Are you highly motivated to understand communication in an increasingly digital society? Are you focused on addressing social challenges in dynamic and polarized media environments? Are you interested in communication with a focus on life science and communication can contribute to a more sustainable world?

The Strategic Communication (COM) group is looking for an ambitious assistant professor (Tenure Track) in Communication Science with a focus on or interest in life science. As an assistant professor, you are well acquainted with the communication science discipline. As such, you feel comfortable with a wide range of perspectives present in both communication science and neighboring disciplines. In this position, you are responsible for the coordination, organization, and implementation of new research activities that strengthen the research profile of the COM group. We expect you to generate external financial support for an innovative research agenda. You are interested in (global) challenges in life science domains (e.g., public health, climate change, and sustainable consumption) and will be contributing to at least one of our research themes, namely (1) sustainability communication, (2) science communication, (3) digitalization and society, and (4) polarization and dialogue. As our new colleague, you will explore and contribute to the understanding of how communication can impact and contribute to broader individual and collective shifts in the life science domains. This includes, but is not limited to:

• studying communication in (online) media, especially with regard to understanding (digital) communication mechanisms and effects;
• evaluating the reach, content, and impact of (digital) communication campaigns in life science contexts and how those can contribute to behavioral change;
• developing communication strategies for depolarization on contested issues such as climate change and sustainable lifestyles;

You prefer inter- or transdisciplinary approaches, and you have an international orientation. To address current problems and solutions, societal engagement (e.g., with governments, media, societal actors, and researchers) is both a topic for analysis, as well as an approach to work with society in teaching and research projects.
Furthermore, we challenge you to motivate and teach students and to be involved in the innovation of our education. Teaching duties include courses both in more communication-oriented programmes as well as in consumer studies. You are expected to work with students from those various programs, supervise them in the use of communication science methods, and support them in executing coherent research projects.

All in al, Tenure Track is a career path for hardworking scientists who pursue to excel in education and research. We seek to attract scientific talent and to stimulate and support their development. We provide you with training and mentoring to accomplish all of this

You are an ambitious scientist and a standout colleague, dedicated to research and education within our broad field of expertise. To further strengthen our group, you:

• hold a PhD in communication science or a related discipline (e.g., sociology, political science);
• are an inspiring teacher and student supervisor with enthusiasm for teaching and working with students in an international setting;
• have experience with media content and effects research, including social media; and have a proven interest in using innovative methods, such as computational approaches such as automated content analysis or digital tracing;
• have a strong international and interdisciplinary orientation;
• have an excellent publication record relative to your stage of career;
• possess the capacity or potential of acquiring, leading, and managing externally-funded research projects;
• are committed to achieving societal impact in relation to important social challenges;
• enjoy working together with your colleagues and possess good management skills;
• adhere (or have the willingness to adhere) to the principles of Open Science.
• Fluency in Engligh language (a minimum of CEFR C2 level). For more information about this proficiency level, please visit our special language page.

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• the option to accrue additional holiday hours by working more, up to 40 hours per week;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed December bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will be offered a fixed-term, 7 year contract which, upon positive evaluation based on criteria elaborated in the University's Tenure Track policy, can lead to a permanent employment contract as a professor. Your salary will depend on your expertise and experience, the maximum gross salary for Assistant Professors is €5.826,- per month. Both are based on a full working week of 38 hours in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU). Wageningen University & Research encourages internal advancement opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a unique position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere. You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the "Best University" in the Netherlands for the 16th consecutive time.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees. Applicants from abroad moving to the Netherlands may qualify for special tax relief, known as the 30% ruling. Our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.
Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well-informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees and students coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, we can assist you with any additional advice and information about helping your partner to find a job, housing, schooling, and other issues.

Wageningen University & Research

Wageningen University & Research
The mission of Wageningen University & Research is "To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life". Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment.

With its roughly 30 branch­es, 7,200 employees (6,400 fte) and 13,200 students and over 150.000 participants to WUR's Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.. An integrated approach to problems and the cooperation between various disciplines are at the heart of Wageningen's unique approach. WUR has been named Best Employer in the Education category for 2019-2020.

These are the points our employees list as good reasons to come work at WUR: read the 5 reasons to come work at WUR
We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.