The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) has just over 3,000 employees, 5,000 students and a turnover of SEK 3 billion. The university has invested heavily in a modern, attractive environment on its campuses in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala. Would you like to join this rapidly developing university and become a professor in forest economics? If the answer is yes, and you meet position requirements, then don’t wait, and apply right now!

Professor in forest economics

A position as Professor of economics (Chair) is vacant at the Department of Forest Economics, Forest Faculty, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden. The incumbent will be expected to develop an internationally as well as nationally recognized research program, focused on applying economics to forest-related problems. Potential research areas could include, but are not limited to: economics of forestry and climate change policy, biodiversity; forest management and landscapes; ecosystem services; bio economy; understanding forest owners and their behavior; forest products and sector modelling, international trade and economics of forest management. The successful applicant will build upon current strength at the department and CERE (Centre of Environmental and Resource Economics), as well as existing collaborations with other research institutions around the world. The professor will actively teach and develop courses and teaching methods at bachelor, master and graduate levels. More specifically, SLU is responsible for the Master of Forestry (5 year) program at SLU, the only program in Sweden.

Subject area

Forest Economics can be described as a discipline that studies the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services originating from the forest. Forest economics has many similarities with other economic disciplines, but there are also some differences Long time horizons in production of forest, production of goods and services, rich supply of public goods, and many types of stakeholders is what makes Forest Economics somewhat unique. Forest Economics is however applying general economic theory and has the same starting point as e.g., other special economic
areas like labor, regional economics and environmental economics. Examples of relevant research areas are:

•  Forest economics and climate change
• Forest management and governance of landscape and biodiversity
• Ecosystem services
• Forest owner’s preference and behavior
• Forest products, forest sector modelling and international trade
• Optimal forest management from an economic perspective
• Bioeconomy

Duties:

• Develop and lead a strong, internationally competitive and externally funded research programs within the subject area,
• Develop the co-operation with the CERE, to unlock the full
  potential of this co-operative venture, as well as develop cooperation
  with other relevant organizations,
• Plan and implement teaching and student supervision at various
  levels,
• Actively participate in and extend relevant outreach activities, and
• Actively participate in the future development of the department.

Qualifications:

A person who has demonstrated both academic and teaching skills shall be qualified for appointment as a professor. As much attention shall be given to the assessment of teaching skills as to the assessment of academic skills. The applicant must have demonstrated strong academic and pedagogic skills and should have a PhD degree as well as the qualifications similar to a senior Associate Professor or equivalent. The applicant should be scientifically proficient in the subject area of the position with the ability to attract external funding and lead successful research programs. The successful candidate should also demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills in English and ability to collaborate with other people and organizations.

Assessment criteria:

Assessment for the appointment shall be based on the degree in which a candidate possesses the skill required to qualify for appointment. Furthermore, regard shall be paid to the degree in which a candidate possesses administrative and other skills of importance, taking into account the subject matter determined by the institution of higher education for the position and the duties that the position will involve. Moreover, regard shall be paid to the degree in which a candidate possesses skills in developing and managing activities and staff at the higher education institution and aptitude in interacting with the surrounding community and informing people about research and development projects. The applicant will be evaluated according to his/her ability to: – demonstrate scientific proficiency in theoretical and/or applied economics, especially in microeconomics and for forest related problems, – demonstrate capacity to develop independent research, co-ordinate research programs, and to attract external funding, – demonstrate documented pedagogic skills, i.e., teaching and supervision, developing courses and pedagogic methods at bachelor, master and graduate levels, and – demonstrate successful outreach activities (e.g., collaboration with other organizations, and inform and discuss research results in different forum) as well as stakeholder involvement. It the applicant can demonstrate any of the following criteria, it will be valued as an extra merit: – knowledge in the Swedish language, written and/or spoken, and – experience of being active in a university, or equivalent, organization, internal leadership (like head of department, board member etc.). Academic excellence is given a weight of 50% in the final decision while pedagogic skills are given a weight of 25%. Other skills relevant to the position will be given a weight of 25%.

The scientific and pedagogic documentation submitted in support of the application shall be indicated in the application, and one copy of each document shall be made available to the Vice-Chancellor at the time of application. At most 10 scientific publications and at most 10 pedagogic publications, including popularized versions, should be submitted in support of the application. In addition, a complete list of publications shall be supplied; the publications submitted with the application must be indicated. When expert reviewers have been appointed, the applicant(s) will be informed to send copies of the documentation listed in the application to each one of the reviewers.

Place of work: Umeå
Form of employment: Permanent
Extent: 100 %
Starting date: By agreement

Application:

You are welcome to submit your application marked: SLU ua 2017.2.5.1-257. Enclose your CV and any other supporting documents (see below text). Send your application to the Registrar, SLU, Box 7070, SE-750 07 Uppsala or to registrator@slu.se.

Applications close on March 29, 2017.

It is desirable that the application is written in English, because the applications will be evaluated by expert advisers both in Sweden and abroad. SLU is an equal opportunity employer. University salaries are set on an individual basis.

Further information about the formal application process:

Thomas Palo
Administrative Officer
+46 (0)90-786 82 04
thomas.palo@adm.slu.se

Academic union representatives:
Saco-S föreningen SLU, SACO
+46 (0)18 671085
Hans Åkesson, ST
+46 (0)90 786 83 42