The division of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics within the Department of Biology is seeking a creative and collaborative neurobiologist to complement and strengthen its research and teaching activities. You will be challenged to set up your own independent group and develop strong research links with the other research groups within the Biology Department, as well as with the Department of Translational Neuroscience at the University Medical Center Utrecht.

Your job
You will develop an independent, innovative research programme aimed to discover molecular and cellular mechanisms related to the development, function or plasticity of the nervous system. The ideal candidate brings a novel research direction focused on molecular and cellular processes that organise neural circuits to ultimately control animal behaviour. We believe that to do so, organisms such as zebrafish and fruit fly are very powerful and attractive model systems. We are therefore particularly interested in researchers that use these or similar model systems in their research combining cutting-edge microscopy with molecular and cell biology approaches. For your research, you will have full access to the state-of-the-art imaging facilities in our department. The Biology Department also has an excellent zebrafish facility, nanobody platform, bioinformatics expertise center and a flow cytometry facility. Within the Biology department and on the campus different groups are working with C. elegans, fruit fly and zebrafish.

As a member of our group, you will play an important role in teaching activities of the group in Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes. You will also supervise individual BSc, MSc, and PhD candidates.

The Division of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics is dedicated to provide you with necessary support, including full access to the Biology Imaging Center, up-to-date biochemical and cell culture equipment, technical support with image processing and analysis, and appropriate training and mentorship.

You are a neuroscientist (PhD) with a strong track record in molecular and cellular neurobiology. As an enthusiastic and creative educator, you are able to strengthen Utrecht University’s curriculum in Neurobiology. You fully support Utrecht University’s aim for equality, diversity, and inclusion. Next to that, we would like you to bring:

• an interest in applying advanced imaging and quantitative approaches to your research;
• an open attitude to collaboration with fellow staff members, especially within the Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity and the Department of Translational Neuroscience at the University Medical Centre Utrecht (UMCU).
• experience with, or readiness to, supervise PhD projects;
• experience with and enthusiasm for teaching and student supervision.

We will ask you to acquire a University Teaching Qualification (UTQ) if you do not already have one.

We offer:

• an appointment as Assistant Professor, starting with a fixed term contract of 18 months. Following positive evaluation, this will be converted in a permanent contract;
• a possibility to appoint a PhD candidate for four years on a fully funded PhD position;
• a gross monthly salary - depending on previous qualifications and experience - between €4,332 and €5,929 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale 11 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

Universiteit Utrecht

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Shaping science, sharing tomorrow.

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 challenges. More fundamental still are the individual research groups – the building blocks of our ambitious scientific projects.

The Department of Biology consists of 12 research groups, which are organised 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 research division of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Biophysics has the mission to acquire novel insights into the structure and function of cells and to decipher the cellular basis for human diseases such as cancer and neurological disorders. To achieve this goal, we combine the latest methods in molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics and microscopy. We are interested in the mechanisms underlying cytoskeletal dynamics, membrane transport and signalling pathways that underlie cell proliferation and differentiation, neuronal development and synaptic plasticity. We investigate cellular processes at a broad range of levels, from single molecules and protein networks to cells, tissues, and whole organisms. The main research topics within the division are cellular organisation and dynamics, molecular neuroscience, biophysics, synaptic physiology, molecular oncology and molecular targeted therapies. The division also encompasses the Utrecht Nanobody Facility, the Cellular Engineering Facility and the Biology Imaging Center (BIC), an expert center for advanced light microscopy that houses a large number of advanced microscopy setups.