The candidates are expected to be talented in research, to develop an internationally renowned research line and to acquire new research funds. Coaching and supervising PhD students will also be one of the responsibilities. Teaching will include courses related to land use change as well as in interdisciplinary, more general or methodological courses in our programmes, as well as supervision of individual BSc thesis and MSc thesis projects. The working time will be split between 50% teaching and 50% research for the first two years, and if extended 60% teaching and 40% research.

The Section Environmental Sciences from the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development at Utrecht University invites highly motivated candidates for a tenure-track assistant professor position in land use change. We look for candidates who have an excellent research record and with an interest to teach in our successful new Bachelor’s programme ‘Global Sustainability Science’ as well as the Master’s programmes ‘Sustainable Development’ and ‘Water Science and Management’ of the Copernicus Institute.

Successful candidates have a strong background in understanding (future) land use change by using remote sensing and GIS. We encourage applications from candidates with affinity for environmental research (human-environment interactions) with preferably a background in spatial statistics and environmental modelling.

We encourage applications from candidates who:

• have a PhD and a proven affinity with the themes above;
• have demonstrable talent for academic teaching;
• have a strong record of international peer-reviewed publications;
• have experience in successfully acquiring and carrying out externally funded projects or have good prospects in doing so;
• are well connected to relevant academic partners as well as to stakeholders in society;
• have excellent communication skills, are team players;
• have affinity with working in an interdisciplinary research and teaching environment;

In case of equal capability we will prefer a female candidate.

We offer a full-time tenure track position that starts with an initial period of two years, with an intended extension of either another two years or a conversion to a permanent position, subject to performance. Further career development to Associate Professor level is possible. The salary - depending on previous qualifications and experience - ranges from €3,545 to €5,513 (scale 11/12 according to the Collective Employment Agreement of the Dutch Universities) gross per month for a full-time employment. Salaries are supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and a year-end allowance of 8.3% per year. In addition, Utrecht University offers excellent secondary conditions, including an attractive retirement scheme, (partly paid) parental leave and flexible employment conditions (multiple choice model). Here you'll find more information about working at Utrecht University.

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 societal themes. Our focus is on Sustainability, Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, and Life Sciences.

Utrecht University has been ranked in the 2017 Academic Ranking of World Universities as the best university in the Netherlands, and as one of the leading research universities in Europe. Utrecht University’s sustainability research has the greatest citation impact worldwide according to a study conducted by Times Higher Education (2016). The city of Utrecht is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, with a charming old centre and an internationally oriented culture that is strongly influenced by its century-old university. Utrecht has been consistently ranked as one of the most liveable cities in the Netherlands.

The Faculty of Geosciences offers education and research concerning the geosphere, biosphere, atmosphere and anthroposphere. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the Faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organized in four departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Urban & Regional Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development. The research of the department of Sustainable Development is organized in the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development. 

The tenure track position will be affiliated with the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development and is imbedded in the Section Environmental Sciences of the Institute.

The Section Environmental Sciences is one of the four research groups of the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development. It is a dynamic, ambitious and internationally leading team of researchers with a focus on environmental change and ecosystems, fundamental and policy-oriented research of environmental processes, from local to global scales. The Copernicus Institute has been evaluated in a 2014 international review as the highest ranked research institute in sustainability sciences in the Netherlands. Since then, the institute has intensified its efforts in maintaining its leading position.