We are looking for an Assistant Professor, who can strengthen our position in the field of Behavioural Neuroscience, with an emphasis on neurobiological studies of behaviour under ecologically relevant conditions. The new staff member is expected to set up an independent research line within this field, complementary to the current neurobiological, evolutionary and ecological research in the Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES). The successful candidate is expected to take an integrative approach to address their research questions, and develop a strong research programme in Behavioural Neuroscience, focusing on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying complex behaviour in non-domesticated animal species under semi-natural conditions. With this profile the candidate is expected to develop a group that can successfully apply for competitive funding from e.g. topical programs of the Dutch Science Council and European funding schemes (e.g., related to neuropsychiatric disorders).

We offer you a full-time position and excellent career opportunities in our faculty’s career system Career Paths in Science and Engineering, including the perspective to get a permanent appointment (tenure) in 1-3 years and become Full Professor in approximately 10 years.

The successful candidate’s research is expected to connect with the ongoing research in GELIFES and other institutes within UG and supervise research projects at the BSc, MSc and PhD level.

As Assistant or Associate Professor you will:

- set up and develop your own research line and research group
- supervise PhD students
- acquire external funding
- promote the societal relevance of your research
- teach in and contribute to the development of the degree programmes, e.g. in Biology, Biomedical Sciences, and others
- contribute to university service, e.g., for participation in working groups and committees, in the domains of teaching, research and management.

At the stage of Assistant Professor 60% of your time is for research, 30% for teaching activities and 10% for organizational tasks.

The University of Groningen (UG) is a research university with a global outlook, deeply rooted in Groningen, City of Talent. Quality has been our top priority for over four hundred years, and with success: the University is currently in or around the top 100 on several influential ranking lists.

The Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) is the largest faculty within the University. We offer first-rate education and research in a wide range of science and engineering disciplines, from classical disciplines such as mathematics, astronomy and mechanical engineering as well as interdisciplinary fields, such as artificial intelligence, pharmacy and evolutionary life sciences. Our community is open with an informal atmosphere among students and staff from around the world.

The position we offer is funded by the Sector Plan Biology and embedded in the Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES). GELIFES fills a special niche in the life sciences with an overall aim to integrate research in evolution and ecology that are traditionally studied in isolation in order to improve our understanding of fundamental biological processes. GELIFES is coordinating Adaptive Life (AL); one (of four) FSE-wide strategic research themes. AL specifically addresses the growing realization that proximate and ultimate approaches are connected and thus both necessary to advance our understanding and ability to predict adaptation across a wide array of systems by integrating neurobiological, physiological, behavioral, ecological and evolutionary perspectives.

We encourage you to apply if you have:

- a PhD degree in Behavioural Neuroscience or other relevant field
- at least two years of postdoctoral experience outside of the Netherlands, preferably in a different country than where you received your PhD (can be compensated for after the appointment via extended research visits abroad)
- a relevant international network
- excellent research qualities, as shown by a publication record in international peer-reviewed journals and proceedings of renowned conferences
- a good track record in teaching, appropriate to your career stage
- demonstrable organizational competences
- cross-cultural sensitivity
- good command of spoken and written English.

And you are:

- a team player with good communication skills
- able to acquire substantial research grants from external sources
- willing to obtain a University Teaching Qualification (Dutch: BKO) within three years
- able to speak the Dutch language or motivated to speak it within five years.

Fixed-term contract: 12 months.

The Faculty of Science and Engineering of the University of Groningen was the first on the European mainland to introduce a tenure track career policy, 20 years ago, and with significant success. We have attracted great talents that have contributed strongly to the worldwide leading position of our faculty’s ten research institutes. Our career system has helped our staff members to develop highly successful and rewarding academic careers. The latest version of this system, ‘Career Paths in Science and Engineering’, offers:

- diverse career paths with a focus on research, education or impact
- dynamic career paths, in which staff members can switch focus in the course of their career
- the promotion to Assistant Professor level 1, in combination with a permanent contract, already after 1 - 3 years
- a perspective for promotion to Associate Professor after 5 years, while the assessment for promotion to Full Professor can take place after another 5 years
- significant freedom for staff members whether and when to apply for promotion.

For more information about Career Paths in Science and Engineering, see: https://www.rug.nl/fse/cpse. Please consider the career path with a focus on research for the criteria for tenure and for promotion to more senior positions.

We offer you in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities:

- as starting conditions, depending on qualifications and work experience a salary from a minimum of € 4,332 (salary scale 11) up to a maximum of € 6,737 gross per month (salary scale 12, depending on your career stage) for a full-time position as Assistant Professor
- a holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of respectively 8% and 8.3% of your yearly salary
- a pension scheme
- maternity and parental leave
- the possibility to work part-time (0.9 FTE or 0.8 FTE)
- a mentor programme and a broad range of opportunities for personal development
- dual career support for partners of new faculty members moving to Groningen.

Consider our website for more information about the working conditions at the University of Groningen: https://www.rug.nl/about-ug/work-with-us/