ReseaRch Quality assuRance foR the futuRe a ... - Lund University

Part 2 – Conclusions of the review
BOX 1.
Academic/Research Positions in Swedish Universities
Mainline academic posts
• Professor (permanent) – appointed through recruitment
or promotion (promotion is a right)
• Lecturer [Lector] (permanent)
– new recruitment or promotion (promotion is a right)
• Research Fellow [Forskarassistent]
– strictly 4-year position, mainly research
• Assistant Lecturer [Biträdande lector] – strictly 4-year-position,
after evaluation, may become permanent
• Teacher [Adjunct] – permanent (promotion is a right)
Other teaching posts
• Guest Teacher/Guest Professor
• Adjunct Professor
Other Research Positions
• PhD student – a four year position – external or faculty funding
• Post-doctoral researchers – only supported by external funds
– stipends or short-term contracts
• Researcher [Forskare] – only supported by external funds
– must be permanent after two years
• Research engineer [Forskningsingenjör]
– normally a permanent position
work in industry, and are powerful vectors for interactions that
power the US innovation process. If PhD graduates are to play a
role similar to those in the USA, and if Lund is therefore to attract
PhD students that see their future outside the University, the age of
PhD graduation must be brought down.
66. The average age of PhD graduation in Lund tends to coincide with
the age of child-bearing, which is typically in the mid to late 30s
amongst professional classes, and is a time when new parents are
loath to be highly mobile. It seems to us therefore that the current
choice to undertake PhD studies is only rational if the objective is
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