Tenure track Assistant Professor in Biological Chemistry (1.0 FTE)

In this tenure track position you will be encouraged to develop a cutting-edge research programme focused on applying chemical approaches to investigate biological and disease processes. Preferably you will develop a research programme dealing with synthetic biology such as the manipulation of the biosynthetic machinery of host organisms or cell free systems to produce therapeutic glycoproteins. Your interests may include examining the importance of post-translational modifications such as glycosylation for microbiology, microbiota, immunology, neurobiology, metabolomics, and tumor biology. You are intrinsically motivated to continuously develop your research programme and actively seek funding for new research projects through the suitable personal (Vidi, Vici, ERC), national, European and other international granting opportunities. In addition, you will contribute to the supervision of research projects of postdoctoral Researchers, PhD candidates and Master's students and you have the ambition to actively participate in the teaching activities at Bachelor's and Master's level.

We are looking for someone to complement our team, both on an academic and personal level, and who has:

• a PhD;
• at least two years of postdoctoral research experience and a strong track record in research accomplishments;
• the vision and ambition to build an independent research programme, and the ability to obtain extramural research funding;
• affinity and enthusiasm for academic teaching, and the potential to coach and guide PhD and other students;
• obtained or is willing to obtain the Basic Teaching Qualification;
• excellent English language proficiency. We require a qualification English at C1 level (CEFR or comparable to level 3 of the lecturer Assessment Grid) or you are prepared to obtain this level by training.

Our department is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity and the diversity of its workforce, and we strongly welcome women to apply.

• a tenure track position for 5 years which will be subject to a mid-term evaluation after approximately 2.5 years and an end-term evaluation. When evaluations are positive, the position becomes permanent after 5 years. The appointment is at Assistant Professor level (“universitair docent”);
• a full-time gross salary ranging from €3,637 to €5,656 in scale 11-12;
• benefits including 8% holiday bonus and 8.3% end-of-year bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave, and flexible employment conditions based on the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities.

In addition, Utrecht University has a number of its own arrangements. For example, there are agreements on professional development, leave arrangements and sports. We also give you the opportunity to expand your terms of employment yourself via the Employment Conditions Selection Model. This is how we like to encourage you to continue to grow.

More information about working at the Faculty of Science can be found here.

You will be part of the division of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery (CBDD) with 5 PI’s. We focus on the design, chemo- or biosynthesis of compounds with biological or (potential) medicinal applications and interactions with their receptors. Insights thus obtained could lead to new bio-active compounds, new approaches for the treatment of still incurable diseases and new approaches to unsatisfactory treatments. We are interested in answering questions related to understanding as well as influencing peptide-protein, glycan-protein and protein-protein interactions that underlie infection, immunological-  and neurological disorders and cancer. Glycans, glycoconjugates, peptides and peptidomimetics are synthesized and studied. The research programme is part of the Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS) and also the Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research.

At the Faculty of Science there are 6 departments to make a fundamental connection with: Biology, Chemistry, Information and Computing Sciences, Mathematics, Pharmaceutical Sciences and Physics. Each of these is made up of distinct institutes which work together to focus on answering some of humanity’s most pressing problems. More fundamental still are the individual research groups – the building blocks of our ambitious scientific projects.

Utrecht University is a friendly and ambitious university at the heart of an ancient city. We love to welcome new scientists to our city – a thriving cultural hub that is consistently rated as one of the world’s happiest cities. We are renowned for our innovative interdisciplinary research and our emphasis on inspirational research and excellent education. We are equally well-known for our familiar atmosphere and the can-do attitude of our people. This fundamental connection attracts Researchers, Professors and PhD candidates from all over the globe, making both the university and the Faculty of Science a vibrant international and wonderfully diverse community.

If you have any questions, please contact: 

• Professor Geert-Jan Boons via g.j.p.h.boons@uu.nl or
• Professor Roland Pieters (j.pieters@uu.nl).

Do you have a question about the application procedure? Please send an email to science.recruitment@uu.nl.

Everyone deserves to feel at home at our university. We welcome employees with a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives. If you have the expertise and the experience to excel in this role, then simply respond via the “Apply now” button!
Please enclose:

• your letter of motivation;
• your curriculum vitae;
• the names, telephone numbers, and email addresses of at least two references.

If this specific opportunity isn’t for you, but you know someone who may be interested, please forward the link to them.

Please note: Due to the current situation regarding the Corona virus (COVID-19) the process of selection and interviews is subject to change. Initial interviews will most likely be conducted online.

Some connections are fundamental – Be one of them