Asistant Professor in Developmental Toxicology

Do you like to teach students about embryology and the influence of life style and environmental factors on our health? Would you like to investigate how exposure to chemicals at young age can lead to disease later in life? Are you passionate about a career at the university? Apply then for this job at the department Environment and Health at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam!

Location: AMSTERDAM

FTE: 0.8

Job description

This tenure track position involves 50% teaching and 50% research. As teacher, you will coordinate and teach in courses within the Health and Life Sciences Bachelor program, such as Environment and Health and Human Life Cycle. You’ll be involved in (re)designing courses within this and other BSc/MSc programs for various life sciences programs within the Faculty of Science. We encourage that you continuously improve your courses, for example by implementing novel teaching methods.

As researcher, you will initiate and perform high-quality research, culminating in publications and grant acquisitions. You investigate toxicological mechanisms using cell-based models aimed to determine the effects of chemical exposures during early life stages. Your research should be closely connected to, strengthen or complement one of the research topics within the Environmental Health and Toxicology section of the department. You will supervise the research of postdoctoral researchers, PhD candidates, Master’s students, and Bachelor's students.

Requirements

• A PhD in the field of toxicology, (developmental) biology, biomedical sciences or a closely related field with a track record of internationally, peer-reviewed publications
• Knowledge of and experience with (toxicological) research, strong affinity with non-animal testing methods, cell culture operations and epigenetics
• Experience in writing research grant proposals, preferably substantiated with successful acquisition of external funds
• A basic qualification in teaching for Dutch universities (‘BKO’), or be willing to acquire this qualification after appointment
• Should be comfortable with teaching in the Dutch language or be able to do so within reasonable time
• A well-expressed personal vision on teaching and research line
• A proven capacity to motivate and guide students at BSc/MSc/PhD level
• Excellent social skills, and be an excellent team builder and collaborator

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 €3,746 (scale 11)
and a maximum €5,127 (scale 11), 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 for the duration of 6 years. We will agree upon a set of performance indicators to be met within that period. Upon successful evaluation, you will be awarded a permanent employment in the position of Assistant Professor/Universitair Docent 1 (scale 12).

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

• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• solid pension scheme (ABP)
• contribution to commuting expenses
• optional model for designing a personalized benefits package
• good growth opportunities

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 endeavour – 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 26,000 students. We employ over 4,600 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 around 6,000 students.

The Department of Environment and Health
The Department of Environment and Health aims to understand the environmental and human health risks of chemicals. We use this knowledge to do innovative research and provide state-of-the-art education, but also to inform society about potential health risks. The department is a unique combination of chemists, toxicologists and epidemiologists. Within the Department, the Environmental Health and Toxicology section has a keen focus on the developmental origin of health and disease. We aim to understand disease from a toxicological (mechanistic) perspective, as well as from an epidemiological viewpoint. To characterize the toxicity of known and unknown chemicals, we develop test methods for example focused on thyroid and steroid hormones, developmental neurotoxicity and reproduction. We strive to do this without the use of experimental animals.

Application

Are you interested in this position? Please apply via the application button and upload your curriculum vitae and cover letter until February 25, 2021.

Applications received by e-mail will not be processed.

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

Name: Prof.dr. Majorie van Duursen
E-mail: m.van.duursen@vu.nl
Telephone: +31 (0)20 5986621

No agencies