Assistant Professor Environmental Geography and Land Use

Your function As part of the team of the Environmental Geography staff your research and teaching will use spatial data and modelling to explore alternative futures of land use at local, European and global scales. You will show policy makers and different stakeholder groups the potential of land use management to contribute to sustainable future development pathways. Your work is, focussed on the use of innovative spatial methods and models. Together with colleagues you teach students at Bsc and Msc level in spatial research methods and sustainability-related topics. At the PhD level, you supervise researchers working on land use science and spatial modelling. You write project proposals to fund PhD students and Postdocs that use a systems perspective, quantitative modelling tools and spatial research methods. You collaborate in research projects related to sustainability both inside and outside the department. Your duties:

• you develop innovative research using spatial analysis and modelling
• you teach in general and more specialized Environmental Science courses that are part of the institute’s teaching programmes
• you supervise Master's and Bachelor's theses
• you work together with the department's staff in the acquisition of external funds for PhD and postdoc projects
• you (co-) publish scientific papers and present your work to stakeholders

Your profile

• you have a PhD in geography, geographic information systems, spatial statistics, or a related discipline
• you have demonstrable experience with quantitative spatial research approaches and land use change analysis
• you have affinity with interdisciplinary methods
• you have experience in academic teaching
• you preferably have several years of postdoc experience, but have you obtained your PhD more recently and have a good fit with the position? Then we also welcome your application

We recognise that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. We would like to invite everyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not (fully) meet all the requirements. What do we offer? A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you: On a full-time basis the remuneration for the assistant professor level, the remuneration amounts to a minimum gross monthly salary of € 4.728 (scale 11.0) and a maximum € 6.433 (scale 11.11), depending on your education and experience. This is a career track position; the initial appointment will be for a period of 18 months, which will be turned into a tenured position after the initial period, if the performance indicators agreed at the start of the appointment are met.

Additionally, 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
• 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
• certain tax benefits (30% ruling) might apply to international candidates
• help and assistance with relocation (international candidates)

About us Institute for Environmental Studies
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. Faculty of Science
Researchers and students at VU Amsterdam’s Faculty of Science tackle fundamental and complex scientific problems to help pave the way for a sustainable and healthy future. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to malnutrition, and from molecules to the moon: we cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. Our teaching and research have a strong experimentally technical, computational and interdisciplinary nature. We work on new solutions guided by value-driven, interdisciplinary methodologies. We are committed to research, valorisation and training socially engaged citizens of the world who will make valuable contributions to a sustainable, healthy future. Are you interested in joining the Faculty of Science? You will join undergraduate students, PhD candidates and researchers at the biggest sciences faculty in the Netherlands. You will combine a professional focus with a broad view of the world. We are proud of our collegial working climate, characterised by committed staff, a pragmatic attitude and engagement in the larger whole. The faculty is home to over 11,000 students enrolled in 40 study programmes. It employs over 1,600 professionals spread across 10 academic departments. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely. - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research. Learn more about our codes of conduct We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility. Over 5,500 staff work at the VU and over 30,000 students attend academic education. Diversity
Diversity is the driving force of the VU. The VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding. We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services. Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community. Interested Are you interested in this position and do you believe that your experience will contribute to the further development of our university? In that case, we encourage you to submit your application. Please ensure your application includes: a) a CV listing at the end the names and contact details of two referees; b) a 1-2 page cover letter in which you write your vision on what your contribution to our department in terms of teaching and research might look like. Submitting a diploma and a reference check are part of the application process. However, at this stage of application you do not need to submit diplomas or reference letters. Applications received by email will not be processed. No agencies