Full Professor in Immunopharmacology

Immunopharmacology has never been more relevant and important as it is today. At Utrecht University’s Faculty of Science, our Division of Pharmacology pushes the limits of academic freedom allowing us to pursue our ambitions. Are you excited to join us?

Your job

As a full professor in immunopharmacology, you will lead the way in conducting research aimed at influencing the human immune system for the better. Our inspired fundamental research contributes to meaningful and impactful progress in patient health — from COVID-19 vaccines to novel cancer treatment therapies. Making contributions to treating immune related diseases is what drives us as a team, as well as individually. We see opportunities where others might see risks or obstacles and persist in translating our fundamental discoveries into (clinical) applications. This leads to health benefits as well as industrial innovations through our collaborations with a diverse range of partners.

In this role, you will develop and lead an international research programme in immunopharmacology. You are committed to further strengthening our existing expertise in immune-targeted therapies, inflammation biology, mucosal immunology, and immune modulation/regulation across especially non-communicable diseases such as food allergy, eosinophilic esophagitis, allergic airway diseases, and chronic inflammatory diseases. Our research spans from understanding fundamental mechanisms towards obtaining the validation of proof of concept in clinical context.

Our division is large, with a community of around 120 colleagues. As a full professor you lead by example and inspire others – together with fellow assistant, associate and full professor colleagues. Naturally, leadership and managerial duties are part of this position. You navigate this with vision, and you are motivated to cultivate a supportive, inclusive, and ambitious research environment in which people and science can thrive.

In short, your responsibilities include:

• actively fostering interdisciplinary collaborations with both profit as well as non-profit parties and secure external funding to sustain and grow your research group;
• contributing to and coordinating teaching in pharmacology at Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD levels while leading curriculum innovation to enhance teaching and learning;
• supervising PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, junior faculty members and graduate students;
• providing leadership in fostering a supportive, inclusive, and safe academic environment, further enhancing scientific integrity and working together towards open science.

This position offers a balance of approximately 70% research and 30% teaching. You will join a collegial and collaborative academic environment with state-of-the-art laboratories, core facilities, and opportunities to lead programme development and departmental initiatives at the forefront of translational immunopharmacology.

You will be embedded in the Division of Pharmacology, part of the Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), the renowned research centre of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Please note that we also have a position for a Full Professor in Pharmacology available within our division. We invite you to explore this additional opportunity. More information can be found on our website.

Your qualities

You are committed to teaching and integrate your research expertise to inspire students through research-driven, active learning strategies. Besides that, you bring the following qualifications:

• a PhD, MD/PhD, in pharmacology, immunology, biomedical sciences, or a closely related field;
• research expertise that complements existing departmental strengths, including experience with mechanistic or translational immunopharmacology research;
• a strong publication record and success in attracting research funding;
• demonstrated leadership in research, teaching and mentorship;
• eligible for appointment at the full professor level;
• proficiency in English (C1 level or higher). If you do not have a command of Dutch, we ask for a willingness to learn the language. Utrecht University will support you in this.

We know that excellent researchers take diverse career paths, and that not all strengths can be captured in a list. If you are excited about this role, bring relevant experience, and have a clear vision for your research, teaching and leadership, we encourage you to apply — even if you do not meet every single qualification.

Our offer

• An appointment as full professor, the chair will be subject to evaluation after five years;
• a gross monthly salary – depending on previous qualifications and experience – between €7,202 and €10,441 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale H2 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.

About us

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 Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

Working at the Faculty of Science means bringing together inspiring people across disciplines and with a variety of perspectives and backgrounds. The Faculty has six departments: Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Information & Computing Sciences, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Together, we work on excellent research and inspiring education. We do so, driven by curiosity and supported by outstanding infrastructure. Visit us on LinkedIn and discover how you can become part of our community.

The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Utrecht University is responsible for innovative teaching in the fields of pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences, and it carries out high-quality research, both in the field of pharmaceutical sciences, and in adjacent fields. The research themes chosen are often inspired by social questions, in particular those relating to healthcare. The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences pursues an active policy with regard to the protection and exploitation of knowledge, and also acts as a centre of knowledge for social organisations.

The Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS) is the research institute of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. UIPS focuses on processes around discovery, development, and use of drugs and medical nutrition using molecular and technological principles from the Natural and Life Sciences. This research is ideally positioned in the Faculty of Science to work on basic scientific problems and to translate new findings into potential solutions to urgent societal medical needs, which are addressed in the Faculties of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine. Every year around 400 peer-reviewed articles are published and around 30 PhD candidates defend their thesis. UIPS is partner in several open source innovation networks.

More information

For more information, please contact Professor Johan Garssen at j.garssen@uu.nl.

Do you have a question about the application procedure? Please send an email to science.recruitment@uu.nl.

Apply now

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.

If you are enthusiastic about this position, just apply via the "Apply now" button! Please enclose:

• your motivation letter;
• your full academic curriculum vitae, including a (link to a) publication list + a top 3 of publications you are most proud of, including a brief explanation of why;
• a research statement, including best accomplishments and future goals (max. two pages);
• a teaching statement, including best accomplishments and future goals (max. two pages);
• the names and contact details of three referees.

Utrecht University endorses the principles of Recognition and Rewards. The Utrecht TRIPLE model is a tool for applying the basic principles of Recognition and Rewards in practice. This model recognises six dimensions of academic performance: Team spirit, Research, Impact, Professional performance, Leadership and Education. It helps to consider the various aspects of the academic work from a broad perspective and relate them to each other. Candidates who proceed to the final round will be asked to compile a portfolio that includes a self-reflection based on this model. They will receive more detailed instructions at that stage.

If this specific opportunity isn’t for you, but you know someone else who may be interested, please forward this vacancy to them.

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The application deadline is 18 January 2026.