Two positions as Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Umeå University aims to give the next generation of research leaders the best possible conditions to conduct cutting-edge research through the Umeå University Northern Star Fellows Programme. Through this university-wide initiative, we offer early-career researchers the opportunity to develop their research over the long term through a six-year tenure-track assistant professorship, with the possibility of promotion to associate professor (senior lecturer).
The Faculty of Arts and Humanities at Umeå University therefor invites applications for two positions as Assistant Professor, offering researchers the opportunity to develop a long-term research programme over a six-year period and to qualify for promotion to Associate Professor.
The call is broad in scope and open to all subject areas within the Faculty of Arts and Humanities where scientific research is conducted. Of the two positions, no more than one may be allocated to the same subject area within the faculty.
The Faculty of Arts and Humanities brings together a broad range of research across its departments and units, including Vaartoe – Centre for Sámi Research, Culture and Media Studies, Creative Studies in Education, Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies, Humlab, and Language Studies.
Together, these environments cover key areas of the humanities such as language, culture, history, philosophy, religion, and digital and artistic practices.
The faculty combines traditional disciplinary strengths with interdisciplinary approaches, including Indigenous studies, digital humanities, and practice-based research, to address societal, cultural, and educational challenges.
Applications written in English must be submitted via Umeå University's e-recruitment system Varbi no later than Oktober 1, 2026.
FAQ
Must I have completed my PhD before applying?
Yes. To be eligible for the position, you must have been awarded your doctoral degree by the application deadline (1 October 2026).
Applicants who have not yet received their doctoral degree by that date are unfortunately not eligible for the current call, even if they expect to:
defend before the position starts,
graduate during 2027,
have submitted their dissertation,
or have completed most degree requirements.
My doctoral degree is older than seven years. Can I still apply?
Yes. The seven-year period is not a strict eligibility requirement, and applicants who obtained their doctorate more than seven years before the application deadline are not automatically excluded from consideration.
The call follows the wording of the Swedish Higher Education Ordinance, which states that particular consideration should be given to applicants who obtained their doctorate within the specified period. Examples of circumstances that may be taken into account include:
parental leave,
sick leave,
military service,
elected positions in trade unions or student organisations, and
other comparable interruptions to academic career progression.
Applicants who wish such circumstances to be considered should explain them in their personal letter and provide supporting documentation where possible. Periods of unemployment, temporary contracts, fixed-term employment, or a fragmented academic career would not normally be regarded as equivalent circumstances.
My doctoral degree is not called a PhD. Can I still apply?
Possibly. Eligibility is not determined by the title of the degree alone. Professional doctorates, practice-based doctorates, artistic doctorates, and other doctoral qualifications may differ considerably in their content and purpose.
As stated in the official Swedish version of the advertisement, applicants must hold a doctoral degree in a research field relevant to the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, or possess equivalent scientific competence. The decisive factor is therefore whether the applicant can demonstrate the scientific research competence and scientific research achievements required for the position.
Does my research profile fit the Faculty's needs?
The call is open across the Faculty's research areas where research relevant to the Faculty of Arts and Humanities is conducted. However, neither the contact persons nor the Faculty administration can make advance assessments of how competitive an individual application will be or how well a specific profile fits a department. Such assessments are made by reviewers and the appointments committee during the recruitment process.
Do I need to know Swedish?
No. Knowledge of Swedish is not required at the time of application or appointment. Successful candidates who do not speak Swedish are expected to acquire the language during the six-year appointment period.
What documents and appendices should I submit?
Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the advertisement and application instructions carefully.
Only the documents specifically requested in the advertisement and guidelines need to be submitted. If no page limit or specific content requirements are stated for a document, applicants may determine the scope themselves, while keeping the material relevant and proportionate.
What should the research plan contain, how long should it be, and how is it assessed?
The research plan is a central part of the application and an important basis for the assessment of research qualifications.
The research plan should describe the research that you propose to carry out within the framework of the position. Applicants are encouraged to present a clear and coherent plan for future research, including its aims, relevance, and feasibility.
The research plan should therefore focus primarily on the proposed research programme rather than on general research interests, personal research philosophy, or a description of previous achievements.
The research plan/project plan should be approximately five pages, including references, bibliography, figures, and diagrams. The Research CV is submitted separately and does not count towards the page limit.
The proposed research will be assessed with regard to its quality, originality, relevance, and feasibility, and forms an important part of the evaluation of the applicant's potential to develop an independent research profile within the Northern Star Fellows Programme.
Applicants for Assistant Professor positions should submit up to five selected publications. The references to ten publications in the general faculty guidelines apply to more senior positions.
Does the position include funding for a PhD student?
Yes. The start-up package includes funding intended to support the recruitment of one doctoral student, together with annual research operating funds.
When will interviews take place?
Applications will be assessed after the application deadline (1 October 2026). If interviews are conducted, they are not expected to take place before January 2027.
Can the start date be postponed?
The intended start date is 1 July 2027. While individual circumstances can always be discussed at a later stage, the Faculty is generally restrictive when it comes to deferring the start of employment, particularly for longer periods. Applicants should therefore assume that they would be expected to take up the position close to the advertised start date if appointed.
