry equal weight. Particular merit is given to expertise in quantitative genetics, modern genomics, multi-omics data integration, trait evaluation in Nordic food-crop horticulture, and established networks across the Swedish or Nordic horticultural sector.
Faculty of Landscape Architecture, Horticulture and Crop Production Science
The Department of Plant Breeding
Read the complete ad here: Jobs and vacancies | slu.se
Subject area
The subject of the position is horticulture, with a focus on plant genetics and genomics. The emphasis is on key traits in horticultural crops, such as resistance to diseases and pests, product quality, and climate adaptation. The subject is of central importance to sustainable horticultural production systems in the Nordic region.
Duties
The work is expected to combine methods such as quantitative genetics, genotyping, genetic markers and phenotyping, sequencing and -omics technology to generate knowledge on key resistance, quality and adaptation traits that can be translated into breeding strategies for sustainable horticultural production in the Nordic region. The senior lecturer shall, within the subject of the position,
- establish and develop internationally competitive research that complements and strengthens the department's ongoing research and is in line with the faculty's and the university's strategic goals
- apply for external research funds in competition
- plan, lead and implement research projects
- develop synergies with other relevant research at the department
- publish scientific articles
- develop, lead and conduct teaching at undergraduate, advanced and doctoral levels
- supervise students at all levels in the educational cycle
- develop and maintain national and international networks with researchers, industry, businesses and authorities
- communicate about research and research results
- be able to teach in Swedish or another Scandinavian language
The department has a parallel-language working environment. The senior lecturer will be able to carry out most academic duties in English. However, since Swedish is the university’s official working language, the candidate is expected to achieve a functional level of Swedish within four years of appointment. The department undertakes to provide support to help the candidate reach this goal.
Qualifications
The applicant must, within the subject of the position,
- have completed a doctoral degree in biology, horticulture, plant breeding or genetics or have equivalent scientific competence
- be scientifically skilled and have experience in basic and applied research, and plant breeding or pre-breeding
- have demonstrated the ability to obtain external research grants
- have demonstrated pedagogical skills in teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including supervision of students
- have experience in supervising doctoral students
- have completed higher education teaching training or otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge
- have good knowledge of English
Assessment criteria
The assessment criteria for employment shall primarily be the degree of such skill as is a requirement for eligibility for employment.
When assessing scientific skill within the subject of employment, the following shall be taken into account:
- completed research efforts and ongoing research
- ability to independently initiate and conduct outstanding and innovative research
- external research funding received in competition
When assessing pedagogical skill within the subject of employment, the following shall be taken into account:
- planning, implementation, examination and evaluation of own teaching
- supervision and examination at all levels in the educational cycle
- ability to integrate research and a scientific approach into pedagogical work
- pedagogical vision
Furthermore, skills in
- developing and leading operations and personnel within the academy/university
- communicating and collaborating
- collaborating with external stakeholders and the surrounding community
- informing/communicating about research and development work
Expertise in quantitative genetics, modern genomic tools, the integration of multi-omics data, and the evaluation of traits in horticultural crops intended for food production within Nordic cultivation systems is considered a particular merit. A network of contacts with stakeholders in the Swedish and/or Nordic horticultural sector is also considered a particular merit.
The assessment of pedagogical skills shall be given equal care as the assessment of scientific skills.
The position is offered to those who, after a qualitative overall assessment, are deemed to have the best conditions to carry out and develop current work tasks and contribute to a positive development of the business.
Working at SLU
At SLU, you become part of a vibrant research environment that is based on active https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/working-at-slu/. As an employee at SLU, you have access to a number of benefits (including Swedish family healthcare, parental leave and generous paid leave policies). Read more about benefits at SLU https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/benefits_at_SLU/. SLU is often https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/about-the-university/university-ranking/ in the various university rankings that are made around the world and is ranked as one of Sweden's https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/about-the-university/employer-ranking/.
Sweden also has a well-established pre-school structure and a free https://utbildningsguiden.skolverket.se/languages/english-engelska. Find out more facts and stories about Sweden at http://www.sweden.se
https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/visit-slu/locations-and-campuses/alnarp/ is located in southern Sweden near the university cities of https://lund.se/ and https://malmo.se/english, and https://www.visitcopenhagen.se/ in Denmark. The Öresund region offers a rich history and culture and is a real academic and cultural hub.
Deadline:
2026-11-01
Place of work:
Alnarp
Extent:
100%
Form of employment:
Permanent
Starting date:
By agreement
Application:
For the guidance of your application, there is SLU's appointment procedure for teachers at SLU and General assessment criteria for the appointment of teachers, which you can https://internt.slu.se/stod-service/admin-stod/hr-fragor/rekrytering-till_alla_ovriga_anstallningar/anstallning-av-larare/.
Please apply by clicking the apply-button below.
Academic union representatives:
https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/employee-associations/kontaktpersoner-vid-rekrytering/