SLU is recruiting a professor who shares our aspirations to be world leading within the area of weed ecology and management. We are looking for a person with an ecological approach who will work towards solving the applied problems that weedy plants pose in agricultural ecosystems. For this, we welcome applicants with an interest in engaging in trans- and inter-disciplinary research. New EU regulations to ban certain herbicides make sustainable weed management a matter of urgency for Nordic and European agriculture.

This fully funded professorship will be positioned at the Department of Crop Production Ecology, which together with the Department of Ecology, constitutes the SLU Ecology Centre. The professor will bring key competences to this vibrant research environment of integrated agronomic and ecological expertise, and will play an important role in achieving the long-term goals of the Swedish National Food Strategy and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

The professor will have access to the infrastructures of SLU’s long-term field trials and experimental field stations. In addition, the SLU cross-faculty coordinated actions in the areas of cropping systems, plant protection, breeding and future food provide vigorous multi- and inter-disciplinary research possibilities in natural and social sciences. SLU also hosts the national environmental monitoring program of herbicides in the environment.

Research and education at the Ecology Centre focuses on crop production for food, animal feed, biomass and energy and its interaction with the environment. We explore how environmental conditions, ecological interactions and cropping-system design influence not only yields and other ecosystem services, but product quality as well. The SLU Ecology Centre is a Nordic and European hub for sustainable agriculture, and plant protection, nature conservation, wildlife management, honeybee health and forestry, including short rotation forestry.

Subject area
The subject area is weed management, grounded on ecological theory with focus on a system perspective to address challenges in agriculture. Management of weeds includes integrated pest management (IPM) to ensure long-term sustainable production.

Duties
The Professor is expected to lead and manage a research group, which can include administrative duties such as budgets and staff responsibilities. In addition, the candidate should, within the subject area:

develop and lead a strong research environment with internationally recognized research in weed ecology and management
develop and lead an internationally competitive program with a focus on weed ecology and management that attracts external funding
lead, develop, and participate in Bachelor’s as well as Master’s level education
actively participate in training and supervision of PhD students
be able to teach in Swedish within four years (the department will provide courses if needed)
develop and maintain national and international networks and collaborations not only within the research community and academia, but also with stakeholders along entire value chains
develop and maintain national and international networks and collaborations with governmental agencies, NGOs, industry, business, other relevant organizations and society at large
participate in collaboration with stakeholders in establishing relevant research questions and to communicate knowledge and research results
support the strategic development of the department and the faculty
collaborate with research groups within SLU in order to strengthen multi-, inter- and trans- disciplinary research at the university
participate in the implementation and development of the departmental goal of conducting world-leading research within weed ecology and management.

Qualifications

The candidate shall:

hold a doctoral degree and have the competence of an associate professor (docent) or equivalent academic qualifications
have scientific expertise within the subject area
have experience in collaboration with stakeholders
have documented ability to lead and develop a successful research group
have documented ability to attract external research funding in competition
be pedagogically skilled
have the ability to integrate research and scientific perspectives in teaching