Assistant or Associate Professor in Electron Microscopy of Earth Materials

Assistant or Associate Professor in Electron Microscopy of Earth Materials

Utrecht University - Faculty of Geosciences

Utrecht, Netherlands

The Department of Earth Sciences is seeking a highly motivated and high potential electron microscopist who applies advanced microscopy and analysis techniques in earth material research, including mineralogy, petrology and/or structural geology. As our new colleague, you will strengthen research and education in Earth Sciences and develop your own internationally recognised research line that should be complementary to current team efforts and contribute to sustain existing infrastructure that is key to the long-term viability of this research line within the department.

Your job

We are active in the development and application of novel electron microscopy and related techniques in earth material research. You are expected to contribute to the further development and application of advanced techniques such as atomic-resolution transmission electron microscopy, ion and electron microscopy as well as microscopic X-ray tomography. Moreover, you should have an interest in big data analysis of in situ electron and X-ray tomography experiments and contribute to the university’s initiative in open (data) science. The position has become available through leave of existing staff and therefore the new hire will have an important role in making efficient use of the available equipment (the Electron Microscopy Centre and the Excite Network), rather than aim for additional equipment. In addition, the department has world class rock deformation and analytical facilities. The societal side of your work will preferably connect to our broad research theme of Sustainable use of the subsurface and/or Natural hazards. Besides developing your own line of research, it would be of advantage to be interested in facilitating transnational access to our state-of-the-art laboratories for which we collaborate in two European programmes.

You will play an essential role in education by inspiring students and developing innovative courses in the BSc and MSc programmes of the department of Earth Sciences, e.g., in mineralogy, petrology or structural geology (fieldwork), and in supervising graduation projects. On average, the Department of Earth Sciences targets at equal contributions to educational activities and research for all its tenured academic staff, resulting in (up to) 40% BSc/MSc teaching duties, 40% research, and 20% of other activities (management tasks, committee work, etc.). You will also contribute to the supervision of early career scientists such as PhD candidates and postdocs.

Your qualities

We are looking for 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. We welcome applicants for the level of:

• assistant professor, for which a minimum experience of two to three years as a postdoctoral researcher is highly recommended, as well as for the level of;
• associate professor (max. UHD level 2, see below).

The combination of demonstrated experience, interests and motivation will help us in making our final decision on the hiring level.

We seek a highly motivated candidate who holds a PhD degree in solid Earth Sciences or a relevant natural science. We encourage you to apply, if you:

• are skilled in advanced microscopy and (numerical) analysis methods of Earth materials;
• are interested in integration of observational and experimental approaches;
• have strong communication, networking and organisational skills;
• have relevant international experience and an outstanding record of academic research, as reflected in high-quality publications;
• are willing to actively obtain research grants and actively develop new research lines;
• have strong didactic skills, enjoy teaching, and are an inspiring mentor to BSc students, MSc students and PhD candidates;
• have obtained a university teaching qualification external link (at Utrecht University or equal), or are willing to obtain this qualification in the near future;
• it may be regarded as a benefit, if you are able to contribute to the field teaching programmes.

You are expected to have an excellent 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 two years of the appointment. Willingness to further develop this toward the ability of teaching in Dutch in the longer term is desired.

Your vision on teaching, research vision and funding potential will be considered by the committee.

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