It is increasingly recognized that every organism is defined to a large extent by its microbiome and that host -microbe interactions are major driving forces in evolution. We seek to appoint an early-stage career tenure track Assistant Professor, focusing on host-microbe or host-parasite interactions, combining evolutionary theory with bioinformatic and genomic analysis. Our goal is to recruit someone who will develop complementary research by contributing your skills and expertise to our existing research program to achieve common results. Therefore, your research preferably links to existing research systems that are already in place within the Department of Evolutionary and Population Biology (EPB), that fits within the research focus of the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystems Dynamics (IBED) and that can potentially connect to the Research Priority Area Systems Biology.

At IBED, we investigate how species relationships determine the structure and stability of biological communities, and how the integrity of these communities is influenced or compromised by processes such as species extinction, the introduction of non-native invaders, and the growth of harmful species. Within EPB, our research comprises fundamental and applied investigations at the level of individual variation, population genetics and community dynamics, to understand the process of speciation, the evolution of resistance, the evolution of endangered and invasive species, and the evolution in the face of climate change. Specifically, we are working on evolutionary questions related to plant communities, plant-herbivore, herbivore-herbivore and predator-herbivore interactions, both within and between species.

As for education, the EPB Department is involved in the educational programs of the BSc-programs (i) Biology and (ii) Future Planet Studies, and the MSc-programs (i) Ecology and Evolution and (ii) Future Planet Ecosystem Science, and teaches courses in the fields of behavioral and physiological biology, (field) ecology, neurobiology and evolutionary biology, among others.

What are you going to do?

In the field of research you will, among other things, be involved in:

• pursuing biological research within the area of your academic specialisation, leading to publications in leading peerreviewed journals and contributing to the development of a long-term research strategy of the research group, the department and the Institute;
• engaging fully with the collaborative ethos of IBED, encouraging and fostering collaborations between academic colleagues of other departments within IBED, the University of Amsterdam and elsewhere in the Netherlands and abroad;
• obtaining funding from national and international sources.

Teaching responsibilities include:

• contributing to the educational programs of the BScprograms Biology and Future Planet Studies, and the MSc-programs Ecology and Evolution and Future Planet Ecosystem Science. The time investment will increase to 30-40% of your time (including both lecturing and supervising students), but will be less in the initial years of your appointment;
• obtaining a University Teaching Qualification (Basis Kwalificatie Onderwijs, BKO)) within two years;
• organising course(s) and develop modules in the field of Evolutionary Ecology. We are especially interested in candidates who can contribute to fieldwork courses in the BScprogram Biology.

What do we require?

• A PhD in the field of Evolutionary Ecology;
• at least two years of postdoc experience, preferentially internationally;
• expertise in an area of research that aligns with the overall research theme of our department, reflected by (among others) your publication record;
• demonstrated capacity for international-level research achievements;
• eEnthusiasm for and dedication to teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels;
• fluency and excellent communication in English, both written and spoken;
• willingness to learn the Dutch language (Dutch courses are supported by the Institute).

What do we desire?

• Research focus on host-microbe or host-parasite interactions;
• research questions related to eco-evolutionary dynamics;
• research methods that combine evolutionary theory with bioinformatic and genomic analysis;
• ability and willingness to contribute to fieldwork courses in the BSc-program Biology.

Our offer

We offer a temporary employment contract for 38 hours per week with a tenure track agreement for the duration of five years (which is part of a six-year temporary contract). The intention of the tenure is a permanent appointment as Associate professor level 2 after 5 years with intermediate promotion to Assistant professor Level 1. In case of  an insufficient evaluation the contract will end after 6 years.

The starting salary will be in accordance with university regulations for academic personnel and depending on experience and qualifications. It will range from a minimum €3,746 to €5,127 (scale 11) gross per month based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week. This is exclusive 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

Are you curious about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits like our excellent opportunities for study and development? Then find out more about working at the Faculty of Science.

University of Amsterdam

With over 5,000 employees, 30,000 students and a budget of more than 600 million euros, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) is an intellectual hub within the Netherlands. Teaching and research at the UvA are conducted within seven faculties: Humanities, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Economics and Business, Law, Science, Medicine and Dentistry. Housed on four city campuses in or near the heart of Amsterdam, where disciplines come together and interact, the faculties have close links with thousands of researchers and hundreds of institutions at home and abroad.  

The UvA’s students and employees are independent thinkers, competent rebels who dare to question dogmas and aren’t satisfied with easy answers and standard solutions. To work at the UvA is to work in an independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterised by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society.

Faculty of Science - Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics

The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 7,000, as well as 1,600 members of staff working in education, research or support services. Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works, be it elementary particles, the birth of the universe or the functioning of the brain.

The Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) is one of eight research institutes of the Faculty of Science. The research at IBED aims to unravel how ecosystems function in all their complexity, and how they change due to natural processes and human activities. At its core lies an integrated systems approach to study biodiversity, ecosystems and the environment. IBED adopts this systems approach to ecosystems, addressing abiotic (soil and water quality) and biotic factors (ecology and evolution of plants, animals, and microorganisms), and the interplay between those. The IBED vision includes research encompassing experimental and theoretical approaches at a wide variety of temporal and spatial scales, i.e. from molecules and microorganisms to patterns and processes occurring at the global scale.