Professor in Botany – Professor Bergianus

Professor Bergianus is one of the oldest endowed chairs in Sweden, originating from a donation by Peter Jonas Bergius formulated in 1784. The donation led to the formation of the Bergius Foundation, administered by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. We are now seeking a new holder of this prestigious professorship.


The position as Professor Bergianus is broadly defined as in botany. This may include, but is not limited to, research directions in systematics, biogeography, ecology, evolution, population genetics, and paleobotany. The successful candidate should have a very strong research profile within the field of botany, defined as above.
Professor Bergianus is employed by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. It is a tenured, full-time position fully financed by the Bergius Foundation, which also provides a competitive start-up package and a yearly running budget for the professor. The position is placed at, and the professor affiliated with, the Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences at Stockholm University. Work duties are primarily research (including supervision) in botany, and may also include teaching, administration and leadership. Laboratory space and access to core facilities as well as additional start-up funds will be provided by Stockholm University.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences is an independent, nongovernmental organisation with the overall objective to promote the sciences and strengthen their influence in society. The Bergius Foundation employs about 20 people and runs the Edvard Anderson Conservatory, opened in 1995 and specialising in plants from Mediterranean-type climates. In parallel, Stockholm University is actively involved in managing the Bergius Botanic Garden, www.bergianska.se
The Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences at Stockholm University is an international environment for research and education. The subject areas are Ecology and Evolution, Ecotoxicology, Marine Biology, Plant Physiology and Plant Systematics. The Department offers a broad and interdisciplinary research environment of high international visibility. Some of the research has direct environmental and societal relevance. About 130 people are working at the Department, of which 30 are teachers and researchers, and 50 are PhD students.
The chair was originally associated with directorship of the Bergius Botanic Garden, but is now primarily a research professorship. However, depending on the interests and research profile of the successful applicant, directorship of, or other opportunities to contribute to the development of the Bergius Botanic Garden, can be explored.
Requirements
Scientific proficiency and international standing are the main assessment criteria for evaluating candidates for the position. In the appointment process, special attention will be given to research skills in botany. Attention will also be given to teaching skills, administrative skills, the ability to develop and lead research activities and staff, and the ability to collaborate with the community and convey information about research and development. In filling the position, the Academy aims to appoint the applicant who, following a qualitative holistic assessment of her/his competence and expertise, is judged to have the best potential to carry out and develop the relevant duties.
Application
Applications must be submitted as one pdf-file to bergianus@kva.se and should include a Curriculum Vitae and list of publications, a description of teaching and supervision experience (max 2 pages), past research achievements (max 3 pages), and future research plans (max 3 pages). Also provide a description of experiences in communicating science, and a summary of leadership and administrative experiences (max 2 pages). Please arrange having up to three reference letters, which will be handled confidentially, sent to the Academy at bergianus@kva.se, clearly marked in the subject line as ‘Reference to NN’.
Deadline for submission of applications is 2021-06-21
Contacts
Enquiries should be addressed to Professor Hans Ellegren, hans.ellegren@ebc.uu.se (Chairman of the recruitment committee at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences), or to Professor Ove Eriksson, ove.eriksson@su.se (Head of the Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences at Stockholm University).
Union representative at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences is Sila Özgüven (SACO), sila@kva.se, +46 70 928 45 96.


The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, founded in 1739, is an independent organisation whose overall objective is to promote the sciences and strengthen their influence in society. The Academy takes special responsibility for the natural sciences and mathematics, but endeavours to promote the exchange of ideas between various disciplines.