Group leader positions at ARCNL combined with faculty positions at VU Amsterdam

Onderzoeksgebouw VU

Amsterdam

0.8 / 1

Faculty of Science

Assistant Professor, Associate Professor

Postdoc

Closes on

31-10-2025

Publishing date

26-06-2025

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Department of Physics and Astronomy at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam together with ARCNL is seeking scientific group leaders. ARCNL group leaders will be appointed and employed in a leadership position as (assistant/associate/full) professor.

Your function

Together with the Advanced Research Center for Nanolithography (ARCNL), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is seeking scientific group leaders. ARCNL group leaders will be appointed and employed in a leadership position as (assistant/associate/full) professor at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam..

ARCNL is a public-private partnership between Dutch universities and the Dutch Research Council (NWO-I) as public parties and ASML as private partner and is a national research center within NWO-I. The institute focusses on fundamental physics and materials research inspired by challenges of the world-leading semiconductor equipment manufacturer ASML. ARCNL has at this moment three departments: Materials, (EUV) Source, and Metrology and has about 100 employees in total.

ARCNL is looking for two group leaders with either experimental or modelling/theoretical focus. Candidates are encouraged to contact ARCNL Director or Departments contacts (below) for a discussion on potential research programs optimizing a connection with the present ARCNL research portfolio and ASML’s long term roadmap challenges. Your research will be the scientific backbone for continued developments in advanced nanolithography technology. Since ASML’s mission is integral to ARCNL’s, a visit to their headquarters in Veldhoven and introduction to the company is part of the hiring process.

ARCNL expects concrete research expertise but is flexible about the specific area. The ideal candidate is an energetic, productive, and flexible researcher who recognizes the strength of public-private partnership research and who will embrace in-house collaborations and infrastructure to produce highly visible science and proof-of-principle results.

Your group has access to all facilities at ARCNL with possible access to ASML. Local and national computational resources are on-site at the Amsterdam Science Park. ARCNL shares infrastructure and support with our neighboring institute AMOLF, including clean room facilities (NanoLab). Your research benefits from connections within the physics/chemistry/materials departments of the University of Amsterdam, the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, or the Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials in Groningen and AMOLF, and such collaborations are encouraged.

We believe that diversity is invaluable for the quality of our organization. We are always looking for talent with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We invite anyone who recognizes themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all requirements. We stimulate an atmosphere of curiosity, creativity, and care for our junior researchers.

We offer an attractive onboarding and support package, including a competitive start-up package, budget for two junior researchers and access to state-of-the-art facilities. Technical support will be provided by dedicated group technicians and by support departments (electronics, software and mechanical).

Your profile

You have a strong academic track record, are communicative and recognize the strength of collaborations and combining multiple disciplines. You understand the challenges that span research from discovery to application. You are flexible and adaptive with respect to the mission of ARCNL.

As a group leader, you will:

Initiate a novel research program, aligned with the long-term challenges of ASML Research and the ARCNL science program.
Establish and maintain an active collaboration with ASML Research.
Collaborate actively with the other ARCNL research groups
Direct your own group members and supervise the projects within your group.
Be responsible for the budget, planning, and the quality of the projects in the group.
Publish your work in leading international journals.
Present the work at conferences and research institutes in the Netherlands and abroad.
Develop and maintain external relations, both nationally and internationally.
Acquire national and international external funding.
Be an active member of the faculty staff of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU).
Contribute to the teaching programs of the VU.

We invite you to apply if you have the following qualifications:

PhD in physics, chemistry, materials science, or related discipline.
Working experience and a scientific track record in atomic, molecular, plasma, or instrumental physics, materials sciences, (physical) chemistry
Enthusiasm to teach at university level and demonstrable didactic abilities.
Experience with the supervision of BSc, MSc, and/or PhD students.
Ability to attract external funding.
Excellent communication and social skills.
Excellent command of English and willingness to learn the Dutch language.
Experience and affinity with collaborations between industry and academia forms an advantage.

What do we offer?

Start dates are negotiable. The positions will be filled at the level of Assistant or Associate Professor, depending on qualifications. For exceptionally experienced and qualified candidates, appointment starting as Full Professor could be considered.

The starting salary will be in accordance with university regulations for academic personnel and depending on experience and qualifications (irrespective of the embedding university). It will range from a minimum of € 4,537 gross per month up to a maximum of € 7,056 gross per month (Assistant Professor, salary scale 11-12) or € 6,286 gross per month up to a maximum of € 8,405 gross per month (Associate Professor, salary scale 13-14), based on full-time employment. This is excluding 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Universities of the Netherlands is applicable.

Are you curious to read more about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits, then please look here (for VU).

About us

About ARCNL

The Advanced Research Center for Nanolithography (ARCNL) focuses on the fundamental physics and chemistry involved in current and future key technologies in nanolithography, primarily for the semiconductor industry. ARCNL is a public-private partnership between the Dutch Research Council (NWO), the University of Amsterdam (UvA), the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU), the University of Groningen (UG) and the semiconductor equipment manufacturer ASML, and consists of approximately 100 scientists and support staff. Within ARCNL, the universities are the employers for the senior research staff. For more information, visit www.arcnl.nl.

About the University department

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is one of ten research departments of the VU’s Faculty of Science. It has six research groups and provides education to 700 students and offers an active and engaged intellectual community. Research is focused on four themes: (i) high-energy and gravitational physics, (ii) quantum metrology and laser applications, (iii) physics of life and health, and (iv) physics of photosynthesis and energy.

About 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.

About 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 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.

Interested

More information?

For further information about the positions, please contact:

Director:Dr. Wim van der Zande ([email protected]), +31-(0)622466186

For specific information on the research programs of the departments contact:

Source:Prof. Dr. Oscar Versolato ([email protected]);
Materials: Dr. Roland Bliem ([email protected]) or Dr. Emilia Olsson ([email protected])
Metrology: Dr. Peter Kraus([email protected] or Dr. Lyuba Amitonova ([email protected])

Application

WE ARE COLLECTING APPLICATIONS THROUGH THE APPLICATION FORM AT ARCNL VIA THIS LINK. PLEASE APPLY THROUGH THAT FORM AND DO NOT USE THE 'APPLY NOW' BUTTON ON THIS PAGE.

When applying, please submit pdf files containing:

A motivation letter, including why the special position ARCNL takes up as a connector between academic scientific research and advancing technology in an industrial setting sparks your interest;
a research statement (maximum 6 pages);
a resume;
list of publications;
names and contact details of 3 references.

A knowledge security check can be part of the selection procedure. (For details: see the National knowledge security guidelines).

The position remains open until filled. Processing of candidates happens in order of arrival of the applications.
Online screening may be part of the selection.
Commercial activities in response to this ad are not appreciated.

Diversity code ACRNL

ARCNL is highly committed to an inclusive and diverse work environment: we want to develop talent and creativity by bringing together people from different backgrounds and cultures. We recruit and select based on competencies and talents. We strongly encourage anyone with the right qualifications to apply for the vacancy, regardless of age, gender, origin, sexual orientation or physical ability.

Diversity code VU
Diversity is the driving force of Vrije Universiteit. 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.