Introduction
The mission of the Plant Hormone Biology group is to understand the chemical communication of plants with other organisms in their environment. We study how plants produce and secrete signaling molecules from their roots and how this affects the behavior of other organisms in the soil. Plant roots house one of the most diverse, yet vastly neglected, microbial communities on Earth. The aim of the Gravitation program, MiCRop, is to harness the genomic potential of root microbes as a new platform for improved stress resilience of future crops and sustainable food production.

Working with groups at the University of Amsterdam (UvA), Vrije Universiteit (VU), Utrecht University (UU), Wageningen University (WU) and The Netherlands Institute for Ecological Research (NIOO), we will unlock how wild and cultivated plant species, across the plant kingdom, recruit their microbial partners to cope with environmental stress and harness microbiome functions to optimize future crop resilience and performance in a changing climate. In collaboration with partners around the world, this knowledge will form the basis for a new era of microbiome-assisted agriculture. To further strengthen the outreach of MiCRop, we are looking for an outreach worker.

What are you going to do

You will provide information using content you generate, with input of the MiCRop scientific team, on MiCRop-related topics that will be shared through Dutch and international printed, electronic and social media. You will advise on and contact public institutions and organisations, such as musea and fairs, to plan, budget and realise outreach activities. The objective of your activities is to make the general public and farmers aware of the importance of the plant microbiome for a healthy and sustainable agriculture.

Tasks and responsibilities

• provide information using content you generate on MiCRop-related topics for printed, electronic and social media;
• initiate and facilitate production and publication of short videos and podcasts;
• advise on, plan and budget collaboration with musea and provide input on content;
• plan, budget and realise MiCRop contributions to events, such as open days, Agricultural Fairs, Researcher nights,

Plant fascination day (in cooperation with the Outreach & Operational Support Officer);

• organize MiCRop outreach/dissemination-related activities (in cooperation with the Outreach & Operational Support Officer);
• participate in and provide support for program meetings.

You have excellent social and organizational skills, you get things done. You are responsible, accurate and like to work independently when necessary. You have an innovative and creative mindset and have strong idea's how to engage people. Finally, if you are also a nice colleague with a good sense of humour, then this position is for you!

Your experience and profile

• a master's degree, preferably in communication;
• relevant management/coordination and communication experience;
• excellent written communication and reporting skills;
• fluency in Dutch and English;
• an affinity with biology.

We offer you a temporary employment contract for 38 hours a week, for the duration of 12 months preferably starting on 1 September 2022. An extension of 12 months is possible upon a good evaluation.

Your salary, depending on your relevant work experience on commencement of the employment contract, ranges between €2.979 to €4.093 gross per month on the basis of a full working week of 38 hours. This sum does not include the 8% holiday allowance and the 8.3% year-end allowance. A favorable tax agreement, the 30% ruling, may apply to non-Dutch applicants is applicable. The Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU) is applicable.

Are you curious about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits like our excellent opportunities for study and development? More information can be found here.

Faculty of Science

The University of Amsterdam is the largest university in the Netherlands, with the broadest spectrum of degree programmes. It is an intellectual hub with 30,000 students, 6,000 employees and 3,000 doctoral students who are all committed to a culture of inquiring minds and scientific excellence.

The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 8,000, as well as 1,800 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 Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences (SILS) is one of the Faculty of Science's largest institutes. Its approximately 240 scientists and staff members work in 16 research groups that perform excellent research centered on four themes: Neurosciences, Cell & Systems Biology, Microbiology and Green Life Sciences.

Do you want to know more about our organization? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.