The Tenure Track position addresses the challenge of modelling, measuring and monitoring the resilience of food systems, especially in developing countries. There is a need to transform food systems to make them more sustainable and resilient to slow onset crises. Assessing how these systems can adapt to meet growing and diversifying urban demand is key to increasing sustainable production and building resilience to shocks. This requires innovation in measuring and monitoring their current resilience and modelling their future resilience. The long term goal is to utilise spatial information science to improve the ground-breaking capacity of people and systems in the context of food security.

We are looking for excellent candidates with the potential for significant scientific and societal impact by developing new methods to address the following challenges:

• How can state-of-the-art technologies be used to model, measure, and monitor the resilience of food systems?
• How should resilience measures from engineering, environmental and socio-technological domains be adapted and expanded to fit these food systems?
• How does resilience in food systems propagate across scales over time in multi-level systems?

Addressing any of these challenges will require innovative applied remote sensing and spatial analysis, coupled with techniques such as: optimisation and simulation modelling; machine learning; or agent based modelling.

You will be based in the Natural Resources Department (NRS) of ITC. You will form collaborations with other members of the DeSIRE programme and other research units where building resilience is a long-term objective.

For specific information about ITC’s Tenure Track policy see: https://www.itc.nl/about-itc/career-at-itc/vacancies/.

• You possess a PhD in fields like: Geography, Agriculture, Ecology, Resilience Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Geo-informatics, Computer Science or Data Science with relevant expertise in geo-information and/or remote sensing.
• You have proven scientific creativity combined with a publishing record of acknowledged quality and a strong interest in developing innovative solutions for the measurement, monitoring and modelling of resilience in food systems in developing countries.
• You can demonstrate an active and reciprocal working approach that fits both ITC and the DeSIRE programme.
• Preferably you have proven didactic skills, have supervised MSc/PhD students, have experience in teaching (University Teacher Qualification certificate ‘BKO’ or equivalent), an affinity with a multi-cultural, post-graduate education environments, and experience in international consulting and advising co-operation.
• You should be willing to undertake international travel.
• You have an excellent command of English. Knowledge of, or willingness to learn Dutch is an advantage.

INFORMATION AND APPLICATION

Additional information regarding the position can be obtained from Prof. Dr. A.D. Nelson (e-mail: a.nelson@utwente.nl). You are also invited to visit our homepage.

Please submit your application before 5 January 2019 (choose “apply now” below). Your application has to include (i) a motivation letter clearly stating how you meet the selection criteria and also outlining your research and teaching interests, (ii) a detailed CV with references and (iii) a two-page statement on your personal vision on research, education and capacity development in relation to ITC, DeSIRE and the position. Applications that do not include all three will not be considered.

A public guest lecture to the ITC-staff will be part of the selection. A development assessment could be part of the selection also. Because of our diversity values we do particularly support women to apply.

We offer an inspiring and challenging international environment. You will be initially employed for a period of six years (Tenure Track position, starting as Assistant Professor 2 or 1), according to proven expertise and skills.

• Gross monthly salary between € 3545,- and € 5513,- depending on experience and qualifications (job profile Assistant Professor level 2 or 1).
• A holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary and a year-end bonus of 8.3%
• Excellent support for research and facilities for professional and personal development.
• A solid pension scheme
• Possibilities to save up holidays for sabbatical leave
• Minimum of 29 holiday days in case of full-time employment
• Professional and personal improvement programmes, including mentoring;
• A high degree of responsibility and independence, while collaborating with close colleagues, researchers and other university staff is strongly supported.

With the Head of Department, you will agree upon expected performance and personal development targets. You will receive formal feedback on performance and skills during annual assessment meetings and evaluations. If evaluated positively at the end of the tenure track, you will be appointed in a permanent position.

During your career, you will have the opportunity to develop into an internationally acknowledged and recognized academic. We offer a structured career and personal development program designed to offer individual academics as much support as possible.

The University of Twente. We stand for life sciences and technology. High tech and human touch. Education and research that matter. New technology which leads change, innovation and progress in society. The University of Twente is the only campus university of the Netherlands; divided over five faculties we provide more than fifty educational programmes. We have a strong focus on personal development and talented researchers are given scope for carrying out groundbreaking research.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status. Because of our diversity values we do particularly support women to apply.

The Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) of the University of Twente provides international postgraduate education, research and project services in the field of geo-information science and earth observation using remote sensing and GIS. The aim of ITC's activities is the international exchange of knowledge, focusing on capacity building and institutional development in developing countries and emerging economies.