Assistant Professor of Biology

At the division of Developmental Biology in the Department of Biology of Utrecht University, we are seeking an enthusiastic and ambitious scientist to strengthen our research and teaching activities. As an Assistant Professor position in Developmental Biology you will be given the opportunity to set up your own line of research and will participate in teaching at the Bachelor’s and Master’s level.

We would like your research to connect to and complement the current expertise in the division of Developmental Biology and the Biology department. We are particularly interested in candidates with strong expertise in developmental processes related to stem cell development, tissue growth and morphogenesis, differentiation, and genomics. We welcome candidates working with model organisms, disease (cancer) models, stem cells, organoids, or 3D culture.

You will be expected to seek external funding for new research projects and to supervise the research of Bachelor’s and Master’s students, PhD candidates, and postdoctoral fellows. The teaching includes general as well as specialized biology courses and establishing a new course will be stimulated. In addition to research and teaching, you will participate in outreach activities and committee work.

You, as our new colleague, will become part of the dynamic and inspiring Life Sciences community at the Utrecht University campus. Interaction with other groups in the Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity (IBB, see information below), the Department of Biology, the Faculty of Science, and beyond (Utrecht Medical Center, Hubrecht Institute) will be highly encouraged.

We would like to hear from you if you have the dedication and drive to build an independent research line as well as an intrinsic motivation to add your skills and ideas to our team. You also have:

• a PhD in Developmental Biology or a related field;
• experience in publishing impactful science;
• experience in acquiring external funding;
• demonstrable affinity for teaching. Experience with innovation in education is appreciated;
• expertise with high-end microscopy is recommended;
• excellent proficiency in English and willing to learn Dutch if applicable;
• a positive mindset: enthusiastic, highly motivated and a team player who thinks critically and creatively and is organized and efficient;
• the capacity to develop leadership skills.

• an appointment as Assistant Professor, starting with a fixed term contract. Following a positive evaluation after 18 months, this will be converted in a permanent contract;
• the opportunity and guidance to develop yourself both professionally and personally;
• a full-time gross salary – depending on previous qualifications and experience – ranging between €3,974 and €5,439 per month (scale 11 at the level of Assistant Professor (universitair docent; UD) according to the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities (CAO));
• 8% holiday bonus and 8.3% end-of-year bonus;

In addition, Utrecht University offers excellent secondary conditions, including an attractive retirement scheme, professional development, (partly paid) parental leave, sports and flexible employment conditions (multiple choice model). We also give you the opportunity to expand your terms of employment through the Employment Conditions Selection Model. This is how we encourage you to grow.

For more information, please visit working at Utrecht University.

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 towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

At the Faculty of Science, there are 6 departments to make a fundamental connection with: Biology, Chemistry, Information and Computing Sciences, Mathematics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Physics. Each of these is made up of distinct institutes that work together to focus on answering some of humanity’s most pressing problems. More fundamental still are the individual research groups – the building blocks of our ambitious scientific projects. Find out more about our faculty our social media channels.

The Department of Biology consists of 12 research divisions, which are organized within two institutes: the Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity (IBB) and the Institute of Environmental Biology (IEB). Research in the Developmental Biology division takes place in the Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity (IBB). We use a multidisciplinary strategy in multicellular model systems (C. elegans, zebrafish, and organoids) to acquire a deep fundamental understanding of the processes that determine development and health. Our international team uses technologies like CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing, systems biology, and high-end microscopy to achieve this goal. We collaborate closely with researchers in the division of Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Biophysics (CNB), as well as researchers in the Theoretical Biology & Bioinformatics and Genome biology & Epigenetics divisions.

The department of Biology coordinates the teaching of the Bachelor’s programme in Biology, as well as Master’s programmes and PhD courses that are offered through the Graduate School of Life Sciences. Each Institute promotes the maintenance of a high-quality and interactive research environment.

If you have any questions, please contact Professor Sander van den Heuvel (Head of Department) at s.j.l.vandenheuvel@uu.nl or Professor Mike Boxem (Professor in the division of Developmental Biology) at m.boxem@uu.nl.

Do you have a question about the application procedure? Please send an email to science.recruitment@uu.nl.

Are you an international applicant? Our International Service Desk can answer your questions about living in the Netherlands as international staff.

Everyone deserves to feel at home at our university. We welcome employees with a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives.

If you have become enthusiastic about this role, then simply respond via the "Apply now" button!

Please enclose:

• a letter of motivation;
• your curriculum vitae, including a publication list;
• a concise research plan (2-3 pages, please include how you envision the embedding of your research in the Developmental Biology division);
• a teaching statement (1 page);
• the names and email addresses of three references.

If this specific opportunity isn’t for you, but you know someone else who may be interested, please forward this vacancy to them.

*Note to recruitment agencies: Please refrain from contacting us regarding this job posting.

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