How will future land use look like? How does land use respond to climate change? How can we transform land use to mitigate climate change impacts and safeguard biodiversity? As part of the Environmental Geography department of the Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) at VU Amsterdam you will use scenarios and models to explore alternative futures of land use at local, European and global scales. You will show policy makers and other stakeholders the need and the potential of land use to contribute to a more sustainable future. Together with colleagues you teach students at Bsc and Msc level in spatial research methods and sustainability-related topics. At the PhD level, you supervise researchers working on land use science and spatial modelling. You develop projects to fund PhD students and Postdocs that use a systems perspective, quantitative modelling tools and spatial research methods. Your work is aimed at contributing to societal dialogue. You collaborate in research projects both inside and outside the department.

Your duties:

• you initiate innovative research on land use scenarios and spatial analysis
• you teach in general and more specialized Environmental Science courses that are part of the institute’s teaching programmes
• you supervise Master's and Bachelor's theses
• you work together with the department's staff in the acquisition of external funds for PhD and postdoc projects
• you (co-) publish scientific papers and present your work to stakeholders

• you have a PhD in geography or a related discipline
• you have demonstrable experience with quantitative (spatial) research approaches and land use scenarios
• you have affinity with interdisciplinary methods
• you preferably have experience in academic teaching
• you preferably have several years of postdoc experience, but have you obtained your PhD more recently and have a good fit with the position? Then we also welcome your application

As a university, we strive for equal opportunities for everyone, realizing that diversity takes many forms. We believe that diversity in all its complexity is invaluable for the quality of our education, research and services. We are always looking for talent with diverse backgrounds and experiences. This also means that we are committed to creating an inclusive community, so that we can use diversity as added value.

We recognise that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. We would like to invite everyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not fully meet all the requirements.

Fixed-term contract: 18 months.

A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:

On a full-time basis the remuneration for the assistant professor level, the remuneration amounts to a minimum gross monthly salary of € 4.332 (scale 11) and a maximum € 5.929 (scale 11), depending on your education and experience.

This is a career track position; the initial appointment will be for a period of 1.5 years, which will be turned into a tenured position after the initial period, if the performance indicators agreed at the start of the appointment are met.

Additionally, 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
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• solid pension scheme (ABP)
• contribution to commuting expenses
• optional model for designing a personalized benefits package
• certain tax benefits (30% ruling) might apply to international candidates
• help and assistance with relocation (international candidates)

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Institute for Environmental Studies
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.

Faculty of Science
Researchers and students at VU Amsterdam’s Faculty of Science tackle fundamental and complex scientific problems to help pave the way for a sustainable and healthy future. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to malnutrition, and from molecules to the moon: we cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. Our teaching and research have a strong experimentally technical, computational and interdisciplinary nature.

We work on new solutions guided by value-driven, interdisciplinary methodologies. We are committed to research, valorisation and training socially engaged citizens of the world who will make valuable contributions to a sustainable, healthy future.

Are you interested in joining the Faculty of Science? You will join undergraduate students, PhD candidates and researchers at the biggest sciences faculty in the Netherlands. You will combine a professional focus with a broad view of the world. We are proud of our collegial working climate, characterised by committed staff, a pragmatic attitude and engagement in the larger whole. The faculty is home to over 11,000 students enrolled in 40 study programmes. It employs over 1,600 professionals spread across 10 academic departments.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely. - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research. Learn more about our codes of conduct

We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility. Over 5,500 staff work at the VU and over 30,000 students attend academic education.

Diversity
Diversity is the driving force of the VU. The VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding.

We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services.

Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community.