Chalmers’ Strategy 2041 sets a clear goal: to significantly strengthen Chalmers’ academic standing, both nationally and internationally, and establish Chalmers among Europe’s leading universities of technology, with academic quality at the highest European level. By systematically building resources for excellence and providing leading research faculty with favourable conditions and a long-term perspective, we create opportunities for research at the highest international level.
Chalmers University of Technology is seeking a Vice President for Research and Sustainable development to lead Chalmers’ research towards the goals of the strategy at a time when artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies are rapidly transforming how research is conducted, organised and funded. The current Vice President’s assignment ends on 30 April 2027, and we are now seeking a successor.
About us
Chalmers University of Technology strives for academic excellence while addressing the challenges and needs of society and industry. We offer a creative and dynamic environment for research, education, innovation and applied science.
Chalmers is a research-intensive university of technology with research and doctoral education across twelve departments. University-wide research environments and initiatives connect activities across departmental boundaries.
The role
As Vice President for Research and Sustainable development, you will lead the development of research and doctoral education at Chalmers, with delegated university-wide responsibility and an independent mandate to drive, prepare and develop initiatives in these areas. You will work closely with the Deputy President responsible for the academic environment and excellence, whose responsibilities include strategic faculty renewal, research infrastructure and the recruitment of leading research faculty. The interfaces between responsibilities and the priorities are coordinated within the university leadership.
An important strategic development task during your appointment will be to lead Chalmers’ work on AI for science: how artificial intelligence and data-driven methods are transforming research questions, methods and ways of working. This transformation spans the full breadth of research at Chalmers, not just computer science, with these methods becoming integral to research in fields ranging from materials research to research on the built environment. We are therefore not seeking someone from a particular discipline, but a researcher who uses these methods in their own research and can lead this development across Chalmers. You will be the member of Chalmers’ leadership responsible for this agenda, monitoring developments in a rapidly changing research landscape and translating them into strategic development work and concrete initiatives, working practices and priorities for research at Chalmers, in line with the goals of the strategy.
You will be responsible for the research process, with strategic responsibility for:
- leading and driving the implementation of Chalmers’ Strategy 2041 in research and doctoral education, with the aim of achieving research excellence among the best in Europe, and the strategic development work required to achieve this
- taking overall responsibility for sustainability research
- leading the development and quality assurance of research and doctoral education at Chalmers
- leading the work of Chalmers’ Research Committee and Doctoral Programmes Committee
- playing a central role in leading and developing university-wide strategic research initiatives and coordination across departmental boundaries, including the work of Chalmers’ Areas of Advance
- leading the internal prioritisation of research funding applications to ensure that it supports Chalmers’ strategic research goals
- coordinating Chalmers’ strategic work on external research funding and its relationships with the research funders most important to Chalmers, with the aim of increasing external research income and creating greater scope for Chalmers’ own strategic initiatives
- monitoring national and international research policy and analysing its implications for Chalmers
- leading Chalmers’ preparations for national and international evaluations of research quality and of doctoral education at Chalmers
- upholding and further developing good research practice and responsible research.
The final scope of responsibilities will be determined at the time of appointment and may be adapted in dialogue with the person appointed.
As Vice President for Research and Sustainable development, you will report to the President and be a member of both the President’s team and the Chalmers management group. The role also involves frequently representing Chalmers on research matters in a range of settings, including in relations with other universities, research funders, public authorities and companies. As Vice President, you will have access to dedicated management support from the President’s Office within your areas of responsibility.
