Professor of Ageing and Social Change

Work assignments 

Ageing and Social Change (ASC) is an international, creative, and open research environment characterized by responsibility, productivity, and competence. Research within ASC aims to integrate analyses of changing societies in Sweden and Europe with studies of individual ageing processes within the theoretical framework of life course research. Issues of ageing and social change are understood and analysed regarding structural and institutional changes in terms of shifts in work, social networks, the everyday lives and health of older people, and with consideration to new social and technological conditions for ageing and old age. Researchers in disciplines such as sociology, (social) psychology, gerontology, economics, methodology, media and communication studies, anthropology, social policy, and other academic fields work within ASC’s interdisciplinary research environment. The position as professor at ASC is physically located at Campus Norrköping.

In addition to interdisciplinary research, ASC offers research training on key social, political, and cultural issues in ageing. The environment also contributes to the dissemination of knowledge about individual ageing and demographic changes in Swedish and European society. Ageing, the life course, and social change form a foundation for ASC’s social science research within the framework of ageing, social inequality, inclusion and exclusion, health and illness, and social contexts. Furthermore, ASC runs an ambitious and innovative master’s program in Ageing and Social Change. The program is unique and provides students with knowledge of both the conditions and outcomes of individual and population ageing, one of the most prominent trends of our time.

The holder of the position as professor at ASC will conduct research on ageing, the life course, and social change from an interdisciplinary perspective with a focus on the social sciences. They are expected to engage in the long-term development of ASC by driving both the development of the division and the continued advancement of the research environment in collaboration with various stakeholders within and outside academia. The holder is expected to successfully attract significant external research funding, which is an important part of both the individual’s and the division’s research financing and a necessary foundation for research activities.

In cooperation with other researchers at ASC, the holder will develop the academic profile of the professorship within the framework of ageing and social change. This includes contributing to the strengthening of interdisciplinary national and international collaboration. The research is primarily conducted in English.

We assume that the holder is active within the research community, participate in the division’s activities such as seminars and workshops, participate in research projects, communicate results through scientific publications, and contribute to attracting external research funding.

The tasks mainly include research and research training, but also participation in teaching at basic and advanced levels, coordination of research projects, and administrative tasks related to research and education.

We are looking for someone who actively wants to contribute to the university’s development work. Collaboration is an integral part of the university’s research and education mission. Collaboration in research occurs through disseminating, making available, and utilizing research. The position may also include administrative assignments. We also encourage your participation and interest in management assignments.

Your work includes staying abreast of developments nationally and internationally within your field of expertise and wider societal developments relevant to your work.

We expect you to be flexible and able to move between different types of pedagogical and scientific contexts. You share knowledge and contribute to the professional development of the workgroup, collegial working methods, and social cohesion. Your presence and active participation are, of course, essential for you to carry out your duties in the best way and to thrive in the work community.

Qualifications

We are looking for someone who has demonstrated both scientific and pedagogical skills as well as other relevant skills.

For this position, primary emphasis will be placed on scientific skills, secondly on pedagogical skills, and thirdly on other skills, which are considered equivalent.

Regarding research expertise, the following will be assessed:

Requirements for the position

• Documented scientific expertise in interdisciplinary, internationally recognized research on ageing, the life course, and social change with a social science orientation relevant to national and European policy.
• Documented expertise in conducting empirical and conceptual research, from planning to development and implementation, within one or more of the following fields: sociology, public health, economics, political science, social policy, demography, gerontology.
• Documented scientific expertise in obtaining national and international research grants.
• Documented scientific expertise in publishing research in scientific journals and at highly ranked national and international conferences, participation in scientific and policy networks, and other contexts relevant for policymaking.
• Documented expertise in communicating and conveying socially relevant and politically significant research.
• Documented scientific expertise in social science research methods, particularly in the use of advanced quantitative research methods and mixed methods in research on ageing, the life course, and social change.

Particularly meritorious for the position

• Documented scientific expertise in international comparisons, both conceptually and empirically, from Nordic, European, pan-European, or global perspectives.
• Documented expertise in using longitudinal studies at the individual level, multilevel and macro analyses combined with excellent knowledge of relevant statistical analysis programs.
• Documented expertise in developing international collaborations and in work within international consortia.

Regarding teaching expertise, the following will be assessed:

• Requirement for the position is documented pedagogical expertise in one or more of the following subjects: sociology, public health, economics, political science, social policy, demography, or gerontology.
• Requirement for the position is experience in supervising doctoral students to completion.

Other skills to be assessed for this position:

• Good collaborative skills are a requirement for the position.
• Extensive experience in leadership and environment-building is particularly meritorious.
• Documented expertise in collaboration within research is particularly meritorious.

As this position involves conducting duties in English, it is a requirement that the holder of the position demonstrates excellent knowledge of English, both spoken and written. Knowledge of Swedish is meritorious If the holder of the position has a mother tongue other than Swedish, they should be able to teach in Swedish within two years of taking up the position.

The workplace

You can read about the the workplace here Division of Ageing and Social Change (ASC) - Linköping University and here Department of Culture and Society (IKOS) - Linköping University

The employment

This employment is permanent, full-time. Starting date by agreement.

For more information on eligibility requirements, assessment criteria and recruitment procedures for teachers, see Linköping University’s rules of appointment. 
Linköping University’s rules of appointment.

Salary and employment benefits

The university applies individual salaries.

More information about employee benefits is available here.

Union representatives

Information about union representatives, see Help for applicants.

Application procedure

Apply for the position by clicking the “Apply” button below. Your application must be received no later than 22 February. 
 
Applications and documents received after the date above will not be considered. 
 
Please attach your selected research publications electronically, in pdf or word format, in the application template. Research publications, e.g. monographs, which cannot be sent electronically should be sent in three sets by mail to the University Registrar at Linköping University, University Registrar, S-581 83 Linköping, Sweden. The publications must be received by Linköping University no later than the deadline for application. 

Please note that printed publications will not be returned. They will be archived at Linköping University. 
 
In the event of a discrepancy between the English translation of the job announcement and the Swedish original, the Swedish version shall take precedent.