Life is the most complex natural system on the planet. We believe that modeling complex life processes from evolution to development is essential to understanding them. We are looking for a committed researcher to join us as a new future group leader in this mission. So, are you interested in developing or expanding your research line in computational or mathematical biological modelling? And do you want to be inspired by a unique computational biology environment as well as the presence of excellent experimental biologists at the Utrecht Science Park and beyond? Then this is your chance!

As a full staff member of the Theoretical Biology group at Utrecht University (UU) you are given the opportunity to (further) develop your own research line in modelling biological systems, in almost any discipline in Biology. The research of the group is diverse and fundamental, with subjects running from the immune system, plant development to evolution, and modeling approaches varying from purely mathematical to agent-based modeling. Computationally, the group is well equipped, with an inhouse Linux cluster, and high-performance computing facilities on campus. The group has no wet laboratory, yet intensively collaborates with experimental groups, both within the University and abroad.

The position comes with funding for a PhD position to help you starting up your own research group. Through recruiting students for internships and writing successful grant applications for PhD candidates and postdocs you will have the opportunity to further expand your own research group within the Theoretical Biology group. You will participate in part of our teaching in statistics, programming in R, simple ODE models, and complicated spatial agent-based models to (mostly) biology students.

You have a keen interest in answering biological questions using computational and/or mathematical models. You are a team player who is able to initiate and coordinate interdisciplinary research projects.  Next to that we would like you to bring:

• a PhD in modeling biological systems, with published papers on this topic;
• passion for teaching theoretical biology ranging from the teaching of bachelor biology students (elementary modeling with ODEs, computer programming, and/or statistics) to supervising state-of-the-art research projects of MSc students and PhD candidates;
• expertise in both the biology and the modeling of at least one discipline in biology;
• proven writing skills which you will use to write and defend competitive research proposals.

Within the Faculty of Science the areas molecular modeling, bioinformatics, and theoretical ecology are already covered by other research groups, whereas computational developmental biology is covered within the group and through a parallel vacancy. Therefore we have a strong preference to develop other areas in Theoretical Biology.

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

You will be part of the Theoretical Biology group, which together with the Bioinformatics group forms the highly intertwined Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics group (TBB). We use computational biology, bioinformatics, modelling, and big data to address both fundamental and applied questions in the life sciences. Within TBB we share offices, the computer cluster, teaching and group talks in a collaborative, friendly and open atmosphere. TBB staff members independently run their own research lab, composed of MSc students, PhD candidates and postdocs. Yet all staff and group members collaborate intensively in both research and teaching. As a staff member you are expected to enthusiastically contribute your own expertise to this diverse team.

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.