The Computational Soft Matter Lab (CSM), at the Faculty of Science of the University of Amsterdam (UvA), is seeking a new computational researcher for a tenure track Assistant professorship position.  The CSM Lab is a joint initiative of the Physics, Chemistry and Informatics institutes, and part of the larger ‘Soft Matter’ Research priority area, which encompasses world-leading groups on both experiments and theory/computation.

The field of soft condensed matter aims to design, understand and control materials that have particular properties that are 'soft' compared to traditional solid materials such as metals and semiconductors.  Examples are synthetic materials such as colloidal suspensions, emulsions, surfactants, liquid crystals, polymer networks etc., but also more biological materials such as protein aggregates, protein filaments and fibers, lipid membranes, vesicles etc. The extremely low elastic constants, and the sensitivity to thermal energy distinguish these materials from atomic solid materials. Soft matter is by definition a multidisciplinary field bringing together physicists, chemists, computational scientists, AI/machine learning and material scientists.  

Computational modelling and simulation have become a cornerstone of the soft matter field, complementary to experiments.  Not only have the more traditional simulation methods such as particle-based methods, molecular simulation, computational fluid dynamics, Lattice-Boltzmann etc., proven to be indispensable, recently, multiscale modelling, artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches have become more important. All these approaches, techniques and methodology are currently present in or interesting for the theoretical and computational groups in chemistry, informatics and physics.

The tenure track is positioned at the interface between the computational science and computational chemistry, with a strong link to the physics of soft condensed matter. As the Informatics Institute is partner, strong links could also be established with the Machine Learning and AI for Scientific Discovery groups. Examples of topics in this area are:  Active matter, Dynamics of soft Bioinspired materials, Emergent phenomena, self-organization, pattern formation, Information theoretical approach to matter, Machine learning & Artificial intelligence in statistical physics, Non-equilibrium transport, Programmable matter, Design of (soft) materials and molecules. 

What are you going to do?

The candidate will be appointed 50/50 between the Computational Chemistry (HIMS)  and the Computational Science Lab (IvI), with a research profile that fits both institutes.

The candidate will be one of currently two faculty members in the Computational Soft Matter lab and co-lead this lab.

You will:

• be(come) a renowned scientist, resulting in acquisition of (personal) research grants, high impact publications and invited lectures;
• actively participate in the CSM related education programs, by teaching, on average,  two courses (one on the  Bachelor and one on the Master level) and supervise Bachelor and Master students in their thesis projects;
• increase the visibility and impact of your research by initiating and joining in (inter)national public-private as well as academic research programs; 
• promote the societal relevance of your research and contribute to outreach activities;
• contribute to the organization of the associated institutes, for example by participating in working groups and committees, in the domains of teaching, research and management;
• become a role model in your field.

You will be selected on your scientific track record and on your vision for future research, as well as on your teaching achievements, qualifications, and vision for future teaching.

What do we require?

• A strong background, experience, skills and expertise in research, as evidenced by a track record of publications in renowned journals, and contributed and/or invited talks at international conferences/workshops in line with your career stage.
• A good track record in teaching and (co)supervision of BSc, MSc and/or PhD students, appropriate to your career stage.
• Demonstrable organizational talent.  

and you are:

• a team player with good communication skills in English;
• eager to acquire substantial research grants from external sources;
• willing to obtain a University Teaching Qualification (Dutch: BKO) within three years;
• able to speak the Dutch language or motivated to speak it within five years.

Our offer

We focus on early career candidates who can start as a Tenure Track candidate at the level of Assistant professor. However, we would welcome applications from more experienced candidates on an Associate or Full professorship level too. Depending on candidates’ entry-level a tailor-made appointment will be agreed.

The salary, depending on relevant experience before the beginning of the employment contract, will be €3,637 to € 5,656 (scale 11-12) gross per month for an Assistant Professor, and the salary for an Associate Professor position will be €5,039 to €6,738 (scale 13-14) gross per month.

Both salaries are based on fulltime (38 hours a week), exclusive 8 % holiday allowance and 8.3 % end-of-year bonus. A favorable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

Are you curious about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits like our excellent opportunities for study and development? Take a look here.

About us

The University of Amsterdam is the largest university in the Netherlands, with the broadest spectrum of degree programmes. It is an intellectual hub with 39,000 students, 6,000 employees and 3,000 doctoral students who are all committed to a culture of inquiring minds.

To work at the UvA is to work in a discerning, independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterized by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society. Here you can read more about working at the UvA.

Questions?

Do you have questions about this vacancy? Or do you want to know more about our organization? Please contact:

Prof. dr. ir. Alfons Hoekstra

Prof. dr. Peter Bolhuis  

Prof. dr. Daniel Bonn  

Job application

You may send in your application using the following link: https://vacatures.uva.nl/UvA/job/Assistant-Professorship-%28tenure-track%29-in-the-Computational-Soft-Matter-Lab/737993602/