Assistant Professor of Food, Health Inequalities and Climate Change (1.0 FTE)

Job description

The Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University is interested in attracting an early career academic in the fields of international development studies, food and food systems, geography, health systems research and linked social science disciplines.

The candidate will join the International Development Studies (IDS) group at the department. Embedded in the Urban Futures programme, IDS has specialised in understanding local development in a context of rapidly changing flows of capital and of people. We look at the world as an interconnected place. Therefore, an important starting point for our approach is that rather than depending essentially on ‘local resources’, livelihood opportunities are to a large extent determined by translocal relations, development corridors and development chains. What occurs in one locality will to a large degree depend on what is occurring in other places or, more precisely, on how local agencies interact with external (e.g. global, regional) forces. We focus on the crossroads of migration and investments flows when we analyse the consequences of new flows and circulations (of people, goods, capital and knowledge) for inclusive and sustainable development in Asia, Africa and Latin America. The implications for sustainable livelihoods and human wellbeing are central to this. Against this backdrop, we are looking for a new colleague who is familiar with and has an ambition to develop our research agenda in critical development geography, geographies of food, agrarian or urban foodscapes and related study fields.

In this position we would like the candidate to explore the links between food, food systems (production, trade, processing, consumption, etc.) and link it to the emerging field of ‘Planetary Health’ and the discussion on ‘Fair transitions’. We are especially interested to explore the effects of changing food systems and the concomitant linkages to biodiversity loss, climate change and deforestation at the macro level and changing consumption and nutrition patterns at the individual level.

The position involves 60% teaching and 40% research time. Core tasks include:

• teaching in our Bachelor's and Master's level courses;
• Bachelor's and Master's thesis supervision;
• PhD supervision;
• research, project acquisition and publishing and generating societal impact;

Building and strengthening research and education networks in the field of International Development.

Qualifications

Our preferred candidate should have demonstrated experience in research acquisition, publications and teaching in an international classroom. We are looking for candidates with an innovative research line that can complement the strengths in the group and the department. We specially encourage candidates with experience in Middle East and North Africa region.

Affinity to teaching quantitative and mixed methods is desired. We also expect the candidate to co-develop and coordinate courses in the bachelor programme in Human Geography and Spatial Planning.

Candidate profile:

• You have a PhD in Human Geography, Planning or International Development Studies (or related disciplines);
• You have experience of teaching at bachelor and master levels, preferably in an international classroom;
• You have a clearly defined research line and publication strategy;
• You have demonstrated ability and potential to acquire external funding;
• You are proficient in both English and Dutch, or are willing to learn Dutch in the next years. We believe that understanding and speaking Dutch makes it easier to connect with colleagues. Therefore, we offer free language courses;
• You have good social skills and are able and motivated to collaborate with colleagues from different disciplines;
• You have a  University Teaching Qualification  (Dutch or foreign equivalent) or willing to acquire this certificate within two years.

Offer

We offer a temporary position (1.0 FTE) for 18 months in an international working environment. After positive evaluation, this can be turned into a permanent position. The gross salary - depending on previous qualifications and experience - ranges between €3,974 and €5,439 (scale 11 according to the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities) per month for a full-time employment. Salaries are supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3% per year.

In addition, Utrecht University offers excellent secondary conditions, including an attractive retirement scheme, (partly paid) parental leave and flexible employment conditions (multiple choice model). For more information, please visit working at Utrecht University.

About the organisation

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Sustainability.

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 Human Geography and Spatial Planning has its focus on the enhancement of long-term economic developments of cities, how to cope with social inequalities, and how to accelerate sustainability transitions of cities and infrastructures. Research on these topics takes place within our research programme “Urban Futures: Transitions Towards Economic and Social Sustainability for Cities”.

Our research programme is the basis for our two year Research Master's programme Human Geography, the two-year Geographical Information Management and Applications Programme, and the one-year Master's programmes in Spatial Planning, Human Geography and International Development Studies. The Department also runs a large and highly appreciated Bachelor's programme and is part of the Netherlands Graduate School of Urban and Regional Research for PhD candidates. Unique characteristic of the department are the attention for innovations within teaching methods and its strong involvement in the transdisciplinary sustainability research theme. 

Additional information

For more information about this position, please Ajay Bailey (Professor), via a.bailey@uu.nl.

Apply

Everyone deserves to feel at home at our university. We welcome employees with a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives. 

To apply, please send application via the ‘apply’ button. Your application should include (and be limited to) the following:

• motivation letter (no more than one page);
• one-page summary of your research, including future research plans;
• your curriculum vitae, including a list of publications;
• names and contact details of two people who can provide references.

Interviews will take place in early April.

The application deadline is 3 April 2023.