Open position: Senior academic staff Conservation and Restoration ecology – Deadline 13 March 2023

The University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking, European university. We offer an innovative academic education to more than 20000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research and play an important service-providing role in society. We are one of the largest, most international and most innovative employers in the region. With more than 6000 employees from 100 different countries, we are helping to build tomorrow’s world every day. Through top scientific research, we push back boundaries and set a course for the future – a future that you can help to shape.

The Department of Biology in the Faculty of Sciences, Research Group Geobiology has the following part-time (15%) vacancy: Senior academic staff in the field of Conservation and Restoration ecology

Position

As a member of the Senior Academic Staff (Dutch: Zelfstandig Academisch Personeel, ZAP), you will contribute to the University of Antwerp’s three core tasks: education (5%), research (5%) and services (5%). Your role may also include organisational and managerial aspects.

Education

• You will provide high-quality education in Biology with a specific focus on Conservation and Restoration Ecology (including theoretical classes and field work and excursions)
• You will co-develop and co-teach the courses Habitat Conservation (4sp) and Restoration Ecology (4sp) in the master’s program in Biology. Additional courses possible after mutual agreement.
• You will play an active role in developing a study programme that is activating and student-centred with a focus on student’s applied conservation and restoration competences.
• You will develop and propose topics and subsequently supervise students for their Bachelor and Master dissertations in the field of Conservation and Restoration Ecology.

Research

• You will expand high-quality scientific research in Conservation and Restoration ecology with a particular focus on the restoration, conservation and management of peatland habitats.
• For this research you will focus on the hydrology and biogeochemistry of peatlands, including carbon sequestration, nutrient fluxes and dynamics of iron and calcium; and plant community assembly, including the productivity and establishment of (endangered) vascular plants and characteristic peatland mosses.
• You will also engage in research in reintroduction of endangered vascular plants and mosses in the context of ecological engineering to restore degraded peatlands.
• You will initiate new lines of research in this context and coordinate the progress of scientific research projects. You will also participate in ongoing research programmes.
• You will establish and maintain a solid professional network with local and international nature managers to facilitate field experiments and applied solutions to conserve and restore peatlands.
• You will also develop and maintain an international scientific network in the field of peatland conservation and restoration.
• You will acquire and manage national and international research funding.
• You will publish in international journals and specialist literature.
• You will supervise PhD students and postdoctoral researchers.

Services

• You will play a role in the provision of both academic services and service to society, within the institution and externally. You participate in science communication to nature managers and laymen in the area of research.

Profile

• You hold a PhD in Biology or a related discipline.
• Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies.
• You have excellent research experience in the field of Conservation and Restoration ecology. Particularly that of peatland habitats with a focus on hydrology, biogeochemistry and plant communities.
• You have demonstrable interest and experience with developing applied solutions for peatland restoration such as reintroduction and ecological engineering.
• You have a demonstrable interest in field and experimental research.
• You can work together with professional nature managers to conserve and restore peatlands.
• Your teaching competences are in line with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision. You are motivated to develop your teaching skills further through the professionalisation opportunities available.
• You have experience in academic teaching and student supervision.
• If you do not speak Dutch, the administrative language of the university, you should be willing to obtain a CEFR B2 level of proficiency in Dutch. As soon as you take on teaching duties as a programme component coordinator, you should be able to demonstrate a CEFR C1 level of proficiency in the language of instruction (English). The University of Antwerp supports international staff members through an integration trajectory and offers tailor-made language coaching in compliance with Flanders’ statutory language regulations.
• You demonstrate leadership potential and organisational skills.
• You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.

What we offer

• We offer a part-time appointment as a member of the Senior Academic Staff for a period of 3 years. Following a positive evaluation, the appointment can be renewed. The level of your appointment (assistant professor, associate professor, professor or full professor) is determined on the basis of your professional experience and academic qualifications.
• Your gross monthly salary is calculated according to the pay scales for Senior Academic Staff (ZAP) and calculated proportionally on the basis of your employment percentage.
• You will receive ecocheques and a bicycle allowance or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting.
• The planned start date is 1 September 2023 or as soon as possible after that date.
• You will do most of your work at Campus Drie Eiken in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.
• Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here and discover all the other benefits.

Want to apply?

• You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including 13 March 2023 (by midnight Brussels time). Click on ‘apply’, complete the online application form and don’t forget to include the following documents: (1) your motivation letter, (2) the completed job application appendix for ZAP, (3) your academic CV.
• The selection committee will review all of the applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. As soon as a decision has been made, we will inform you about the next steps in the selection procedure.
• If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions or send an email to jobs@uantwerpen.be. If you have any questions about the job itself, please contact prof. dr. Tobias Ceulemans, tobias.ceulemans@uantwerpen.be.

Further information can be found here.