We are seeking an outstanding individual to join our faculty as a Professor of Sustainable Food Systems to help develop our new activities in the area of system earth sciences at the Greenport Campus Venlo in the Southern Netherlands. These new activities will focus on earth and plant-biological research (from fundamental to applied) in relation to human health, the environment and relevant stakeholders. Currently, at the campus a strong knowledgebase is being developed to facilitate education, research and innovation in an interdisciplinary setting. All activities have a strong systems approach. As one of the most international universities in Europe, Maastricht University is consistently ranked in the top ten of universities younger than 50 years worldwide.

As a Professor of Sustainable Food Systems you will be responsible for the development of a new research line on Sustainable Food Systems within Maastricht University, and you are expected to take initiatives to help strengthen the development of the chair and the earth and biological sciences in general. You will be responsible for teaching and conducting research in the field of sustainable and healthy food systems. You will be expected to have a strong academic background, excellent teaching skills, and a record of research publications. You will teach undergraduate and graduate courses in sustainable food systems, including topics such as biodiversity, climate change, and system dynamics modeling, and develop course materials, including syllabi, lectures, assignments, and assessments (using the Problem-Based Learning approach that Maastricht University as a basis for all education). Next to your teaching duties, you will engage in scholarly research in sustainable food systems, including publishing research papers in peer-reviewed journals, presenting at conferences, and obtaining research grants. 

For this position, we are looking for a candidate with a doctoral degree in sustainable food systems or a related discipline and an international reputation for excellence in innovative science. You should have a record of international research publications in sustainable food systems, biodiversity, climate change, system dynamics modeling, or related fields. Experience in teaching and developing curricula related to sustainable food systems, biodiversity, climate change, and system dynamics modeling is a must. Also, you should demonstrate expertise in areas such as biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and system dynamics modeling of food systems. You are stimulating and approachable for staff and students and will readily interact with colleagues within Maastricht University and with other knowledge and business partners. You also have a proven capability to acquire (international) grants. Furthermore, you have an excellent command of written and spoken English.

The chair Sustainable Food Systems will contribute to undergraduate and graduate teaching. Within this context, you will teach using the Problem-Based Learning approach that Maastricht University uses as a basis for all education. Next to this, you are motivated to supervise students in Research-Based Learning during projects periods and final thesis works. Your track record should show your experience in educational delivery and student supervision.

Although the Faculty is looking for an experienced candidate who will considered for appointment at a Full Professor level, candidates with a strong track record at the level of Associate Professor, are encouraged to apply.

• We offer a rewarding career at a young university in the heart of Europe, with a distinct global perspective and a strong focus on innovative research and education;
•  The gross monthly salary is dependent on previous qualifications and experience, and ranges between €5.784 and €10.721. The salary package contains an 8% holiday allowance, an 8.3% end of year allowance, and 232 hours of leave (based on full time employment). Non-Dutch applicants may be eligible for favourable tax treatment;
• We offer an attractive package of fringe benefits such as reduction on collective health insurance, substantial leave arrangements, optional model for designing a personalised benefits package and application for attractive fiscal arrangements for employees from abroad.
• The position will be as Professor or Associate Professor and is on a fulltime basis. The nature of the initial appointment depends on qualifications and track record, and may either be permanent or temporary with the intention of permanent appointment upon a mutually positive assessment

The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply. For more information look at the website www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > About UM > Working at UM.

Maastricht University

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterised by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 22,000 students and about 5,000 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience. For more information, visit www.maastrichtuniversity.nl

Faculty of Science and Engineering

At the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) we focus on themes such as circularity and sustainability, future farming, digitisation and (scientific) instrument development. FSE's leading projects, like the Einstein Telescope Pathfinder, are sure to grab anyone's attention. The Faculty is a vibrant hub of education and research in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS). At FSE, over 450 staff members and 3150 students gather to explore exciting interdisciplinary research and educational programmes. Feel welcome, be part of our team and put your brilliant mind to work!

FSE at the Brightlands Campuses 

Maastricht, Sittard-Geleen, Heerlen and Venlo, the homes of four creative Brightlands campuses, are bustling with 30,000 entrepreneurs, researchers and students working diligently to solve global challenges. The Faculty of Science and Engineering is active on all four Brightlands campuses and this is where our impact reaches its peak. To give you an idea of what is happening on each campus: Sittard-Geleen is home to one of the largest chemistry and materials sites in Europe, while Venlo is a large hub for agri-food innovation. Maastricht is the site of the Health Campus, and Heerlen is the place to be for Smart Services.

This position will be embedded in a new to develop cluster within the Faculty of Science and Engineering of Maastricht University, in the area of system earth sciences. This will house research lines in the fields of plant ecology and evolution, planetary health, and sustainable and healthy food systems. These activities will be located at the Brightlands Greenport Campus Venlo.