Assistant Professor on the Land Use contributions to implementing the new Global Biodiversity Framework

The Faculty of Science of the Vrije Universiteit is creating 16 assistant/associate professor positions to strengthen its research and teaching in the fields of natural hazards and risks, climate change, water cycle, evolutionary adaptation, biodiversity, health and environment, carbon cycle and ecosystem services. These positions will support the expansion of the faculty’s capacity to intensify its research and teaching on sustainability. As part of this expansion, this position is advertised at the Institute for Environmental Studies.

 

Location: AMSTERDAM
FTE: 0.8 – 1

Job description

This Assistant Professor will develop a research line within the Environmental Geography department of the Institute for Environmental Studies on the role of land use change in biodiversity conservation. Specifically, the Assistant Professor will analyze and evaluate different ways of implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework of the Convention of Biological Diversity and analyze the benefits and tradeoffs of alternative pathways to implementation. This will include the assessment of biodiversity outcomes and alternative ways of fulfilling global targets by regional and more localized actions. The Assistant Professor will take a spatially explicit, geographic approach to analyzing biodiversity conservation in an integrated, interdisciplinary manner and will search for funding to conduct policy-relevant research with a small group of PhD-students and postdocs.

Your duties

• conduct research on assessing biodiversity impacts of changing land use and develop land use strategies towards biodiversity conservation

• teaching in general and more specialized environmental science courses as part of our teaching programmes 

• supervision of Masters and Bachelors theses

• work together with the department’s staff in the acquisition of external funds for PhD and postdoc projects

• (co-) publish scientific papers

Requirements

• PhD in ecology or a related discipline with a demonstrable expertise in applying state-of-the-art spatially explicit assessment methods

• strong track record in using quantitative methods for ecological or land use analysis at different spatial scales

• good writing skills

• experience in academic teaching (or willingness to acquire it)

• strong willingness to work in an interdisciplinary environment

• Since some of the teaching programs are only provided in Dutch, speaking Dutch or willingness to learn Dutch within a couple of years is required.

What are we offering?

A challenging position in a socially involved organization. On full-time basis the remuneration amounts to a minimum gross monthly salary of €3,974 (scale 11) and a maximum €6,181 (scale 12), depending on your education and experience. The job profile: is based on the university job ranking system and is vacant for at least 0.8 FTE.

We offer a tenure track position initially for the duration of five years.  After a successful evaluation at 18 months, permanent employment (tenure) will be granted. A career plan to grow to a higher position will be made and during the track performance will be evaluated.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers excellent fringe benefits and various schemes and regulations to promote a good work/life balance, such as:

• a maximum of 41 days of annual leave based on full-time employment
• help and assistance with relocation for international candidates, also they might be eligible for a tax reduction (30% ruling)
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• solid pension scheme (ABP)
• child daycare facilities available on campus
• good paid parental leave scheme

About Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

The ambition of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is clear: to contribute to a better world through outstanding education and ground-breaking research. We strive to be a university where personal development and commitment to society play a leading role. A university where people from different disciplines and backgrounds collaborate to achieve innovations and to generate new knowledge. Our teaching and research encompass the entire spectrum of academic endeavor – from the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences through to the life sciences and the medical sciences.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is home to more than 30,000 students. We employ over 5,500 individuals. The VU campus is easily accessible and located in the heart of Amsterdam’s Zuidas district, a truly inspiring environment for teaching and research.

Diversity
We are an inclusive university community. Diversity is one of our most important values. We believe that engaging in international activities and welcoming students and staff from a wide variety of backgrounds enhances the quality of our education and research. We are always looking for people who can enrich our world with their own unique perspectives and experiences.

The Faculty of Science
The Faculty of Science inspires researchers and students to find sustainable solutions for complex societal issues. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to medicines and from molecules to the moon: our teaching and research programmes cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. We share knowledge and experience with leading research institutes and industries, both here in the Netherlands and abroad.

Working at the Faculty of Science means working with students, PhD candidates and researchers, all with a clear focus on their field and a broad view of the world. We employ more than 1,250 staff members, and we are home to more than 11,000 students.

About the institute
IVM is a leading environmental research institute that is internationally recognized for its high quality research output in a range of environmental disciplines, as well as for its interdisciplinary work. The mission of the institute is to contribute to sustainable development and care for the environment through scientific research and teaching. IVM aims to do excellent problem-oriented research that is useful to a wide range of stakeholders in the Netherlands and internationally. A unique strength of our research is to understand sustainability problems in their social and economic context. IVM research community works within four departments: Environmental Economics; Environmental Policy Analysis; Environmental Geography; and Water and Climate Risk. IVM is part of the Faculty of Science at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (www.ivm.vu.nl). This position is based within the Environmental Geography department. The Environmental Geography department conducts interdisciplinary research on the spatial aspects of environmental and social challenges and the solutions sustainable land use can provide to these.

Application

Are you interested in this position? Please apply via the application button and upload your curriculum vitae and cover letter until

30/09/2022

. 

Applications received by e-mail will not be processed.

Vacancy questions
If you have any questions regarding this vacancy, you may contact:

Name: Peter Verburg
E-mail: peter.verburg@vu.nl

Relocation support
If you have any questions regarding moving to Amsterdam, and working at VU Amsterdam, you may contact:
Name: Sara Veldhorst
Position: Relocation Advisor
E-mail: relocations@vu.nl
Telephone:  +31 20 59 85037

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