You are a molecular microbiologist with the vision and perseverance to set up your own research line and group embedded in the Molecular Microbiology group. Your research should be embedded in the University themes Life Sciences or Pathways to Sustainability. We invite in particular candidates who study bacteria and have experience in quantitative microbiology to complement the research that is currently being performed within the Molecular Microbiology group.

You are interested to collaborate with the other members of the Molecular Microbiology group and preferably also connect to research done elsewhere in the institute, department, faculty, or university. You seek funding for new research projects through personal, national, European and other international grant opportunities. In addition, you will participate in teaching general and specialized microbiology courses at both the BSc and MSc levels and supervise bachelor and master research projects. Part of this position is that you may appoint a PhD student.

You are a team player, able to think critically and creatively. Next to that we would like you to bring:

• a PhD in Microbiology or a related field;
• a track record in publishing impactful science and acquiring external funding;
• experience in quantitative and molecular microbiology;
• demonstrable affinity for teaching. Experience with innovation in education is recommended;
• excellent English proficiency, willingness to learn Dutch if applicable.

• a full-time tenure track position for five years (1.0 FTE) that will be subject to a mid-term evaluation after approximately 2.5 years and an end-term evaluation after 4.5 years. If evaluations are positive after five years, the position becomes permanent;
• a full-time gross salary - depending on previous qualifications and experience - ranging between €3,974 and €5,439 per month (scale 11 according to the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities (cao));
• 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 its own arrangements. For example, there are agreements on professional development, leave arrangements and sports. We also give you the opportunity to expand your terms of employment via the Employment Conditions Selection Model. This is how we like to encourage you to continue to grow.

For more information, please visit working at the Faculty of Science.

The Department of Biology consists of 12 research groups, 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 the 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.

The Molecular Microbiology group is part of IEB. This institute focuses on the Utrecht University themes Pathways to Sustainability and Life sciences and is part of the research hub Future Food. IEB groups collaborate with groups of IBB, departments within the Faculty of Science, the Faculty of Medicine, the Veterinary Faculty, and the Hubrecht Institute and the Fungal Biodiversity Centre of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences.

The group studies molecular processes involved in microbial pathogenicity, microbial development (e.g. mushroom formation), and microbial biotechnology. Research is curiosity-driven and is also of high interest to industry, agriculture and society. The group teaches microbiology, biotechnology, molecular biology and genomics at the bachelor and master levels.

At the Faculty of Science, there are 6 departments to make a fundamental connection with: Biology, Chemistry, Information and Computing Sciences, Mathematics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Physics. Each of these is made up of distinct institutes that work together to focus on answering 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 mentality of our people. This lively and inspiring academic environment attracts professors, researchers and PhD candidates from all over the globe, making both the university and the Faculty of Science a vibrant international and wonderfully diverse community.