Associate Professor (UHd) Physics of Energy f/m

Posted date:
22-Jan-10

Job description

Research project

The successful candidate will be integrated in the VU-Biophysics group, and is anticipated to create a research program that is complementary to research in the VU-Condensed Matter group, who together with the Solid State Physics group of the University of Amsterdam (UvA) will form the Amsterdam Physics of Energy section with combined research and education goals.

The VU-Biophysics group has a strong history in elucidating the mechanisms of photosynthetic energy conversion in plants, algae and bacteria. These organisms have an efficiency of the conversion of solar energy into biomass or a biofuel of at most 1%. Much higher yields can be expected for artificially engineered (using synthetic biology or by genetic modification) or designed energy-generating devices. More on this topic can be read in the Science Policy Brief Nr. 34 from the European Science Foundation (www.esf.org/publications/policy-briefings.html), in particular Recommendation 2: The Artificial Leaf

Summary

The successful candidate is anticipated:

• to build a strong research program related to physics of energy, preferably covering bio-mimicked solar cells and/or artificial photosynthesis, including the development of new state-of-the-art methods and technology;
• to play an active role in national and international research projects in these fields;
• to teach bachelor and master courses of the department, in particular for the programs on Physics and Science, Business and Innovation;
• to supervise master and PhD students;
• to perform management duties for the department and/or abovementioned research activities.

Requirements

The successful candidate must have:

• a PhD in physics, physical chemistry or a related discipline;
• a strong affinity physics of energy in general and artificial photosynthesis in particular;
• an internationally well-visible academic track record;
• experience in supervising academic projects;
• experience in teaching academic courses;
• Be an inspiring lecturer;
• experience and been proven successful in acquiring research grants.

Conditions of employment

The associate professor will be a member of the Department of Physics and Astronomy of the Faculty of Sciences of VU University Amsterdam. The initial appointment will be for a period of 5 years. Visit our websitewww.vu.nl/vacaturesfor a review of working conditions at the VU.

Salary

The salary is determined according to the collective rules (CAO) of the Dutch Universities.

Salary scale 13 or 14 is applicable (minimum4.428,- and maximum5.920,- gross per month), based on a fulltime employment.More information can be found atwww.vu.nl/salaris

Contract type

Temporary

5 jaar

The VU University in Amsterdam is one of the leading institutions for higher education in Europe. It is part of international science networks and collaborates with many major universities throughout the world.

The Faculty of Sciences consists of four departments; Physics and Astronomy, Informatics, Mathematics and Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences with 650 employees including researchers, lecturers, full- and part-time professors. The faculty offers 10 bachelor and 12 master courses and has over 1600 students.

The research in the Department of Physics and Astronomy is focused on four themes: Physics of Energy, Physics of Life and Health, Physics of Light and Astroparticle Physics, and has both experimental and theoretical approaches. The department participates in many large interdisciplinary research activities, such as the new Dutch research program Towards Biosolar Cells, the Laser Centre VU (www.lcvu.vu.nl), the Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam (www.neurosciencecampus-amsterdam.nl/en/index.asp) and the Netherlands Institute for Systems Biology (www.sysbio.nl), and is involved in three educational programmes: Physics (bachelor and master, with the Physics department of the University of Amsterdam), Medical Natural Sciences (bachelor and master, with the Chemistry department of the VU and the VU University Medical Centre) and Science, Business and Innovation (bachelor, with the Chemistry Department and the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of the VU).

To apply for this position, visit AcademicTransfer for the original posting, and many other PhD vacancies.