Senior lecturer in Geomatics

Are you interested in being a part of the subject of Geomatics and contributing to our long-term development by strengthening the subject’s teaching and research activities? We are offering an opportunity to teach in two Bachelor’s programmes, develop courses and study programmes at both Bachelor’s and Master’s levels, conduct research, as well as furthering your own expertise and actively contributing to shaping your future work environment.

Description

Geomatics if one of the subjects of the Department of Environmental and Life Sciences at the Faculty of Health, Science and Technology. Undergraduate education in geomatics is primarily provided through the two 3-year study programmes Programme in Surveying and Mapping, and Engineering: Surveying Technology and Geographic IT, which are offered as on-campus programmes as well as through distance education. Geomatics currently has a staff of nine people, active in education and research. The subject integrates knowledge and research approaches from different disciplines such as information technology, computer science, geodesy, risk and environmental studies, biology, and spatial and social planning.

The subject is predominantly characterised by interdisciplinary research focused on sustainability issues and creating value for society. Current and recently completed research projects relate to risk management and modelling, climate change adaptation, natural hazards, social vulnerability, sustainable development, environmental monitoring, biodiversity, resilient cities and mapping of vulnerable urban areas using AI and machine learning. At Karlstad University, geomatics research is connected to the subjects of biology and risk and environmental studies, as well as the Centre for Societal Risk Research.

The subject is now actively working on developing a Master’s programme, as well as updating and quality-assuring its existing degree programmes. The long-term aim is to qualify as a third-cycle subject area with a focus on the development of methods and geospatial solutions that can help battle social challenges related to issues such as geospatial IT, sustainable development, environmental monitoring, risk research, and particularly the interactions and processes between humans, climate, and the environment. You can find more information about geomatics and the courses and study programmes offered here.

Duties

The position includes duties such as teaching, supervision, assessment, and development of courses at undergraduate and Master’s level in geomatics and geographic IT, including both on-campus and distance learning courses. Instruction is in Swedish for undergraduate courses, and in English for Master’s level courses. You are expected to be actively involved in furthering the subject and the department with regard to teaching, research and community collaboration. As senior lecturer, you are also expected to contribute to research and develop research activities by, for example, applying for external funding, expanding the current research network and developing collaborations with actors of society and research environments within and outside the university. Leadership assignments may be included in the duties. The position is based in Karlstad.

In order to contribute to a positive working environment and help further the subject’s activities, we expect you to be a present and active part of the day-to-day operations and workplace community.

Qualification requirements

To be eligible for the position of senior lecturer in geomatics, applicants are required have demonstrated teaching and research expertise. Applicants are also required to hold a PhD or equivalent academic qualifications in geomatics, or other professional qualifications deemed relevant to the nature of the position and the duties included therein.

Pursuant to Karlstad University’s Appointments Procedure, teachers must have the personal qualities required to perform the duties included, as well as completed training in higher education pedagogy. Candidates who have not completed training in higher education pedagogy may still be hired, provided that they do so within two years of employment. For other qualification requirements, please refer to Karlstad University’s Appointments Procedure.

The position requires proficiency in Swedish and English. A candidate who does not meet the requirement of proficiency in Swedish may still be hired provided they are able to actively acquire these language skills.

Assessment criteria

In the recruitment process, equal weight will be given to both relevant theoretical and practical knowledge in geomatics and geographic IT, as well as to teaching and research experience and expertise.

The theoretical knowledge and practical experience are assessed through professional experience from higher education institutions and the public sector. Teaching expertise will be assessed based on the ability to plan, conduct and develop teaching, as well as the ability to supervise and assess students.

Research experience and expertise will be assessed based on research quality and the scope of the research in terms of depth and range, as well as experience of applying for external research funding. It is also of relevance if the main research orientation is of importance to the subject.

In the selection of eligible applicants, special weight will be given to:

• Documented expertise in geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing or AI/ML in geospatial areas.

Documented knowledge of programming in relevant languages/frameworks. Expertise in deep learning and software/platforms. Experience with open-source solutions in geographic IT (GIT). Experience as project leader/PI in research projects. Experience of successfully securing external research funding. Teaching expertise, based on the planning, execution and development of teaching, as well as experience of course coordination, supervision and summative assessments. Personal qualities such as the ability to cooperate, work in a structured manner, show commitment and a positive attitude towards colleagues and students, as well at the ability to take initiative and responsibility.

In the selection of eligible applicants, considerable weight will be given to:

• Experience in synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) and/or hyperspectral remote sensing.
• Experience with geospatial analyses/spatial modelling and knowledge of GIS algorithms.
• Experience with platforms for cloud-based computer systems such as Google Earth Engine.
• Quality and quantity of scientific publications.
• Relevance of the research in relation to the subject environment.

Valuable qualifications:

• Experience in the areas of sustainable development, societal risks, climate change and natural hazards.
• Experience with web GIS, app development and spatial database technology such as PostGIS/PostgreSQL.
• Experience with Big Data analysis and frameworks.
• Experience with laser scanning.
• Experience in collaborating with private and public actors in the industry and having a wide network of professional connections.
• Experience in researching and collaborating in interdisciplinary research environments and projects.

Terms

This is a permanent, full-time position starting 1 August 2025, or upon agreement. A probationary period may be required. In case of a prolonged recruitment process, the position will be filled temporarily. The selection is made among the applicants for the position.

Application
Submit the application via the University’s web-based recruitment tool, Varbi. For advice on how to draft your application, refer to “What should be included with my application?”
Applicants are responsible for submitting a complete application in accordance with the advertisement, for providing translations of any documents written in a language other than Swedish, Norwegian, Danish or English, and for ensuring that the documentation allows for objective and qualitative assessments. A complete application should be submitted by the application deadline. An incomplete application may jeopardise a fair assessment of qualifications.

The application should include:

• CV
• A cover letter describing the applicant’s qualifications in relation to the duties of the position
• An account of qualifications related to teaching and professional experience
• An account of future research and its relevance to the research activities of the subject
• Copies of relevant transcripts, degree certificates, certificates from former places of employment and letters of recommendation that corroborate previous work experience
• List of publications
• An account of language proficiency
• Two references, at least one of which is a current or former supervisor.

Attach all the documents and publications you wish to be considered to the electronic application (not links). Name each uploaded document to clearly indicate its content.

Documents that cannot be submitted electronically, such as books or publications, should be sent in triplicate to the following address:

Karlstads universitet
HR-administratör
651 88 KARLSTAD

Application deadline: 16 March 2025

State the ref. no: REK2025/22

We look forward to your application!

Karlstad University has chosen advertising channels for this recruitment and firmly declines any contact with advertising or recruitment agencies.