This Assistant Professor will develop a food systems oriented research line within the Environmental Geography department of the Institute for Environmental Studies. Specifically, the Assistant Professor will develop projects that look at the interrelations between food systems and land use in the context of sustainability transitions. The successful candidate is expected to address both the demand and supply side of food systems and use an interdisciplinary set of methods, including quantitative and spatial approaches. The candidate will take an active role in science-policy interfaces in order to achieve impact on food system transitions. Research will include collaboration inside as well as outside the department, and is based on externally funded PhD and postdoc projects. The Assistant Professor is expected to contribute to teaching in both food system oriented courses as well as broader environmental science courses, and supervise Msc thesis research.

Your duties

• conduct research on food systems in relation to land use
• teaching in general and more specialized environmental science courses as part of our teaching programmes
• supervision of Masters and Bachelors theses
• work together with the department's staff in the acquisition of external funds for PhD and postdoc projects
• (co-) publish scientific papers

• PhD in geography or a related discipline with a demonstrable expertise in applying state-of-the-art socio-ecological systems analysis methods
• good writing skills
• experience in academic teaching
• strong willingness to work in an interdisciplinary environment
• Since some of the teaching programs are only provided in Dutch, speaking Dutch or willingness to learn Dutch within a couple of years is required.

Fixed-term contract: 5 years.

A challenging position in a socially involved organization. On full-time basis the remuneration amounts to a minimum gross monthly salary of €3,974 (scale 11) and a maximum €6,181 (scale 12), depending on your education and experience. The job profile: is based on the university job ranking system and is vacant for at least 0.8 FTE.

We offer a tenure track position initially for the duration of five years. After a successful evaluation at 18 months, permanent employment (tenure) will be granted. A career plan to grow to a higher position will be made and during the track performance will be evaluated.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers excellent fringe benefits and various schemes and regulations to promote a good work/life balance, such as:

• a maximum of 41 days of annual leave based on full-time employment
• help and assistance with relocation for international candidates, also they might be eligible for a tax reduction (30% ruling)
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• solid pension scheme (ABP)
• child daycare facilities available on campus
• good paid parental leave scheme

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

The ambition of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is clear: to contribute to a better world through outstanding education and ground-breaking research. We strive to be a university where personal development and commitment to society play a leading role. A university where people from different disciplines and backgrounds collaborate to achieve innovations and to generate new knowledge. Our teaching and research encompass the entire spectrum of academic endeavor - from the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences through to the life sciences and the medical sciences.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is home to more than 30,000 students. We employ over 5,500 individuals. The VU campus is easily accessible and located in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas district, a truly inspiring environment for teaching and research.

Diversity
We are an inclusive university community. Diversity is one of our most important values. We believe that engaging in international activities and welcoming students and staff from a wide variety of backgrounds enhances the quality of our education and research. We are always looking for people who can enrich our world with their own unique perspectives and experiences.

The Faculty of Science
The Faculty of Science inspires researchers and students to find sustainable solutions for complex societal issues. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to medicines and from molecules to the moon: our teaching and research programmes cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. We share knowledge and experience with leading research institutes and industries, both here in the Netherlands and abroad.

Working at the Faculty of Science means working with students, PhD candidates and researchers, all with a clear focus on their field and a broad view of the world. We employ more than 1,250 staff members, and we are home to more than 11,000 students.

About the institute
IVM is a leading environmental research institute that is internationally recognized for its high quality research output in a range of environmental disciplines, as well as for its interdisciplinary work. The mission of the institute is to contribute to sustainable development and care for the environment through scientific research and teaching. IVM aims to do excellent problem-oriented research that is useful to a wide range of stakeholders in the Netherlands and internationally. A unique strength of our research is to understand sustainability problems in their social and economic context. IVM research community works within four departments: Environmental Economics; Environmental Policy Analysis; Environmental Geography; and Water and Climate Risk. IVM is part of the Faculty of Science at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (www.ivm.vu.nl). This position is based within the Environmental Geography department. The Environmental Geography department conducts interdisciplinary research on the spatial aspects of environmental and social challenges and the solutions sustainable land use can provide to these.