Qualifications
To succeed in this role, you will need:
- extensive experience of research and doctoral supervision at professor level
- experience of leading and developing doctoral education
- a research background in one of Chalmers’ subject areas or a closely related field, together with a very good understanding of the different areas of activity of a research-intensive university of technology, the conditions in which they operate and how they should be developed
- personal experience of using artificial intelligence and data-driven methods in your own research, or of developing AI-based methods for research in your field, irrespective of your research discipline; the emphasis is not on developing AI technology itself, but on bringing it into research. You must also have the ability to lead Chalmers’ work on AI for science across disciplinary and departmental boundaries
- the ability to monitor and assess how emerging technologies are changing the conditions for research, and to translate that assessment into strategy and priorities
- very good knowledge of research funding systems in Sweden and Europe
- international experience of research leadership and a good understanding of international research, funding and collaboration environments
- experience in academic leadership roles and extensive experience of driving and developing your own areas of responsibility
- experience of working with other stakeholders to achieve shared outcomes
- experience of promoting equality
- fluency in spoken and written English. Candidates who do not have knowledge of Swedish are expected to acquire it within two years
The following experience and qualifications are considered meritorious:
- experience in line management roles, for example as Dean, Head of Department, Deputy Head of Department or Head of Division
- experience of leading others without line management responsibility, for example within collegial structures such as committees, or as the leader of major research programmes, interdisciplinary initiatives or research centres
- experience of assignments with or on behalf of research funders, for example on boards, councils or review panels, and of research policy work at national or international level
- experience of evaluating research at other universities, serving on expert panels and assessing applications for research councils
- knowledge of Swedish
The role calls for strong leadership. Leadership experience, whether gained in line management roles or in roles without line management responsibility, is equally valued. You inspire trust through your ability to foster involvement and engagement at different levels of the organisation, and you have the integrity and personal maturity needed to take overall responsibility, make decisions and act in Chalmers’ best interests. You can bring researchers, Areas of Advance and departments together around shared strategic issues, look beyond your own area of activity and understand Chalmers as a whole and how we can develop nationally and internationally. You are forward-looking, innovative and open to new perspectives, but go beyond setting a vision: you also create the conditions for working with others to define concrete goals and deliver results. You lead development even where there are no ready-made answers and have the courage to take risks and challenge established patterns when needed.
Employment terms
The assignment is for three years, with the possibility of extension. The role will account for 60–80 % of full-time working hours, as agreed. An external candidate will be offered a permanent faculty position combined with a fixed-term leadership assignment, subject to an academic review.
The start date is by agreement.
The recruitment process follows Chalmers’ guidelines for leadership appointments and is carried out by a recruitment committee. The final decision is made by the President.
What we offer
Chalmers offers a cultivating and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg. Read more about working at Chalmers and our benefits for employees.
Chalmers aims to actively improve our gender balance. We work broadly with equality projects, for example the GENIE Initiative on gender equality for excellence. Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.
Application procedure
Your application should include a CV detailing your research, doctoral supervision and leadership experience and achievements, together with a cover letter of one to two pages. Full-text publications are not required. References should be provided if you are invited to interview.
Interviews
Interviews with the recruitment committee are planned for 12 and 14 January 2027. We kindly ask you to reserve these dates for a potential interview. If you are unavailable on either date, please indicate this in your application.
As part of the recruitment process, a background check will be conducted on the final candidate.
Nominations
In parallel with this announcement, there is an opportunity to nominate candidates for the position.
Please include the nominee’s contact details and a brief motivation explaining why you consider the person suitable for the role. Nominations should be submitted no later than 2 December 2026 to HR Partner Madelene Olsson, email: madelene.olsson@chalmers.se.
For external applicants:
External candidates will also be assessed for a faculty position by Chalmers’ Faculty Appointment Committee as part of the recruitment process. The purpose of the review is to ensure that you meet the requirements for a faculty position according to Chalmers Appointment Regulations for Teaching and Research Faculty. If you progress to this stage of the recruitment process, you will be asked to submit additional documentation of your teaching and research qualifications, as outlined below.
Pedagogical qualifications:
- Please compile a pedagogical portfolio to describe your pedagogical and educational qualifications using the format specified in the Pedagogical Portfolio instructions.
- Please append certificates for completed courses in pedagogical training and any other documents described in the pedagogical portfolio instructions.
Other documents:
- Documents verifying awards and recognitions stated in your CV, and other documents relevant to support your application.
- Copies of a maximum of five relevant publications that cannot be accessed via your ORCID, Scopus ID or ResearcherID.
Application deadline: 13 December 2026
For enquiries, please contact:
Martin Nilsson Jacobi, President and CEO, mjacobi@chalmers.se
Madelene Olsson, HR Partner, madelene.olsson@chalmers.se for questions about the process, qualifications and responsibilities.
We look forward to your application!
Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position.
Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg conducts research and education in technology and natural sciences at a high international level. The university has 3100 employees and 10,000 students, and offers education in engineering, science, shipping and architecture. With scientific excellence as a basis, Chalmers promotes knowledge and technical solutions for a sustainable world. Through global commitment and entrepreneurship, we foster an innovative spirit, in close collaboration with wider society.
Chalmers was founded in 1829 and has the same motto today as it did then: Avancez – forward.
