Job description
We are looking for two early-career academics who are interested in starting a tenure-track that focuses on education.
The two positions are opened to teach mathematics to non-maths students (in science and engineering) as well as to conduct research in mathematics or applied mathematics. Excellence in teaching and a strong commitment to interdisciplinary teaching are expected. One position focusses on mathematics for Computing Science, Artificial Intelligence, Industrial Engineering & Management and Physics, the other position focusses on mathematics for Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Life Science & Technology, Biomedical Engineering and Pharmacy. Over time, candidates are expected to be able to teach mathematics in any Bachelor’s programme of the Faculty for Science and Engineering (FSE).
At the stage of Assistant Professor 60% of your time is for teaching and education development. The teaching duties will normally consist of one course (5 ECTS) each quarter as well as supervising BSc and MSc student research projects. Innovation of interdisciplinary mathematics education is an essential part of the tasks. This includes improving students’ conceptual and contextual understanding of mathematics as well as promoting student engagement and learning. We are searching for candidates who want to develop into educational leaders. We welcome applications in all areas of mathematics and applied mathematics that tie in with the existing research groups (see Organization). You can develop your own research line and/or contribute to existing research lines. Research duties include publishing in leading journals, (co-)supervising of PhD-students, maintaining and/or developing research collaborations and (co-)writing grant proposals.
As Assistant Professor with an education profile you will:
- teach mathematics (particularly calculus, linear algebra, statistics, numerical mathematics) in degree programmes in science and engineering
- play a significant role in the development of interdisciplinary mathematics education at the Faculty of Science and Engineering, both at the course and the programme level
- develop your own research line and/or contribute to research lines of the mathematics-oriented research groups in the Bernoulli Institute
- contribute to the supervision of PhD students
- contribute to the organization of the faculty, for example by participating in working groups and committees, especially in the domain of education.
The University of Groningen is a research university with a global outlook, deeply rooted in Groningen, City of Talent. Quality has been our top priority for over four hundred years, and with success: the University is currently in or around the top 100 on several influential ranking lists.
The Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) is the largest faculty within the University. We offer first-rate education and research in a wide range of science and engineering disciplines, from classical disciplines such as mathematics, physics, astronomy and mechanical engineering, to interdisciplinary fields such as artificial intelligence, life science and nanoscience. Our community has an open and informal character with students and staff from around the world.
The Bernoulli Institute (BI) for Mathematics, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence is a vibrant community with an international outlook, which fosters talent in all its research areas and disciplines and is active in pure and applied science, and (multi)disciplinary research and teaching. BI strives at maintaining a balanced mix of fundamental and applied research. It comprises 15 basic research units, of which 5 are mathematics oriented. The five mathematics-oriented basic units are: 1. Algebra, 2. Computational & Numerical Mathematics, 3. Dynamical Systems, Geometry & Mathematical Physics, 4. Probability & Statistics, and 5. Systems, Control & Optimization. The position will be embedded in one of these five basic units, depending on the actual research profile of the selected candidate. We aim for an equal distribution of assistant professors with an education profile over the mathematics-oriented base units. Considering the current distribution, candidates for basic units 2, 4 and 5 are given preference if candidates have equivalent qualities. Candidates are expected to keep an open eye for research connections to other groups within BI. More information about BI can be found on our website https://www.rug.nl/research/bernoulli/
Qualifications
We offer you the opportunity to start a career path that focuses on education and to become an educational leader in time. We encourage you to apply if you have:
- a passion for teaching and education development
- demonstrably excellent teaching qualities
- a PhD degree in mathematics or a related field
- a good track record in research, as shown by publications in international peer-reviewed journals and proceedings of renowned conferences
- at least 2 years of relevant work experience after your PhD (at the time of appointment)
- demonstrable organizational competences
- good command of spoken and written English.
And you are:
- willing to obtain a University Teaching Qualification (Dutch: BKO) within three years and a Senior Teaching Qualification (Dutch: SKO) within five years
- able to work well in an international, culturally diverse, environment
- a team player with good communication skills who is able to inspire students and colleagues
- able to speak the Dutch language or motivated to speak it within five years (B1 level).
Organisation
Conditions of employment
We offer you in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities:
- a salary, depending on qualifications and work experience, from € 3,974 up to a maximum of € 5,439 gross per month (salary scale 11, depending on your career stage) for a full-time position
- a starting package of €40,000 to travel, organize workshops, etc., as well as access to additional resources for education development projects
- holiday allowance and end-of-year bonus of respectively 8% and 8.3% of your yearly salary
- a pension scheme
- maternity and parental leave
- the possibility to work part-time (0.9 or 0.8 FTE)
- a personal development trajectory and a mentor program
- dual career support for partners of new faculty members moving to Groningen
- a full-time (1.0 FTE) tenure track position as Assistant Professor.
In case of a full-time contract, you will initially be appointed for 6 years and your performance will be assessed after 1-3 years. This moment may be extended with at most one year in case of a life event (e.g. prolonged illness or maternity leave). If your assessment is positive, you will get a tenured appointment as Assistant Professor 1. The continuation of the career path after the level of Assistant Professor includes the possibility of applying for promotion to the position of Associate Professor and thereafter Full Professor. The criteria for promotion are described in Career Paths in Science and Engineering. As the focus domain of the position is education, the criteria of the career path with a focus on education apply. Details can be found via the link: https://www.rug.nl/(…)ienceandengineering/
Consider our website for more information about the working conditions at the University of Groningen: https://www.rug.nl/(…)with-us/that-is-why/
Application
We invite you to submit a complete application including:
- a cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position
- a curriculum vitae, including a description of your teaching experience, a list of your publications and a list with names of references
- a statement of your vision on teaching, in particular pertaining to developments in your field, and what you would like to accomplish in our degree programmes
- a description of your scientific interest and plans
You can submit your application until 27 August 11:59 pm / before 28 August 2023 Dutch local time (CEST) by means of the application form (click on ‘Apply’ below on the advertisement on the university website).
The selection interviews will most likely take place in the week of 11-15 September or 2-6 October 2023.
The University of Groningen strives to be a university in which students and staff are respected and feel at home, regardless of differences in background, experiences, perspectives, and identities. We believe that working on our core values of inclusion and equality are a joint responsibility and we are constructively working on creating a socially safe environment. Diversity among students and staff members enriches academic debate and contributes to the quality of our teaching and research. We therefore invite applicants from underrepresented groups in particular to apply. For more information, see also our diversity policy webpage: https://www.rug.nl/(…)rsity-and-inclusion/
Our selection procedure follows the guidelines of the Recruitment code (NVP): https://www.nvp-hrnetwerk.nl/nl/sollicitatiecode and European Commission’s European Code of Conduct for recruitment of researchers: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/charter/code
We provide career services for partners of new faculty members moving to Groningen.
Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated.
Information
For information you can contact:
- Prof. Roel Verstappen, Education Director Math, +31 50 3633958, r.w.c.p.verstappen@rug.nl
- Prof. Niels Taatgen, Director Bernoulli Institute, +31 50 3636435, n.a.taatgen@rug.nl
Please do not use the e-mail address(es) above for applications.