Utrecht University, Faculty of Geosciences, Department of Earth Sciences

Utrecht University’s Faculty of Geosciences studies the Earth: from the Earth’s core to its surface, including man’s spatial and material utilisation of the Earth – always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organised in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development.

The Department of Earth Sciences is the largest academic Earth Sciences institute in the Netherlands. We conduct teaching and research across the full range of the solid Earth and environmental Earth sciences, with activities in almost all areas of geology, geochemistry, geophysics, biogeology and hydrogeology. The department hosts a highly international tenured staff of over 50 scientists and more than 110 PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. We house or have access to a wide variety of world-class laboratories, among which are UU’s Electron Microscopy Centre, the Paleomagnetic Laboratory, the Geolab, and the Earth Simulation Laboratory.

About Utrecht
The department is located at the Utrecht Science Park. Utrecht is the fourth largest city in the Netherlands with a population of nearly 360,000 and forms a hub in the middle of the country. Its historical city centre and its modern central station can easily be reached from the Science Park by public transport or by a 15-minute bicycle ride. Utrecht boasts beautiful canals with extraordinary wharf cellars housing cafés and terraces by the water, as well as a broad variety of shops and boutiques.

Homepage: https://www.uu.nl/geo/aw/

The Department of Earth Sciences of Utrecht University is looking for an Assistant Professor in Paleontology. As our new colleague, you will strengthen research and education in Earth Sciences and develop your own internationally recognised research line that should expand and diversify current team efforts. You will also contribute to the long-term viability of paleontology within the department.

Your job

We are looking for a paleontologist with a strong record in one or more of the following areas: vertebrate paleontology, invertebrate paleontology, conservation paleobiology, or micropaleontology. In addition, expertise in carbonate deposits would be an advantage. Successful candidates are expected to develop an independent and versatile research line, complementary to our expertise in the domains of palynology, paleobotany, stratigraphy and sedimentology. (Co-)supervision of early career scientists such as PhD candidates and postdocs is also expected. The Department of Earth Sciences offers unique opportunities for collaboration and excellent facilities for frontier research.

You will play an essential role in education by inspiring students with innovative courses in the bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes at the Department of Earth Sciences. This will include foundational Earth Scientific courses, as well as specialist courses in paleontology, paleobiology & evolution, and carbonate depositional environments. Teaching also involves supervision of BSc and MSc theses projects. The ability to contribute to our fieldwork courses, in France and Spain, is particularly valued.

On average, the Department of Earth Sciences targets at equal contributions to educational activities and research for all its tenured academic staff, resulting in (up to) 40% BSc/MSc teaching duties, 40% research, and 20% of other activities (management tasks, committee work, etc.).

Your qualities

We are looking for a strong team player with good communication and networking skills, who is focused on achieving (multidisciplinary) research targets and participating in the acquisition of funding for research projects. It is highly recommended that applicants have a minimum experience of two to three years as a postdoctoral researcher.

We seek a highly motivated candidate who holds a PhD degree in Earth Sciences or a relevant natural science. We encourage you to apply if you:

• are a recognised expert in Paleontology;
• are committed to multi- and interdisciplinary research;
• have strong communication, networking and organisational skills;
• have relevant international experience and an outstanding record of academic research, as reflected in high-quality publications;
• are willing to actively obtain research grants and actively develop new research lines;
• have strong didactic skills, enjoy teaching, and are an inspiring mentor to BSc students, MSc students and PhD candidates;
• have obtained a basic teaching qualification (at Utrecht University or equal), or are willing to obtain this qualification in the near future;
• have a keen eye for public engagement.

You are expected to have an excellent level of English, both spoken and written. We require a qualification English at C1 level (CEFR or comparable to level 3 of the Lecturer Assessment Grid) or to be prepared to obtain this level by training. For non- Dutch speaking candidates, Dutch language skills should be at the level of practical communication within two years of the appointment. Willingness to further develop this toward the ability of teaching in Dutch in the longer term is desired.

Your vision on teaching, research vision and funding potential will be considered by the committee. Publication track record, teaching record, acquired research funds and leadership experience will be weighed against the number of years of academic experience, also considering (parental) leave and part-time appointments.

We strongly encourage women to apply. The Faculty’s policy is to improve gender, as well as cultural, diversity. Therefore, the diversity of our staff population and your connection to existing activities in the department may also provide guidance in the selection process.

Terms of employment

We offer:

• a position (0.8 – 1.0 FTE) as an Assistant Professor (level 2/scale 11) for 18 months. After a positive evaluation the position will be made permanent;
• a working week of 32- 40 hours and a gross monthly salary between € 4.728 and €6.433 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale 11 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University also offers a range of its own schemes for employees. This includes arrangements for professional development, various types of leave, and options for sports and cultural activities. You can also tailor your employment conditions through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage you to keep investing in your personal and professional development. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

For additional information (not for application!) about this position, please contact Prof. Dr Appy Sluijs (chair of the search committee) at a.sluijs@uu.nl.

To apply, use this link to the original advertisement on our own website and follow the guidelines there. E-mail applications cannot be accepted.

We aim for a quick selection procedure after the application deadline of June 30, 2026. Interviews in Utrecht are scheduled for July 21st and 22nd.

Include in your application:

• a letter of motivation,
• brief vision/plans regarding your own research and teaching for the next 5 years (max. 3 A4),
• your curriculum vitae including your teaching experience and a list of publications,
• (e-mail) addresses of two referees.

In the second stage of the selection procedure, the short-listed candidates will be asked to defend their research plans and teaching vision in an oral presentation and discussion with the committee. Preferably, this is done on-site, but we can look into online possibilities if deemed necessary. Presenting a short lecture to students and staff may also be included in the procedures. We will we do our best to have these selection procedures take place in the second half of July. The preferred starting date is between September 1st, 2026 and January 1, 2027 (ultimate).

In that perspective, note that international candidates who need a visa/work permit for the Netherlands require at least four months processing time after selection and acceptance. This will be arranged with help of the International Service Desk (ISD) of our university. Finding appropriate housing in or near Utrecht is your own responsibility, but the ISD may be able to advise you therewith. Unfortunately, we must warn that it is a tight market at the moment. In case of general questions about working and living in The Netherlands, please consult the Dutch Mobility Portal.