Chalmers Satellite Remote Sensing Faculty Position: 2025 Call Closed

Chalmers Satellite Remote Sensing Faculty Call at a Glance

The vacancy was advertised by the Division of Geoscience and Remote Sensing in the Department of Space, Earth and Environment at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden.

It was an open-rank recruitment. Chalmers could appoint the selected candidate either as an Assistant Professor or Associate Professor depending on the applicant’s qualifications and academic record.

Research Focus of the 2025 Vacancy

The recruitment focused on advancing satellite-based Earth observation through remote-sensing instrumentation, methods and information retrieval.

Chalmers specifically sought a researcher whose work could complement the division’s existing strengths in:

• microwave radiometry;
• synthetic aperture radar;
• optical spectroscopy;
• innovative sensor development;
• retrieval algorithms;
• new Earth-observation applications; and
• other forward-looking satellite remote-sensing technologies and methods.

Experience working with international satellite-mission programmes was listed as a merit.

General Candidate Profile

Chalmers sought an independent and ambitious researcher capable of performing research at the international forefront and helping shape future satellite missions and space-based environmental observation systems.

The relevant doctoral background could include:

• Physics;
• Electrical Engineering;
• Remote Sensing;
• Earth Sciences; or
• a closely related field.

Strong written and spoken English was required for both appointment levels.

Swedish-language expectation

Swedish was not required at the time of application. However, applicants who did not already speak Swedish were expected to acquire sufficient Swedish to communicate and teach in the language within a few years. Chalmers stated that Swedish-language courses would be available.

Assistant Professor: 2025 Eligibility and Terms

At Assistant Professor level, the vacancy was a four-year tenure-track appointment.

• PhD in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Remote Sensing, Earth Sciences or a closely related area.
• The PhD normally had to have been awarded within the previous seven years.
• Exceptions to the seven-year limit could be made for longer periods arising from parental leave, sick leave or military service.
• Demonstrated research potential was required.
• Experience supervising Bachelor’s or Master’s students was expected.
• Teaching experience and formal pedagogical training were merits.
• Co-supervision of PhD students was also a merit.

The doctoral-degree certificate date was used to determine the seven-year eligibility period.

Associate Professor: 2025 Eligibility and Terms

At Associate Professor level, the advertised appointment was a permanent faculty position.

• PhD in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Remote Sensing, Earth Sciences or a closely related field.
• Strong research track record.
• Strong teaching track record.
• Experience as an assistant or main supervisor of PhD students.
• Pedagogical training, including research-supervision training.

Applicants who did not yet satisfy all formal pedagogical requirements could still be appointed permanently, provided the required pedagogical training was completed within two years. A well-structured pedagogical portfolio remained an important part of the application.

What the 2025 Chalmers Vacancy Offered

The archived vacancy stated that both appointment routes included four years of full funding for a PhD student.

It also listed:

• leadership training;
• mentoring;
• relocation support;
• Swedish-language courses for non-Swedish speakers; and
• the employment benefits generally associated with Chalmers positions.

Application Package Used for the 2025 Call

Applications had to be submitted electronically through Chalmers’ recruitment system. Email applications were not accepted, and applicants were responsible for ensuring that the submission was complete.

Personal letter — 1 page

The personal letter had to:

• introduce the applicant;
• explain motivation for applying and interest in Chalmers;
• describe how the applicant supports colleagues and contributes to a good working environment; and
• provide names and full contact information for two references.

CV and publication record

• CV following Chalmers’ instructions;
• publication list;
• non-peer-reviewed work and manuscripts under submission listed separately; and
• supporting evidence for awards, recognition, leadership and other relevant achievements.

Research statement — 1 to 3 pages

The statement had to describe:

• previous research areas and main results;
• future research goals and research focus; and
• how the applicant’s work would strengthen, complement or create synergies with existing Chalmers research groups.

Assistant Professor applicants were also asked to describe previous teaching experience in the research statement because a separate pedagogical portfolio was not required from that group.

Other documents

• doctoral-degree certificate or diploma;
• documentation of parental leave, sick leave or military service where relevant to the seven-year limit;
• documents verifying stated awards, teaching or leadership activities; and
• copies of up to five relevant publications if they could not be accessed through ORCID, Scopus ID or ResearcherID.

Associate Professor applicants only

Associate Professor candidates also had to submit a pedagogical portfolio and certificates documenting completed pedagogical training.

How the 2025 Selection Process Worked

The open-rank appointment level was determined by the candidate’s qualifications. Assessment involved the department, Chalmers’ Faculty Appointment Committee and external reviewers under the appointment rules then applicable.

Applications were evaluated against:

• research quality and independence;
• fit with the remote-sensing research environment;
• teaching and pedagogical competence;
• supervision experience;
• leadership potential; and
• the specific criteria for the Assistant or Associate Professor level.

Current Chalmers Academic Careers: What Changed in 2026?

The Satellite Remote Sensing vacancy itself is closed. Candidates interested in future Chalmers faculty opportunities should use the university’s current vacancies page rather than the archived 2025 job link.

Chalmers states that, from 1 January 2026, a new Appointment Regulation for Teaching and Research Staff governs its academic position structure. The current structure includes Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor and Full Professor, among other academic roles.

Chalmers also states that:

• all currently available roles are published on its vacancies page;
• applications are made through the recruitment system;
• a complete application must arrive by 23:59 on the stated deadline in Swedish time; and
• once an advertisement closes, it disappears from the live vacancies list.

CareerAidHub Guidance for Future Chalmers Remote-Sensing Calls

Build the research case around complementarity

The archived call shows that Chalmers valued candidates who could add capabilities beyond the division’s established strengths in microwave radiometry, SAR and optical spectroscopy. Future applicants should show what genuinely new scientific or technical capability they bring.

Separate Assistant and Associate evidence

An early-career tenure-track application should foreground independence and future research direction. A senior application needs stronger evidence of supervision, teaching, research leadership and pedagogical competence.

Prepare the pedagogical record early

For senior academic roles at Chalmers, pedagogical documentation is substantive rather than decorative. Maintain evidence of teaching, course development, student supervision and formal pedagogical training.

Monitor the live vacancies page

Chalmers does not accept spontaneous applications for ordinary advertised roles. Applicants should monitor or subscribe to official vacancies for any renewed remote-sensing recruitment.

Researchers can also review CareerAidHub’s faculty positions, research jobs, and Sweden opportunities.