Assistant Professor in Earth System and Climate Sciences (0.8 - 1.0 FTE)

Job description

The department of Earth Sciences at Utrecht University is looking for an earth system scientist to fill a position at the Assistant Professor level. The department’s mission is to advance our understanding and prediction capability of processes that govern the evolution of System Earth from molecular to planetary-scale and from the microsecond to the geological time scale. Our ambition is to be a world-leading center of excellence in scientific research as well as research training and teaching. As well as to contribute in a meaningful way to the challenges of a modern, sustainable society by acquiring new fundamental geoscientific knowledge and by directly addressing societal challenges related to the field of earth sciences.

Within the context of this mission and ambition, we seek an enthusiastic scientist, educator and communicator who can develop an internationally recognized research line in the field of Earth System and Climate Sciences. We are looking for a candidate interested in linking modern climate and/or carbon cycle research with paleoclimate and paleoceanography research. We particularly seek a colleague with expertise regarding simple to intermediate complexity models, with good knowledge of (paleo)climate records. For example, one focal point might be the role of long-term feedback on modern climate dynamics. You will contribute to (under-)graduate education programmes, notably in our Earth Sciences programme, by taking responsibility for leading some courses whilst working as part of a team on others. You will supervise Bachelor’s and Master’s degree thesis projects, as well as (your own) PhD students. On average, the department aims for similar contributions to educational activities and research for all its academic staff. You are committed to societal engagement and outreach activities focusing on creating impact.

Qualifications

You will strengthen education and research in the Department of Earth Sciences and complement research in other departments at Utrecht University (Physical Geography and Sustainable Development of Geosciences and Institute of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences from Science Faculty). You are an inspiring teacher to BSc, MSc and PhD students and have, or are willing to obtain in the near future, a basic teaching qualification. You are a strong team player with good communication and networking skills, who is focused on achieving multidisciplinary research targets and participating in the acquisition of funding for research projects and advanced new equipment. A minimum experience of two to three years as a postdoctoral researcher is highly recommended. (International) experience outside Utrecht University is an asset.

You should:

• have a PhD degree in a relevant field of the natural sciences;
• have a clear vision for education and a strong affinity with teaching;
• have an outstanding record of academic research, reflected in high-quality publications;
• have the ability to obtain competitive research grants;
• have strong communication, networking and organisational skills;
• have an eye for public outreach and are willing to contribute to media appearances and popular scientific articles.

Publication track record, teaching record, acquired research funds and leadership experience will be weighed against the number of years of academic experience, also considering (parental) leave and part-time appointments. You are expected to have a very good level of English, both spoken and written. We require a qualification English at C1 level (CEFR or comparable to level 3 of the Lecturer Assessment Grid) or to be prepared to obtain this level by training. For non-Dutch speaking candidates, Dutch language skills should be at the level of practical communication within about three years of the appointment.

In the selection process, we will be guided by the quality of the applicants, as well as the diversity of our staff population. Your vision on teaching, research vision and funding potential, as well as your connection to existing activities in the department, will specifically be considered by the evaluation committee. The profile of the department is rooted in the core disciplines of geochemistry, geology, geophysics, (marine) bio geosciences and hydrogeology. Within Utrecht University, we interact in research and teaching with physical geography, human geography, and environmental & sustainability sciences (sister departments in the Faculty of Geosciences), as well as with atmospheric & marine sciences, biology, mathematics, and chemistry/material sciences in the Faculty of Sciences. Among our key partners in marine geosciences is the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ).

Offer

We offer a position (0.8 - 1.0 FTE) as an Assistant Professor for a probationary period of 18 months. Permanent employment will be offered based upon good performance, according to the Faculty’s performance indicators, after 18 months. The Faculty of Geosciences has an excellent merit-based career and promotion policy. As part thereof, career development up to Associate Professor (level 2) is possible without a so called ‘formation principle’, yet based on performance. The gross monthly starting salary – depending on qualifications and experience - ranges between €3,974 and €5,439 (scale 11 of the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities) for a full-time employment.

Salaries are supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8,3% per year. In addition, you will have access to all equipment in our state-of-the-art laboratory infrastructure, coaching for teaching and supervision of researchers, and training and support regarding the acquisition of external funds. Utrecht University offers excellent secondary conditions, including an attractive retirement scheme (partly paid) parental leave and flexible employment conditions (multiple choice model). For more information, please visit working at Utrecht University. Facilities for childcare and sports are available on campus.

About the organization

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

Utrecht University's Faculty of Geosciences studies the Earth: from the Earth's core to its surface, including man's spatial and material utilisation of the Earth - with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the faculty is a strong and challenging organization. The Faculty of Geosciences is organized in four departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development.

The Department of Earth Sciences is the largest academic earth sciences institute in the Netherlands and among the larger ones in Europe. The department conducts education and research across the full range of the solid Earth and environmental Earth sciences, with activities in almost all areas of geology, geochemistry, geophysics, bio geosciences and hydrogeology. The department hosts an international tenured staff of over 45 scholars and more than 110 PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. Our research programme spans four intertwined themes: Climate & Life, Earth interior, Earth Materials, and Environmental Earth Sciences. The educational programmes in Earth Sciences are offered in a joint effort with our sister department of Physical Geography.

Utrecht’s Geolab houses a wide variety of analytical and experimental facilities, including well-equipped stable isotope and organic geochemical laboratories and the porous media lab. The micro-analytical facilities include, among others, a nano-SIMS, a laser-ablation ICP-MS system, electron microprobe, micro-XRF, AFM, Raman and IR spectroscopy instruments. The adjacent new Earth Simulation Lab houses our High Pressure & Temperature and Tectonics laboratories, as well as several microscope facilities. Moreover, the department also has a world-class Paleomagnetic laboratory, several flume facilities, as well as excellent High-Performance Computing facilities.

Additional information

For more information about this position, please contact Prof. dr. Jack Middelburg via j.b.m.middelburg@uu.nl.   

You are also invited to join our online information session via Microsoft Teams on:

• Monday 1 August between 15.30 - 17.00 CEST.
• Click here to join the meeting

You can ask us about our profiles and tasks of the offered position, the possibilities of professional development, and moving to and living in Utrecht (housing, visa, schools, partner opportunities). We look forward to meeting you!

The faculty of Geosciences at Utrecht University is creating six assistant professor positions to strengthen its research and educational programmes in the field of climate science, climate impact and climate adaptation. Interested in our other positions? Click here to see our brochure.

Apply

Everyone deserves to feel at home at our university. We welcome employees with a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives. To apply, please send your curriculum vitae, including a letter of motivation via the ‘apply’ button below.

Please, include a brief vision of/plans regarding your own research and teaching for the next 5 years (max. 3 A4). In addition, add the following information with your application in a Word file:

• name and last name;
• title, year and institute of PhD thesis;
• current position and name of the institute;
• the keyword of Expertise 1, Expertise 2 and Expertise 3;
• (e-mail) addresses of two referees;
• the titles and URLs of three most relevant publications.

In the second stage of the selection procedure, the short-listed candidates will be asked to defend their educational vision and research plans in an oral presentation and discussion with the committee. Presenting a short lecture to students and staff will also be included in the procedure. We intend to proceed with the selection procedures in Late Summer, early Autumn. We aim to fill the position by January 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter. (Note that international candidates that need a visa/work permit for the Netherlands require about four months of processing time after selection and acceptance).

The application deadline is 15/08/2022.