Assistant Professor or Lecturer in the Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group

Are you a talented and passionate researcher and lecturer in hydrology, environmental hydraulics, or a related field? Do you have a strong desire to contribute to cutting-edge advancements in water research focussed on catchments and deltas? Then we may have the perfect opportunity for you!

The Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group (HWM) at Wageningen University and Research is looking for an inspiring academic to complement our research and teaching as an Assistant Professor or Lecturer in the domain of technical earth sciences. Specifically, we seek someone to strengthen our team with expertise on both geophysical fluid mechanics and earth sciences. Teaching the future generations of hydrologists, hydraulic engineers and landscape architects is an essential part of this job.

We can fill this position as either assistant professor or lecturer, depending on your skills and ambitions. Both options allow you to grow to more senior functions within the academic career framework. The promotion is based on an evaluation of research, teaching and project acquisition, but more subjective contributions (such as outreach and service to the university or scientific community) are also recognized and rewarded. If you aim for an assistant professor position, your time would roughly be divided between research (~30%), education (~30%), project acquisition (~30%) and services (~10%). If you aim for a lecturer, the emphasis is more on education (~60-70%). The exact division of tasks will be determined together with the group, taking your preferences into account.

Specifically, you will:

• teach, organise, and innovate courses in the BSc program “Soil, Water, Atmosphere”, the MSc program “Earth and Environment” and other BSc and MSc programs within the domain of environmental sciences, such as “Landscape Architecture and Planning”;
• develop and supervise both field-based education (excursions and field practicals) on landscape hydrology and campus education (lectures, tutorials, computer practicals) on geophysical fluid mechanics;
• supervise BSc students, MSc students, PhD and postdocs (for assistant professor; optional for lecturer);
• perform research actively: write scientific publications, present at conferences and peer review;
• acquire research projects: build consortia to apply for funding from EU or Dutch government, or write proposals for personal grants (for assistant professor);
• reach out, for example through collaborations with water authorities and engineering firms;
• contribute to the group, university or scientific community.

For your research and teaching you will have access to world-class experimental facilities and instruments, including our laboratory for water and sediment dynamics, a soil hydrophysics laboratory, field equipment (such as ADCP, DTS, ERT) and high-performance computers. To support you as a teacher, you will join the Learning and Teaching in Higher Education Program that is adopted by all universities in the Netherlands.

Requirements:

You have:

• PhD in hydrology, environmental hydraulics or a related field;
• dedication and commitment to contribute to and improve courses;
• ability to explain a variety of hydrologic and hydraulic concepts to students with different backgrounds;
• track record of peer-reviewed journal papers;
• network of research partners in academia, government and industry;
• skills to acquire research funding (preferably successful project or grant proposals) (for assistant professor);
• experience with academic teaching and the ambition to develop and teach courses;
• experience with supervising students or PhD researchers;
• energetic and pro-active mindset (someone who is not afraid to take initiative);
• ability to work both as a team player and independently;
• excellent oral and written communication skills in English;
• background in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math);
• vision on current research opportunities (for assistant professor);
• vision on teaching (for lecturer and assistant professor).

You will work here
We are the Hydrology and Environmental Hydraulics Group (HWM), a dynamic and committed team of 14 academics, 5 support staff, 3 postdocs and 29 PhD researchers. Our focus is on hydrology and environmental hydraulics, which we combine to understand and quantify hydrological processes in catchments, aquifers, rivers and deltas. We develop novel sensing techniques, create models and perform field and lab experiments to advance process understanding. Furthermore, theoretical developments are tested in a fully equipped water and sediment dynamics laboratory, a soil hydrophysics laboratory, as well as in the field. This supports water managers in predicting the effects of changes in climate, land use or water management, designing nature-based solutions or forecasting hydrologic extremes.

Teaching and research at HWM are closely intertwined. Our teaching is rooted in earth and environmental sciences, with connections to engineering. We use active teaching methods such that students obtain a fundamental understanding and appreciation of the hydrologic system, its component processes and its interactions with atmosphere, soil and biosphere. Students develop analytical, field, laboratory and computer skills, which we practice in the classroom, hands-on tutorials, practicals and student projects.

Salary Benefits:

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• the option to accrue additional compensation / holiday hours by working more, up to 40 hours per week;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed December bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will be offered a fixed-term, 7 year contract as an Assistant Professor which, upon positive evaluation based on criteria elaborated in the University's Tenure Track policy, can lead to a permanent employment contract as professor. In case of a Lecturer, initially we offer you a one-year contract which will then be extended to an open-ended contract if there is mutual enthusiasm.

Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between €4.492 and € 6.148 for a full-time working week of 38 hours in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 11). The position has a size of 0.8-1.0 fte (30-38 hours per week).

Wageningen University & Research encourages internal advancement opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a unique position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in The Netherlands, and at a university that has been chosen as the “Best University” in the Netherlands for the 19th consecutive time.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees.

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.
Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. We can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

38 hours per week

Droevendaalsesteeg