Junior LECTURER Master’s Programmes Life Sciences (A-LIFE department)

The candidate must have completed a master’s program in Life Sciences and show a proven affinity and experience with education.

In addition, the candidate must:

• be fluent in English
• have strong oral and written communication skills
• possess good organizational skills
• be proactive and able to work independently, as well as in a team

As a university, we strive for equal opportunities for all, recognizing that diversity takes many forms. We believe that diversity in all its complexity is invaluable for the quality of our teaching, research, and service. We are always looking for talent with diverse backgrounds and experiences. This also means that we are committed to creating an inclusive community so that we can use diversity as an asset.

We realize that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise, and mindset. Therefore, we are happy to invite anyone who recognizes themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements.

A challenging position in a socially engaged organization. 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:

• a salary of € 3708 (10-1) in the first year and a maximum of € 4241 (10-4) gross per month in the fourth year, for full-time employment
• an appointment for 4 years and 2 months, including a period of probation of 2 months. The lecturer position is placed in the A-LIFE department
• further professional development in teaching with the Basic Teaching Qualification (BTQ/BKO) and through events in a programme specifically designed for junior lecturers 

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and arrangements. Some examples:

• A full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata.
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• contribution to commuting expenses
• solid pension scheme (ABP)
• a wide range of sports facilities which staff may use at a modest charge

Programme description

Modern society faces major challenges such as ensuring safe food production, combating antibiotic resistance, and developing new treatments for disease. The Master's program in Biomolecular Sciences prepares students to address these issues by building a strong foundation in molecular and cellular biology and training them to work critically with large-scale data. Students follow core courses in the first year, choose electives, and complete two substantial research internships - one experimental and the other either experimental or bioinformatics‑focused. Throughout the two years, students also receive training in academic skills and career preparation within an interdisciplinary Life Sciences environment.

A-LIFE
This position will be hosted in the department of the Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment (A-LIFE) in the Faculty of Science at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. 

A-LIFE aims to advance the fundamental understanding of the interplay between life and its environment through innovative and curiosity-driven science. The department seeks to connect properties and emergent behaviors from micro to global scales, from molecules to ecosystems, including human populations. We aim to inspire students and apply our expertise to shape a sustainable future and support healthy living. A-LIFE comprises a team of around 200 scientists, teachers, and support staff.

Faculty of Science
Working at the Faculty of Science means collaborating with students, lecturers, and researchers who are focused on their field yet have a broad view of the world. We are proud of a positive and inclusive workplace culture within the faculty, where we work together with great energy and a pragmatic attitude to tackle social challenges. At the Faculty of Science, scientists and students work on fundamental and complex societal issues for a sustainable, healthy, and just future.

From forest fires to big data, from obesity to malnutrition, from helium to the universe, and from genetics to medicine: our education and research cover the full breadth of science, from molecules to mankind. Our academic education and research are highly experimental, technical, and interdisciplinary in nature. That is why we collaborate extensively with leading scientific institutes and industry. The faculty has more than 8,000 students studying in one of the 39 programs and employs more than 1,400 staff across 10 scientific departments, making us one of the largest science faculties in the Netherlands.

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 the 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.

Diversity
Diversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. 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 to a broader understanding.

We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalization 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.