Your job
Are you passionate about research and teaching in a transdisciplinary setting? Are you looking for an opportunity to contribute to the spatial challenges of the future, both in the Netherlands and on a global scale? Then we may have the perfect opportunity for you!
The Cultural Geography Group, embedded within the Environmental Sciences Group at WUR, is looking for an ambitious and enthusiastic Associate or personal/full professor of geography who enjoys collaboration, shows enthusiasm for crossing disciplinary boundaries and is passionate about research and teaching in a transdisciplinary setting.
The GEO group is keen to further their research within the group with focus on spatial challenges of the future engaging with the Netherlands in a global context. The position is meant to complement GEO with a physical geography or environmental sciences perspective engaging with the group’s faculty and researchers furthering new inter- and transdisciplinary collaborations.
The research focus of the GEO group is on spatial theory in all its spatial articulations. The group advances creative, critical-constructive scholarship through exploring the entangled ecological and social challenges facing all life on earth. In researching space, place and culture and through engaging with current, historic and future dynamics of socio-ecological assemblages in a variety of places across the globe, the group pays special attention to questions of inequality, exclusion, mobility, and plurality. Thereby the group translates knowledge into practical action in four closely related fields of application. These are: health & care, tourism, nature, and landscape. We apply our knowledge and methodologies in a variety of interdisciplinary educational tracks for empowerment, meaning, hope, reflection and (collective) action in uncertain times.
Researchers with GEO engage with the spatially- and culturally-situated character of many of Wageningen University and Research’s core themes: environment, development, and well-being. In relation to these themes, we experiment with new methodologies, new forms of societal engagement and the making of new public collectives. Interdisciplinarity is appreciated while we seek radical transdisciplinary collaborations within and beyond academia. GEO comprises scholars with backgrounds in geography, sociology, anthropology, archaeology, social psychology, gender studies, political ecology and science and technology studies. We are international in terms of staff, student composition, research foci and publication record, with our empirical work taking us to the polar regions, East, West and Southern Africa; South America; Central, West and South-East Asia; Western and South-Eastern Europe and, of course, the Netherlands.
It is embedded within the WUR Tenure Track system, which is a career path for scientists who excel in education and research. We seek to attract talented scientists and to stimulate and support their development.
Your qualities
We are seeking candidates with:
- a PhD in geography and/or relevant science discipline or interdisciplinary field with a focus on socio-ecological dynamics
- affinity and experience with inter and transdisciplinary research and teaching in a domain relevant to Wageningen University;
- a strong publication record relative to their stage of career and the position applied for;
- a proven capacity to acquire, lead and manage externally-funded research projects relative to their stage of career and the position applied for;
- a broad understanding and appreciation of different theoretical and methodological traditions and research techniques used in our field of study;
- strong methodological skills in bringing together social and environmental sciences;
- the ability to creatively link theory with practice;
- good didactic qualities and enthusiasm for teaching and supervising students in an international setting;
- a collaborative orientation and good management skills;
- an inspiring vision for future research and teaching for the coming years, that fits well in the overall GEO vision and ethos.
- Excellent English communication and writing skills (a minimum of CEFR C2 level). For more information about this proficiency level, please visit our special language page;
GEO works to develop and sustain an inclusive academic culture in which people and ideas can flourish. We welcome applications from everyone meeting our criteria, particularly women, ethnic minorities and candidates from the Global South.
This position is funded through the government initiated sector plan of Earth and Environmental Sciences (AMW) focused on ‘spatial issues’ (see here for Dutch details and here for an English summary).
We offer you
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 reduced fee;
- a fixed December bonus of 8.3%;
- excellent pension scheme.
In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary between € 5.506 and € 8.881,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 13-14 (associate professor) or H2 (personal professor)). An appointment of 0.8 FTE is also possible.
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 18th consecutive time.
Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) is the university and research centre for life sciences in the Netherlands. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen. Therefore, WUR has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees. Applicants from abroad moving to the Netherlands may qualify for a special tax relief, known as the 30% ruling.
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. Wageningen University & Research’s International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees and students coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, we can assist you with any additional advice and information about helping your partner find a job, housing, schooling, and other issues.
Do you want more information?
For more information about the vacancy, please contact Prof. dr. Edward H. Huijbens by e-mail: edward.huijbens@wur.nl;
For more information about the procedure, please contact Noorien Abbas, Corporate Recruiter, by e-mail: noorien.abbas@wur.nl
Do you want to apply?
You can apply directly using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval. We also would like you to upload a 600 word statement, which outlines research plans/proposals and vision for education to be developed in the next 6 years.
This vacancy will be listed up to and including 4 September, 2023. The first job interviews will take place in the last two weeks of September 2023.
Equal opportunities
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) employs a large number of people with very different backgrounds and qualities, who inspire and motivate each other. We want every talent to feel at home in our organisation and be offered the same career opportunities. We therefore especially welcome applications from people who are underrepresented at WUR. For more information please go to our inclusivity page. A good example of how WUR deals with inclusiveness can be read on the page working at WUR with a functional impairment.
We are
Wageningen University & Research
The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,200 employees (6,400 fte) and 13,200 students and over 150,000 participants in WUR’s Life-Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.
Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch this video to get an idea of our green campus!https://www.youtube.com/embed/ApLORCXXhm4?enablejsapi=1&origin=https://www.wur.nl
We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.