Assistant professor in Geo-information Science

Are you an innovative and creative expert in spatiotemporal analysis? Do you have a passion for teaching and the ability to inspire students and colleagues alike? If so, you might be the perfect person to strengthen our team at the Laboratory of Geo-information Science and Remote Sensing as an Assistant Professor in Geo-information Science.

The Laboratory of Geo-information Science and Remote Sensing invites applications from candidates with proven expertise in geostatistics and uncertainty assessment for the position of Assistant Professor in Geo-information Science. We welcome applications from individuals who are enthusiastic about contributing to both our educational programs and research activities.

The ideal candidate is a geographer with a profound understanding of theoretical and methodological aspects of geostatistics and uncertainty assessment, along with a clear affinity with GeoAI. We are especially interested in candidates who can develop innovative research that contributes to and builds on the group’s existing themes. At the same time, we’re looking for open-minded researchers who are excited to pursue their own ideas while engaging with the wide range of topics represented in our group. We value a collaborative attitude and an interest in working across disciplinary boundaries.

This position is part of the Academic Career Framework (ACF) at Wageningen University & Research, which has replaced the traditional Tenure Track. This new career framework for all academic staff at Wageningen University started on 9 March 2025. One of the 3 career paths is the Professor Career Path. The aim of this ACF is to achieve a new balance in recognising and valuing academics where both team collaboration and the unique talent of individual scientists are seen, by creating more differentiation in career paths, putting the emphasis on the quality of work and less on quantitative results, doing justice to the individual qualities and ambitions of academics as much as to team performance, promoting all aspects of open science and encouraging high-quality leadership in the academy.

You will work here
The mission of our Laboratory is to advance spatial competencies for a sustainable world through research and education. We offer education as part of a variety of BSc programmes at Wageningen University and concentrated in the MSc Geo-information Science at Wageningen University and the joint MSc in Geographical Information Management and Applications (GIMA). The research conducted in the laboratory has a fundamental character, with a clear link to the mission of Wageningen University to provide science for impact. Our research agenda is represented in five themes: 1) Sensing and measuring, 2) Modelling and visualization, 3) Integrated land monitoring, 4) Human-space interactions, and 5) Empowering agro-environmental communities. In the most recent external evaluation, an international committee assessed our research quality with an excellent score. The Laboratory hosts a diverse team of students and staff from around the world.

In this exciting career trajectory, you:

• Develop, coordinate, and teach courses in close collaboration with colleagues;
• collaboratively acquire, lead, and implement innovative and creative research projects;
• supervise PhD candidates and MSc students;
• contribute to the continued development of the Laboratory of Geo-Information Science and Remote Sensing.

The candidate must hold a PhD in Geography or a related field, with an academic record aligned with this position. We seek candidates with a genuine passion for teaching and supervising students. We highly value an open and personal attitude towards our students, encouraging student involvement in ongoing research activities. Together with your colleagues, you will help to create a safe and inspiring learning environment where our students feel at home, regardless of who they are or where they come from.

You have

• A completed PhD in Geography or a related field, with a scientific track record in geostatistics and spatial uncertainty assessment;
• affinity with GeoAI methods and applications;
• proven experience with (inter)national collaboration on the vacancy topic;
• an open and inviting approach to education and teamwork;
• relevant and well-evaluated teaching experience;
• fluency in English (level C1).

The laboratory is actively seeking to increase its number of female senior researchers therefore equally qualified women will be treated with preference.

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

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• 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 year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will be offered a fixed-term, 18-months contract which, upon positive evaluation, can lead to a permanent employment contract. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 4,728.- and € 7,297.- for a full-time working week of 38 hours in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 11 or 12).

Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the "best university" in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.

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.

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands 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 for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is ‘To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life’.

We pursue this mission through a synergistic approach between Wageningen University and Wageningen Research Foundation (applied research). Our research focuses on questions within the domains of food, living environment, and society. With approximately 30 locations, 7,700 staff members, 2,500 PhD candidates, and over 13,000 students, Wageningen University & Research is among the world’s leading knowledge institutions in its domain. The integral approach to challenges and the collaboration across various disciplines form the core of the unique Wageningen approach.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR.

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.