Assistant Professor Geo-Environmental Data Science

Utrecht University

Utrecht, Netherlands 🇳🇱

Are you a researcher in statistics, AI, or machine learning and are you eager to apply these methods to solve problems in geosciences, geography, and related fields? We welcome you to apply for a position at the Department of Physical Geography at Utrecht University (DPG-UU) in the Netherlands.

DPG-UU aims to further strengthen the research and teaching profile in Geo-Environmental Data Science. This position plays a crucial role in that effort. DPG-UU is looking for a spatial data scientist with expertise in spatio-temporal statistics, machine learning, AI, applied mathematics, or a related domain. As a spatial data scientist you will develop your own research line by innovating these methods and application in physical geography (e.g., hydrology, natural hazards, eco-geomorphology) and/or planetary health research. You can build on modelling and software engineering expertise available in the DPG-UU Computational Geography group.

In this position you will seek active cooperation with other DPG-UU groups to stimulate application of data science techniques in the entire department. You will also develop and be involved in funding applications from national and European science agencies, and will be uniquely positioned to teach course units in spatio-temporal statistics, machine learning, and/or geographical information science, at Bachelor’s or Master’s level. You will also supervise individual Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD projects.

Profiel

We believe in a balance between individual and collective achievements. We evaluate both individual and team performances as a result. We stimulate inclusive leadership.

We welcome colleagues who recognize themselves in the above values and meet the following requirements:

  • You have a PhD degree in statistics, machine learning, AI, applied mathematics, computational geography, or related fields.
  • You have proven knowledge and a scientific track record supported with peer-reviewed publications in the field of geo-environmental data science.
  • You want to collaborate with researchers from geography/geosciences as well as research software engineers to enable state-of-the art computation.
  • You have proven experience in academic teaching and eagerness to use insights from your own research in courses in our BSc and MSc program.
  • You have a clear teaching and research vision to complement ours.
  • You are eager to set up your own distinct research line in the field.
  • You want to improve or develop skills to successfully acquire funded research projects.
  • You support our vision of successful and impactful research being a team effort.
  • You have excellent oral communication and writing skills.

If you don’t meet all the requirements, but you are convinced that you would be a good fit for this position we warmly invite you to apply.

Aanbod

We offer a position (0.8 – 1.0 FTE) for a probationary period of 18 months. Permanent employment will be offered based upon good performance, according to the Faculty’s performance indicators. You will receive guidance for both your research and teaching tasks. The Faculty of Geosciences has an excellent merit-based career and promotion policy. As part thereof, career development up to Associate Professor (level 2) is possible without a so called ‘formation principle’, yet based on performance.

The gross monthly starting salary – depending on qualifications and experience – ranges between €3,821 and €5,230 (scale 11 of the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities) for a full-time employment. The salary is supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3% per year.

In addition, Utrecht University offers excellent secondary conditions, including an attractive retirement scheme, (partly paid) parental leave and flexible employment conditions (multiple choice model). For more information, please visit working at Utrecht University.

We will provide you with excellent support to help you with funding applications, optional courses to strengthen your professional skills and a collegial environment to support your personal development. For more information, please visit Earth Science and Physical Geography at the Faculty of Geosciences and DPG-UU Computational Geography.

Over de organisatie

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 societal themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Sustainability.

Utrecht University’s Faculty of Geosciences studies the Earth: from the Earth’s core to its surface, including man’s spatial and material utilisation of the Earth – always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organised in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development.

The Department of Physical Geography is one of the largest of its kind in the world and has received multiple excellent evaluations over the last years. The Department has a strong and unique profile in research on natural hazards, land surface processes and (bio)morphology, hydrology, mountain hydrology, coast and river processes, spatio-dynamic modelling, earth observation and image processing. We look forward to your contributions to our team.

Aanvullende informatie

For more information about this position, please contact Prof. Dr. Derek Karssenberg (Professor of Computational Geography), via d.karssenberg@uu.nl.

You are also invited to join our online information session via Microsoft Teams on Tuesday 13 December 2022 at 15.30 CET.

Please send an email to Sophie Ketting, via s.j.ketting@uu.nl, if you want to participate in the meeting. The link to the Teams meeting will then be sent to you. 

You can ask us about our profiles, the offered position and the possibilities of professional development. For questions regarding your stay (housing, visa, schools, partner opportunities) you can contact our International Service Desk.

Solliciteren

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

To apply, please send your curriculum vitae, including a letter of motivation via the ‘apply’ button. In addition to your curriculum vitae and the motivation letter, we would like to receive the following information with your application in a separate file: 

  • Name & last name;
  • title of PhD thesis;
  • institute and year of PhD;
  • current position;
  • three key words of expertise;
  • (e-mail) addresses of two referees;
  • titles of your three most relevant publications + URL. 

The interviews will be held on 27 January or 1 February 2023.

Reageren uiterlijk

13/01/2023


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