Introduction: 

Our global environment is changing rapidly, due to e.g. changes in land use, agricultural practices, urbanization and global warming. Recent research has revealed astonishing evolutionary dynamics in species living in these rapidly changing environments. Understanding how plasticity and evolutionary adaptation determine the level of resilience of such ‘anthropogenic’ ecosystems will help to meet the European biodiversity and climate goals. We seek to appoint an early career assistant professor for a tenure track in the area of Evolutionary Ecology in rapidly changing environments within the department of Evolutionary and Population Biology at IBED (see https://ibed.uva.nl/content/research-departments/epb/epb.html). 

At IBED, we investigate how species relationships determine the structure and stability of biological communities, and how the integrity of these communities is influenced or compromised by processes such as species extinction, the introduction of non-native invaders, and the growth of harmful species. Within EPB, our research comprises fundamental and applied investigations at the level of individual variation, population genetics and community dynamics, to understand the process of speciation, the evolution of resistance, the evolution of endangered and invasive species, and evolution in the face of climate change. Specifically, we are working on evolutionary questions related to plant communities, plant-herbivore, herbivore-herbivore, predator-herbivore and host-pathogen interactions, both within and between species. 

We are looking for candidates that can complement the research program of the department of Evolutionary and Population Biology (EPB) at IBED, that covers a broad range of topics related to the eco-evolutionary dynamics of species interactions in challenging environments.  The ideal candidate will also strengthen collaborations between existing research lines within EPB as well as within IBED, and link fundamental research on evolutionary ecology with applied areas such as (urban) planning, nature conservation or pest management and values public engagement and outreach.  

As for education, the EPB Department is involved in the educational programs of the BSc-programs (i) Biology and (ii) Future Planet Studies, and the MSc-programs (i) Ecology and Evolution and (ii) Future Planet Ecosystem Science, and teaches courses in the fields of behavioral and physiological biology, (field) ecology, neurobiology and evolutionary biology, among others.  

What are you going to do

In the field of research you will, among other things, be involved in: 

• Pursue biological research within the area of your academic specialization, leading to publications in leading peer-reviewed journals and contributing to the development of a long-term research strategy of the research group, the department and the Institute. 

• Engage fully with the collaborative ethos of IBED, encouraging and fostering collaborations between academic colleagues of other departments within IBED, the University of Amsterdam and elsewhere in the Netherlands and abroad. 

• Obtain funding from national and international sources. 

Teaching responsibilities include: 

• Contribute to the educational programs of the BSc-programs Biology and Future Planet Studies, and the MSc-programs Ecology and Evolution and Future Planet Ecosystem Science. The time investment will grow to 30-40% of your time (including both lecturing and supervising students), but will be less in initial years of your appointment.

• Obtain a University Teaching Qualification (Basis Kwalificatie Onderwijs, BKO)) within two years.   

• Organize course(s) and develop modules in the field of Evolutionary Ecology. We are especially interested in candidates who can contribute to fieldwork courses in the BSc-program Biology. 

• As our teaching programs are mostly research-based, we also expect the assistant professor to supervise BSc and MSc students in 2-6 month long research projects where students learn how to collect, analyze and store data and writing a literature thesis. 

The candidate is also expected to spend up to 10% of your time on organizational tasks within the institute, so that 50-60% of your time will be devoted to research by the end of the tenure track period. 

What do we require

• A PhD in the field of Evolutionary Ecology; 

• Postdoc experience, preferentially internationally; 

• Expertise in an area of research that aligns with the overall research theme of our department, reflected by (among others) your publication record; 

• Demonstrated capacity for international-level research achievements;  

• Enthusiasm for and dedication to teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels; 

• Fluency and excellent communication in English, both written and spoken; 

• Willingness to learn the Dutch language (Dutch courses are supported by the Institute).

Fixed-term contract: 60 months.

Our offer

We offer a temporary employment contract for 38 hours per week with a tenure track agreement for the duration of five years (which is part of a six-year temporary contract). The intention of the tenure is a permanent appointment after 5 years with promotion. In case of an insufficient evaluation the appointment will end after 6 years. 

The salary, depending on relevant experience before the beginning of the employment contract, will be €3,821 to €5,230 (scale 11) gross per month, based on a fulltime contract (38 hours a week). This is exclusive 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. A favorable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.  

Are you curious about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits like our excellent opportunities for study and development? Take a look here. 

University of Amsterdam

The University of Amsterdam is the largest university in the Netherlands, with the broadest spectrum of degree programmes. It is an intellectual hub with 39,000 students, 6,000 employees and 3,000 doctoral students who are all committed to a culture of inquiring minds and scientific excellence.

Faculty of Science

About the Faculty of Science and the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics    

The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 7,000, as well as 1,600 members of staff working in education, research or support services. Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works, be it elementary particles, the birth of the universe or the functioning of the brain. 

The Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) is one of eight research institutes of the Faculty of Science at the University of Amsterdam. The research at IBED aims to unravel how ecosystems function in all their complexity, and how they change due to natural processes and human activities. At its core lies an integrated systems approach to study biodiversity, ecosystems and the environment. IBED adopts this systems approach to ecosystems, addressing abiotic (soil and water quality) and biotic factors (ecology and evolution of plants, animals, and microorganisms), and the interplay between those. The IBED vision includes research encompassing experimental and theoretical approaches at a wide variety of temporal and spatial scales, i.e. from molecules and microorganisms to patterns and processes occurring at the global scale.