The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 56 000 students and 6 600 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract scientists and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

The Department of Social Work is part of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Gothenburg. In an expansive and dynamic education and research environment, and with a high level of community engagement, we offer the Bachelor of Science Programme in Social Work as well as a comprehensive Master’s programme, the Family Psychotherapy Programme, and courses and study programmes at third-cycle level. The Department has extensive international contacts and collaborations through various networks and partnering agreements with universities around the world. Research in social work is conducted at the Department in a number of profile areas. 

Subject area

Social work 

Subject area description 

Social work involves studies of the living conditions and experiences of socially vulnerable people. Central to the subject area of social work is thus studying the causes and consequences of social problems as they can be understood at the individual, group and societal level. It is also important to study how various interventions that have the aim of preventing or remedying social problems are designed. Social work is a main subject area at first-, second- and third-cycle levels. 

Duties 

The duties of those appointed as postdoctoral research fellows shall primarily be focused on their own research within social work. Teaching in social work at different levels is also included in the position. Course coordination, assessment, supervision and course administration are all counted as teaching hours. Research hours included in the position account for 80 per cent of working hours. As a postdoctoral research fellow, you are expected to contribute through your presence in the Department’s research environment and to participate actively in its seminar activities. In addition, teaching hours amounting to 20 per cent are included in the position. The holder of this position is expected to spend most of their working hours at the workplace in Gothenburg. The applicant must have a good ability to teach and communicate in Swedish and/or English. 

Eligibility criteria 

Applicants qualified for appointment as a postdoctoral research fellow are those who have been awarded a Degree of Doctor (PhD) in social work or another related subject area (e.g., sociology, education, political science or economics). The post-doctoral fellowship position primarily targets applicants who have completed their Degree of Doctor no more than three years before the end of the application period. If there are special grounds, applicants who have obtained a Degree of Doctor earlier than this may be considered. ‘Special grounds’ means parental leave, part-time work due to caring for children, leave of absence for service in the defence forces, elected positions in a trade union or student organisation or other similar circumstances. 

The eligibility criteria for appointment as a postdoctoral research fellow are specified in the Appointments Procedure for Teachers at the University of Gothenburg.

Applicant assesment criteria 

The position requires experience of research in the area of children and young people, related to social work.  

When selecting from among qualified applicants, particular emphasis will be placed on research expertise in the field. Because the appointment is a career development position, each applicant’s research and teaching achievements will be assessed primarily in qualitative terms. Consequently, the number of scholarly publications or a long track record in teaching due to the applicant having been active for an extended period of time will not be decisive. 

Research expertise 

For appointment as a postdoctoral research fellow, research expertise must be demonstrated through the applicant’s own research having exhibited a high degree of awareness of theory and method, an excellent ability to formulate problems, and high-level analytical skills. Particular attention will be paid to the quality of the research plan and how the planned project is related to the Department’s research environment should also be described (information about the Department’s research can be found at https://www.gu.se/en/socwork/our-research). 

Teachning expertise 

The applicant’s teaching expertise, as demonstrated by their education and teaching achievements, must be well documented so that its quality can be assessed. The quality of the applicant’s teaching expertise will be given the greatest weight but weight will also be attached to its scope in terms of breadth and depth. It is also a plus if the applicant has completed courses in teaching and learning in higher education. 

Additional skills

Administrative and other skills are important in the position. Administrative skills may be demonstrated by the applicant’s ability to plan, organise and prioritise research work in an efficient and appropriate way. In addition, emphasis will be placed on the applicant’s ability to collaborate within academia as well as with the community at large. Emphasis will also be placed on the applicant’s ability to contribute to the future development of both research and education at the Department. All qualifications and achievements must be documented so that both their quality and scope can be assessed. 

The applicant assessment criteria will be weighed together and in this recruitment the University will primarily consider applicants who, in an overall assessment of their competence and skills, are assessed as having the best prospects for carrying out the duties required in the position, and for contributing positively to the development of research and teaching at the Department of Social Work. 

Employment 

Form of employment: Fixed-term employment, two years

Rate of employment: 100 % 

Location: Department of Social Work, University of Gothenburg  

Start date: As soon as possible 

Selection process 

The recruitment process may include trial lectures, interviews and contacting referees. The decision on the appointment will be made on the basis of interviews in which the applicants will be given the opportunity to describe and elaborate on the research they plan to carry out during the term of the appointment, and on their views on teaching and research in social work. 

If you intend to apply, you should refer to the Appointment procedure for teachers at the University of Gothenburg – Local Application at the Faculty of Social Sciences GU 2019/843 (GU 2020/415). It is available here: Appointment procedure. This procedure can also be requested from Human Resources Officer Anna Wettler by contacting her on e-mail anna.wettler@socwork.gu.se. 

Contact information for the post 

If you have any questions about the position, please contact:

Therése Wissö, Assistant Head of Department 

031-786 6386 

therese.wisso@socwork.gu.se 

www.socwork.gu.se

 

Unions 

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande 

 

Application 

To apply for a position at the University of Gothenburg, you have to create an account in our recruitment system. Submit your application via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal by clicking the “Apply” button. 

Please attach the following to your application: 

The application should contain a research plan for two years of work (maximum four pages excluding references). 

List of cited publications, in total not more than 10 teaching and learning or scientific publications. 

 

You yourself are responsible for ensuring that your application is complete as described in the job advertisement and instructions and that the University receives your application no later than on the last date for applications. The qualifications and achievements cited must be verified by certificates or testimonials. 

 

For publications that cannot be attached to the application digitally, please send hard copies in duplicate to: 

University of Gothenburg 

Department of Social Work 

Attn: Anna Wettler 

Box 720 

SE-405 30 GÖTEBORG
Sweden 

Please state reference number PAR PAR 2022/320 on the envelope. 

 

Applications must be received by: 2022-05-02

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden’s regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.