This position has a focus on the functioning of terrestrial environments in a changing world. We seek a candidate that will merge traditional research fields with innovative techniques and applications, to strengthen both the teaching and research in the fields of geomorphology, (soil) erosion, and (re-)sedimentation, in order to tackle current and future questions related to sustainability.
This position will have a relatively high teaching load. Besides general classroom teaching, the courses to be taught include fieldwork and excursions, for the Earth Sciences as well as the Earth, Economics and Sustainability teaching programs. Potential research focus areas may include, but are not restricted to: carbon and nitrogen cycling by geomorphic processes, sediment contamination by e.g. (micro)plastics and heavy metals, geochemical interaction between sediments and groundwater, and interactions between vegetation and landscape evolution. We welcome candidates with experience in using GIS, sediment analyses and/or landscape evolution modelling.
Facilities in the Department include a sediment and palynological/plant macros fossil laboratory setup (CNS, TGA, grain size/shape analysis), a stable isotope lab, a cosmogenic nuclide sample preparation lab, and an organic geochemistry lab. The isotope geochemistry facilities are being extended through a recently obtained NWO Groot grant, see https://science.vu.nl/en/news-events/recent-news/2021/apr-jun/485-million-euro-for-new-multidisciplinary-lab.aspx
Your duties
- contribute to further development of the teaching programs
- coordinate and teach courses offered in BSc and MSc Earth Science and BSc Earth, Economics and Sustainability programs
- carry out creative research by acquiring external funding and publishing your results in scientific journals
- make impact on the field as witnessed by a variety of indicators, for example, invited presentations at (international) meetings, media coverage, and peer recognition
- supervise PhD students