At the Laboratory of Systems and Synthetic Biology (SSB) at Wageningen University & Research (WUR) we are looking for a new colleague to complement our data analysis and data and model integration group and to contribute to our teaching portfolio. Will you join us?

What are you going to do?
As assistant professor you will contribute to the research and education of the Laboratory of Systems and Synthetic Biology (SSB).
You will set up and maintain a research line on the development of machine learning, neural networks, deep learning and/or AI technologies (theoretical and/or applied) with applications complementary or adjacent to core research themes of SSB.
In particular:

• you will build and lead your own group with your own lines of research on AI and machine learning interacting with other scientists at SSB;
• you will set up collaborations and attract funding for PhD candidates and postdocs to support your research lines;
• you will contribute to the education activities of SSB: you will lecture in English taught MSc and BSc level courses, and you will have the opportunity of innovating courses when needed and setting up new courses, when possible, in collaboration with other group members; you will supervise BSc and MSc thesis projects that fit your expertise and research interests;
• you will take part in the organization and day-to-day management of the SSB group, and you will contribute academic services to Wageningen University & Research as a whole and to the broader scientific community.

This position offers the opportunity to develop an academic career in AI/Machine learning within a Systems and Life sciences. You will work on the Wageningen Campus in a group highly engaged in Systems science, education, and research. We offer an open, relaxed, and fun atmosphere, with great flexibility for what concern working conditions.

Tenure Track is a career path for scientists who pursue to excel in education and research. We seek to attract scientific talent and to stimulate and support their development.

Who are we?
We are a dynamic multidisciplinary group where physicists, mathematicians, (bio)chemists, biologists and microbiologists work together on a diverse portfolio of multidisciplinary projects, both theoretical and experimental, ranging from microbial metabolism and its regulation, microbe-microbe interaction, microbial-host interactions, design of microbial communities and systems health applications for both human and animals.

The group organizes and teaches courses in several study programmes, including a successful MSc programme in Bioinformatics & Systems Biology, and in various graduate school programmes and in national and international initiatives.

Currently the group consists of one full professor, 2 associate professors, 3assistant professors (Tenure-track), two lecturers, 3 technicians and 15 PhD students and BSc and Master students.

The group has its own computer cluster, and it is staffed with a data steward and a scientific programmer to support both routine and scientific activities. In addition, you will have access to FAIR data management infrastructures for omics datasets through the FAIR data platform in the UNLOCK infrastructure. Finally, we also have a fully equipped experimental molecular biology laboratory.

We believe that AI and Machine/Deep learning can be complemented with statistical and mathematical modelling to arrive at a systems level description and understanding of complex biological systems and problems. For this reason, we are looking for a new, dynamic and enthusiast colleague to join our computational team and to have fun while doing great science with us!

• you hold a PhD in AI, Physics, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer science, Engineering, and/or related disciplines;
• you have at least 2 years of (international) post-doctoral experience working on Artificial Intelligence and Machine learning;
• you have a proven publication record on methodological development (both theoretical and practical) in the field of AI and Machine learning in Systems biology and the green life sciences;
• you are interested in teaching data analysis, modelling, and algorithm/method development for the Life sciences. Experience in teaching activities and education innovation will be valued;
• you are fluent in English at C1 level. Given the multidisciplinary and very international environment we work in, we require excellent communication skills both verbal and written.

Are you interested in joining our team? We look forward to your application!
As a group we will support and help you when applying for new projects to attract funding.
As a lecturer you will have the opportunity of teaching in SSB courses like Introduction to Systems and Synthetic Biology, Advanced Systems Biology, Molecular Systems Biology, iBiosystems or Computational Biology and to contribute to PhD level courses.
If you do not yet have a University Teaching Qualification (UTQ), you will be supported in obtaining one and be encouraged to seize other opportunities to develop yourself further.

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;
• the option to accrue additional compensation / holiday hours by working more, up to 40 hours per week;
• 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 December bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will be offered a fixed-term, 7 year contract which, upon positive evaluation based on criteria elaborated in the University's Tenure Track policy, can lead to a permanent employment contract as professor. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 4.332,- and € 6.737,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 11 - 12).

Wageningen University & Research encourages internal advancement opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a unique position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the “Best University” in the Netherlands for the 19th consecutive time.

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.

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.

Wageningen University & Research

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 students and over 150,000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

The laboratory of Systems and Synthetic Biology (SSB).
The mission of the SSB group is to contribute to the elucidation of the mechanisms underlying basic cellular processes, evolution and interactions among cells, organisms, and their environment and to translate this knowledge into applications of biotechnological, medical and environmental interest. The approach is characterized by combining expertise on specific biological systems with extensive expertise in methods for data generation, integration, and modelling. A key strength is the combination of fundamental computational expertise in systems biology with a laboratory that allows extending findings and testing hypothesis in a synthetic biology setting. The group further applies this approach to a broad range of systems through collaboration with experts. These systems encompass viruses, bacteria, fungus, microalgae, bacterial communities, host-microbe and host-microbiome interactions, and animals and humans. Additional information on the laboratory can be found at https://www.systemsbiology.nl and at Laboratory of Systems and Synthetic Biology.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch this video to get an idea of our green campus!

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

For more information about this position, please contact Dr Edoardo Saccenti, Associate Professor, by e-mail: Edoardo.saccenti@wur.nl.

For more information about the procedure, please contact Rutger Voorrips, corporate recruiter, by email: rutger.voorrips@wur.nl.

Do you want to apply?
You can apply directly using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval.

This vacancy will be listed up to and including May 13th 2024. We expect a first round interview of selected candidates to take place at the end of May/Begin of June. A follow up interview will be organized with selected candidates in June.

Your application must include the following information.

• a detailed CV highlighting your education and work experience, including a list of publications. Please indicates months not just years of your experience. Highlight your 5 most relevant publications in the field of AI and machine learning;
• a motivation letter where you describe your research vision and the challenges that you would like to address when joining the SSB (max 2 A4 pages);
• a brief narrative (max 1 A4 page) with max three examples of your collaborative research and the role you played in it;
• the names and full contact of three academic references who can provide letters of recommendation.

Equal opportunities
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) employs a large number of people with very different backgrounds and qualities, who inspire and motivate each other. We want every talent to feel at home in our organisation and be offered the same career opportunities. We therefore especially welcome applications from people who are underrepresented at WUR. A good example of how WUR deals with inclusiveness can be read on the page working at WUR with a functional impairment.