At the division of Developmental Biology in the Department of Biology of Utrecht University, we are seeking two enthusiastic and ambitious scientists to strengthen our research and teaching activities. You will be given the opportunity to set up your own line of research and will participate in teaching at the Bachelor’s and Master’s level.

We would like your research to connect to and complement the current expertise in the division of Developmental Biology and the Biology department. We are particularly interested in candidates with strong expertise in a mammalian differentiation model, based on stem cells, organoids, or 3D culture. Candidates working with model organisms including zebrafish or with a disease (cancer) model are also welcome.

You will be expected to seek external funding for new research projects and to supervise the research of Bachelor’s and Master’s students, PhD candidates, and postdoctoral fellows. The teaching includes general as well as specialized biology courses and establishing a new course will be stimulated. In addition to research and teaching, you will participate in outreach activities and committee work.

As the successful candidate, you will become part of the dynamic and inspiring Life Sciences community at the Utrecht University campus. Interaction with other groups in the Institute (IBB, see below), Department, Faculty of Science, and beyond (Utrecht Medical Center, Hubrecht Institute) will be highly encouraged.

We would like to hear from you if you have the dedication and drive to build an independent research line as well as an intrinsic motivation to add your skills and ideas to our team. You also have:

• a PhD in Developmental Biology or a related field;
• experience in publishing impactful science;
• experience in acquiring external funding;
• demonstrable affinity for teaching. Experience with innovation in education is appreciated;
• expertise with high-end microscopy is recommended;
• excellent proficiency in English and willing to learn Dutch if applicable;
• a positive mindset: enthusiastic, highly motivated, and a team player who thinks critically and creatively and is organized and efficient;
• the capacity to develop leadership skills.

• two full-time tenure track positions are available, each for five years with a mid-term evaluation after approximately 2.5 years and an end-term evaluation. If evaluations are positive after five years, the position becomes permanent;
• a full-time gross salary - depending on previous qualifications and experience - ranging between €3,746 and €5,127 per month (scale 11 at the level of Assistant Professor (universitair docent; UD) according to the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities (CAO);
• benefits including 8% holiday bonus and 8.3% end-of-year bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave, and flexible employment conditions based on the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities;

In addition to the employment conditions laid down in the CAO for Dutch Universities, Utrecht University has a number of additional arrangements. These include agreements on professional development, leave arrangements, and sports. We also give you the opportunity to expand your terms of employment yourself via the Employment Conditions Selection Model. This is how we like to encourage you to continue to grow.

More information about working at the Faculty of Science can be found at uu.nl/science/careers.

The Department of Biology consists of 12 research divisions, which are organized within two institutes: the Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity (IBB) and the Institute of Environmental Biology (IEB). The department of Biology coordinates the teaching of the Bachelor’s programme in Biology, as well as Master’s programmes and PhD courses that are offered through the Graduate School of Life Sciences. Each Institute promotes the maintenance of a high-quality and interactive research environment.

Research in the Developmental Biology division of the IBB makes use of a multidisciplinary strategy in genetic animal model systems (C. elegans and zebrafish) to acquire a deep fundamental understanding of the processes that determine development and health. Three teams that use the C. elegans model work closely together and share experience in C. elegans genetics and biology, as well as the latest technologies (CRISPR knock-in/knockout strategies, live imaging, super-resolution microscopy), on a daily basis. In addition, we collaborate closely with researchers in the division of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics, as well as researchers in the Theoretical Biology/Bioinformatics division. These groups and Developmental Biology form part of the Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity (IBB), and the department of Biology of the Faculty of Science at Utrecht University.

Biology is one of the 6 departments of the Faculty of Science, which harbour distinct institutes to coordinate their research efforts. This fosters establishing fundamental connections between Biology, Chemistry, Information and Computing Sciences, Mathematics, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Physics in order to answer some of humanity’s most pressing problems. More fundamental still are the individual research groups - the building blocks of our ambitious scientific projects.

Utrecht University is a friendly and ambitious university at the heart of an ancient city. We love to welcome new scientists to our city – a thriving cultural hub that is consistently rated as one of the world’s happiest cities. We are renowned for our innovative interdisciplinary research and our emphasis on inspirational research and excellent education. We are equally well-known for our informal atmosphere and the can-do attitude of our people. This fundamental connection attracts Researchers, Professors and PhD candidates from all over the globe, making both the University and the Faculty of Science a vibrant international and wonderfully diverse community.