The cluster seeks a highly motivated Assistant Professor – to be recruited on a tenure-track position – with a background in Earth Sciences to further strengthen the research group in the field of biogeochemical cycles. The ideal candidate has extensively combined fieldwork and computer modelling approaches on various spatial and temporal scales. She/he should be an outstanding (Early Career) Earth System scientist with proven expertise in the above fields and/or discipline, with matching publication record, a Ph.D. degree in Earth Science or related field, and a few years of post-doctoral experience in a related subject. Experience with GIS or other tools for spatial analysis, geochemical/isotopic techniques, and/or linking the water and biogeochemical cycle will be considered a bonus. The successful applicant is expected to develop her/his ideas further within the Earth and Climate cluster and to attract external funding for her/his research. She/he will also be expected to supervise undergraduate students and co-supervise PhD students. She/he should also contribute to the teaching and field work within the BSc and/or MSc programmes of the department.
 
Tasks
• To acquire external funding for research;
• To co-supervise PhD students;
• To supervise BSc and MSc student;
• To teach BSc and MSc courses;
• To perform research and publish results in leading international journals.

The Assistant Professor is expected to:
• Have a proven interest in local/regional up to global-scale modelling of biogeochemical cycles and the effects of climate change on these cycles;
• Have experience in, or affinity with, sampling, process studies, and/or operating scientific equipment in the field;
• Have extended knowledge on the functioning of the Earth’s biogeochemical cycles;
• Have a PhD in Earth Science or related field;
• Have a functional international network;
• Be able to successfully work in a multidisciplinary and innovative research field;
• Have high-level skills in the acquisition of external funds and a proven capacity to motivate and guide students on the bachelor, master and PhD level;
• Have a basic qualification in teaching for Dutch universities ('BKO'), or is willing to follow this course after appointment;
• Be fluent in English and to acquire (if appropriate) knowledge of the Dutch language after two years.
 

We offer a tenure track position for an Assistant Professor initially for the duration of five years. After three years the performance will be evaluated in terms of publication record, acquisition of a prestigious personal grants (e.g. national personal or ERC grants) or equivalent industry project funding, and teaching performance. After that a path will be outlined for future promotions and permanent employment. The intention is to offer a permanent Associate Professor contract after five years.
 
You can find information about our excellent fringe benefits of employment at www.workingatvu.nl like:
• Remuneration of 8,3% end-of-year bonus and 8% holiday allowance;
• Solid pension scheme (ABP);
• A minimum of 29 holidays in case of full-time employment;
• Generous contribution commuting allowance based on public transport.
 

Research at the Faculty of Sciences (https://science.vu.nl) focuses on Earth sciences, natural sciences and informatics, life sciences, health sciences, and environmental sciences. It offers a range of high-quality BSc and MSc programmes. World-class teaching and cutting-edge research activities go hand in hand. The Department of Earth Sciences is one of the thirteen departments in the Faculty of Sciences. It operates with two research clusters: 'Earth and Climate' and 'Geology and Geochemistry' which teach the Earth Sciences and Earth and Economics BSc and MSc programmes. The Earth and Climate cluster has developed a strong teaching and research profile in the field of climate change focusing on carbon and nitrogen cycle research and landscape dynamics, both on a regional and global scale, and based on both fieldwork and modelling. Subjects include boreal and arctic carbon dynamics, hydrological modelling, terrestrial disturbances such as wildfires and deforestation, atmospheric dynamics of aerosols and greenhouse gases. Furthermore, in the larger cluster context, our integrated approach combines expertise in proxy development, (Quaternary) climate modelling, unraveling of landscape evolution and modelling, and reconstructions of climate evolution from terrestrial and marine records.

https://science.vu.nl