Working in researcher roles

Source: https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/about-university/work-us/careers-lund-university/working-researcher-roles Parent: https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/study/admission-degree-studies/applying-studies-when-apply

Join our world-class research environment with supportive colleagues, modern infrastructure and a strong focus on societal impact. This page outlines researcher and associate researcher roles and what you can expect.

Focus on research – a different path to teaching

Researcher and associate researcher positions focus mainly on research, which is often funded through external grants.

Teaching roles – such as professor, senior lecturer and associate senior lecturer – follow separate appointment tracks.

Academic teaching positions – professor, senior lecturer, associate senior lecturer

How to apply

All available positions are listed on the vacancies page. Each position has an advertisement with detailed instructions. We cannot accept applications by email or via any other channel.

You apply through the University's recruitment system, Varbi.

Vacancies

Applying for a job at Lund University

Types of employment

Researchers and associate researchers contribute to the University's research environment on either a fixed‑term or an indefinite contract.

Fixed-term appointments

These roles are mainly intended to help you build your research qualifications. The duration varies and is specified in each job advertisement. Employment terms follow the Employment Protection Act (LAS) and relevant agreements.

Indefinite appointments

These are long‑term positions that give you the opportunity to develop your research programme and contribute to your unit's strategic goals.

Duties and scope

The specific duties are outlined in each vacancy announcement. In general, the main focus is on research. Depending on the needs of the department, the role may also involve:

teaching (usually up to 20%)
supervision
applying for research funding
communicating research findings to a broader audience.

Appointment framework

Researcher and associate researcher positions offer valuable opportunities to build your academic qualifications. You can strengthen your future applications through publications, external funding and collaborative work.

These positions are not covered by the University's Appointment Rules. This means there is no promotion pathway from these roles to teaching positions. If you wish to become a senior lecturer or professor, you need to apply through open recruitment.

Working time and flexibility

Most research staff work within a flexible hours system. A full-time schedule typically involves working eight hours a day, Monday to Friday. Core working hours are from 09:00 to 15:00, with the flexibility to start earlier or finish later.

Staff are entitled to additional time off on weekdays that fall between a public holiday and a weekend, and also benefit from shorter working hours before certain public holidays.

Some roles may require irregular hours or weekend work, depending on the nature of the position.

Employer and union representatives at the University are currently reviewing the working hours of researchers and associate researchers to ensure they are appropriate. Until further notice, individual working hours will continue to be managed as they are today.

Remote work

While the University is mainly campus-based, remote work is possible for research staff through formal agreement. This can include working from abroad, depending on the role and with managerial approval.

Pay and salary reviews

Salaries are set individually based on factors such as responsibility, required skills, the role's impact and market conditions. Regular salary reviews are carried out under the framework of national collective agreements.

Professional development and management roles

We provide internal training and leadership development for staff who take on supervisory or managerial responsibilities. All management roles are guided by university-wide policies, ensuring consistent and effective leadership across the organisation.

Public sector agreements

As a government agency, the University is bound by national collective agreements negotiated with unions such as Seko, OFR/S/P/O and Saco-S. These agreements govern key employment conditions, including salary, benefits, leave entitlements and local adaptations. All employees are covered by these agreements, regardless of whether they are union members.

Ready to take the next step?

Visit our vacancies page to see current opportunities.

Explore current vacancies

You can also set up job alerts in Varbi to receive new postings daily or weekly.

Create job alerts – subscribe on Varbi

Contact information

For questions about the recruitment process or a specific position, please contact the person or people listed in the vacancy announcement.