Over 1,300 researchers from around the world have applied for just 25 positions at Lund University. The outcome of this summer’s international recruitment campaign surpassed all expectations.
In June of this year, the university announced 15 assistant professorships and 10 visiting professorships, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence. Interest was so strong that the number of visiting professorships will now be raised to at least 15. In total, 968 applications came in for the assistant professorships and 357 for the visiting professorships.
”We were over the moon about the quality of the applicants, says Vice-Chancellor Erik Renström, who coordinated the campaign.”
Behind the scenes, however, a heavy workload awaits. Applications are divided among the faculties, where recruitment boards must assess them. The competition is intense.
”It is a Herculean task, but it is handled at faculty level.”
”At the same time, it is important to stay in contact even with those we cannot offer a position right now. Many of them we want to collaborate with in other ways” Erik Renström says.
The scale of the response reflects broader shifts in global academia. Erik Renström points to researchers who once would have headed for the United States but who now look elsewhere, citing both political and practical reasons.
”We see a group who traditionally would have looked towards the U.S., but feel that this is not as easy anymore” he says.
”Our intention was not to take advantage of the situation, but to offer a positive way forward for international collaboration.”
According to Erik Renström, Europe’s growing research investments also play a role, as does the general appeal of Scandinavia.
”There is a sense that the classic academic virtues are still upheld here, and that is attractive” he says.
When it comes to salaries and infrastructure, Lund cannot compete with the richest American universities. However, many researchers are weighing more than just money when deciding where to build their careers.
”In some fields, the differences are not that great, and people can move here without sacrificing too much” says Erik Renström.
”And many things tip the scale in Sweden’s favour. Childcare, healthcare, and pensions are covered by the system, so you get more bang for your buck here. For researchers with families, that is a major advantage.”
Competition, he adds, is truly global.
”The whole world is competing for the same talents, but what we have in Scandinavia is quality of life. It is possible to afford a family while maintaining a career. We take it for granted, but we need to make clear what that means.”
For students, the campaign might feel distant, but its impact will eventually be felt on campus.
”This will translate to students having better teachers who are more informed about where research is heading. The aim is a learning environment that is more creative, more international, and of even higher quality.”
85 million kronor from the university’s own funds have been allocated to the campaign, about 75 million for the assistant professorships and 10 million for the visiting professorships.
”We always have to prioritise where the money goes” says Erik Renström.
”But this is about building strength for the future. By making this investment now, we expect to bring in at least as much in external funding. If we had not acted, we would have been in a much weaker position.”
Looking ahead, Lund University plans a similar recruitment campaign next year, with some fine-tuning of details. Renström is convinced of its value.
”Overall, I think we struck gold. It was a very good initiative, and it is a format we will continue with in the future.”
This article was first published in Lundagård #6 2025. Read the whole paper digitally here.
