Utrecht University's Faculty of Geosciences offers education and research concerning the geosphere, biosphere, atmosphere and anthroposphere. With a population of 2,500 students (BSc and MSc) and 600 staff, the faculty is a strong and challenging organization. The faculty is organized in four departments: Earth Sciences, Physical Geography, Innovation, Environmental & Energy Sciences, and Human Geography & Urban & Regional Planning.
TThe Department of Earth Sciences conducts teaching and research across the full range of the solid Earth and environmental Earth sciences, with activities in almost all areas of geology, geochemistry, geophysics, biogeology and hydrogeology. The department hosts an international tenured staff of about 45 scientists and more than 100 PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. The research programs in Earth Sciences are structured in two main spheres of gravity: Dynamics of the Solid Earth and Climate and Environment.
The Department of Earth Sciences is currently looking for an:
Assistant Professor in Sedimentology
(0.8 - 1.0 fte)
Job description:
To strengthen research and teaching, the Department of Earth Sciences invites applications for an Assistant Professor in Sedimentology (0.8 - 1.0 fte). The successful candidate is expected to strengthen research and education at the department, to develop her/his own research program and to have a proven track record or strong potential for generating research funds. A minimum experience as a postdoctoral researcher for 2 to 3 years is highly recommended.
We are seeking a highly motivated scientist who will develop a strong research program in sedimentology, in a field that is complementarity to existing research activities (see Qualifications below). She/he will be responsible for supervising undergraduate and graduate students and is expected to contribute to BSc and MSc courses in the Utrecht Earth Sciences program. This includes teaching field courses abroad for varying periods.
On average, the department aims for an equal contribution in educational activities and in research for all its tenured academic staff. Basically, this means that tasks contribute (max.) 40% to teaching, 40% to research, 20% to other activities (management tasks, committee work, etc.).
Qualifications:
Our Climate and Environment research program focuses on the role of the surface environment and specifically aims to contribute to the prediction of environmental changes to the Earth's surface. One important aspect of the research lies in the reconstructions of the sedimentary record in terms of forcing mechanisms by studying processes that govern sediment transport and deposition.
The expertise of the candidate should be complementary to that of existing staff in the tectonics and paleoclimate groups, to that of the experimental sedimentology group at our Eurotank Flume facilities, and to that of the process-oriented sediment research groups of the department of Physical Geography.
This implies that the candidate should:
- have in-depth expertise regarding sedimentary deposits in the geological record (i.e. the longer time scales), in the context of basin evolution;
- have thorough, field-based knowledge of sedimentary structures and how to use these in reconstructing sedimentary processes and systems;
- be able to establish connections between the various scales, in space and time, at which sedimentary processes take place;
- be able to make use of modern techniques of data acquisition and quantitative analysis;
- have a strong drive to make a bridge between sediment-geological knowledge and societal needs.
Regarding teaching, we have specific expectations in order to ensure continuity in teaching sedimentary geology and sedimentology in the bachelor's and master's programs. The new assistant professor is expected to:
- take the lead in the sedimentary basin component of the field work for 2nd year students in the Pyrenees. This not only requires that he/she is an experienced field geologist/ sedimentologist, but also that he/she is capable of transferring this experience to students by means of high quality teaching in the field;
- be fully in charge of a 3rd year bachelor's course module;
- contribute to course modules in sedimentology in the 1st year of the bachelor's program and in the master's program;
- play a role as supervisor of bachelor's and master's thesis projects.
Candidates should:
- have a PhD degree in (sedimentary) geology;
- have an outstanding record of academic research, as reflected in high-quality publications;
- be able to work both in a team as well as independently;
- be committed to interdisciplinary research;
- have strong communication and organizational skills;
- be willing to actively obtain research grants;
- have obtained the Basic Teaching Qualification (at Utrecht University or equivalent) or is
- willing to obtain the qualification in the near future;
- be an inspiring lecturer for both BSc and MSc students.
Candidates are expected to have a good level of English, both spoken and written. Within two years of the appointment, Dutch language skills should be at the level of practical communication.
Terms of employment:
The successful candidate will be offered a full-time position as an assistant professor at Utrecht University at first for two years. Halfway through the second year an evaluation on continuation after two years will be made. After continuation, ultimately halfway through the fourth year an assessment will be made in which it is evaluated if the position will be converted to a tenured position or will end after four years.
Based on the experience and qualifications of the candidate, the gross monthly salary starts in the first year at a minimum of € 3,259.- (scale 11-0) and a maximum of € 5,070.- (scale 12-10). Employment conditions are based on the Collective Labour Agreement of the Dutch Universities. The salary is supplemented by a holiday allowance of 8% per year and a year-end bonus of 8.3%. We also offer a pension scheme, a contribution to commuting expenses and collective insurance schemes. Facilities for child care and sports are available on our campus.
Further details:
For informal enquiries, contact dr. Joris Eggenhuisen, j.t.eggenhuisen@uu.nl (assistant professor Experimental Sedimentology) or prof.dr. Cor Langereis, c.g.langereis@uu.nl (head of department and chairing the search committee).
You may also wish to visit http://www.uu.nl/geo/ivau for some general information about the department's research structure and programs .
How to apply:
Visit http://www.geo.uu.nl/vacancies, find the equivalent of this advertisement and fill in the application form. Please, attach your motivation for the position, a statement of your research and teaching interests, a curriculum vitae, and the names and contact addresses of at least two referees (with e-mail contact addresses). If possible, we would also like to receive evidence of your teaching evaluations.
Applications are accepted until the position is filled, but we prefer to receive your application before October 21, 2013. We seek to appoint as soon as possible thereafter.
