Tenure Track Assistant Professor on Astronomical Data Science and Machine Learning (1.0 FTE)

Job description

The Kapteyn Astronomical Institute invites applications for the position of Assistant Professor, with a clear focus on the development and application of astronomical data science and machine learning methods within both the observational and theoretical astronomical research domains. Candidates should demonstrate a clear track record, including peer-reviewed publications, in developing broadly applicable state-of-the-art data-science and machine-learning tools for astronomical data sets, simulations and/or modelling.

We also seek a candidate eager to exploit data from existing and future astronomical instruments and facilities with the involvement of research staff at the Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, including datasets from advanced numerical simulations. The successful candidate is expected to contribute to the Institute's current research areas, fostering collaborations within the Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, across NOVA institutes, ASTRON, SRON, and with Computer Science at the University of Groningen and elsewhere. The candidate is expected to develop courses and teach astronomical computing, data science and machine learning methods to students within the institute and the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

We are offering a full-time position within our faculty's Career Paths in Science and Engineering system, providing an excellent pathway for career development. We offer the opportunity for a permanent appointment (tenure) within one to three years, with the potential to advance to Full Professor within approximately ten years. This system is designed to support your professional growth and long-term career prospects within our institution.

As Assistant Professor, you will

• Set up and develop your own research line and research group.
• Teach bachelor and master courses to students in the faculty of science and engineering.
• Contribute to the development of degree programs in Astronomy.
• Supervise PhD students and postdocs.
• Acquire external funding.
• Promote the societal relevance of your research.
• Contribute to the organisation of the institute and faculty.

At the stage of Assistant Professor, 60% of your time is for research, 30% for teaching activities and 10% for organisational tasks.

Organisation

The University of Groningen is a research university with a global outlook, deeply rooted in Groningen, City of Talent. Groningen is the lively capital of the Northern Netherlands with a high quality of life and affordable living conditions. The University has 34,000 students in BSc and MSc programmes, 4400 PhD students, and 4600 staff members. Our students and staff come from all around the world.

Quality has been our top priority for over four hundred years, and with success: the University is currently in or around the top 100 on several influential ranking lists. The Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) is the largest faculty within the University. We offer first-rate education and research in a wide range of science and engineering disciplines, from classical disciplines such as mathematics, astronomy, and mechanical engineering, to interdisciplinary fields such as artificial intelligence, pharmacy, and nanoscience. At FSE, education and research are strongly intertwined, and we value a strong disciplinary basis for our students. Our programmes in science and engineering, while diverse, share a common view on best practices for research-driven, international education. We are proud of the open, inclusive, and informal character of our community.

The position we offer will be embedded in the Kapteyn Astronomical Institute. The mission of the Kapteyn Astronomical Institute is to perform front-line research in astronomy, astrophysics, and related fields, aided by the presence of NWO-institutes ASTRON and SRON and the NOVA labs, and to provide an excellent educational environment for both graduate and undergraduate studies. NOVA, the Netherlands Research School for Astronomy, comprises four member institutes, including the Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, whose mission, policies, and strategies are closely linked to and partly define NOVA’s overarching mission. The excellent reputation of the Kapteyn Institute has made it possible to attract promising, high-quality astronomers to the University of Groningen. The facilities the Institute offers, such as access to world-class observing facilities, make the Kapteyn Institute a very attractive environment for astronomical research.

Qualifications

We seek candidates with the following characteristics

• A PhD degree in Computer Science, Astronomy/Astrophysics, Physics or related fields.
• Excellent research qualities, as shown by a publication record in international peer-reviewed journals and proceedings of renowned conferences.
• A proven track record in developing and applying novel data-science methods applied to astronomical observations and/or simulations.
• A great affinity with and a good track record in teaching, appropriate for the career stage.
• At least two years of postdoctoral experience outside of the Netherlands, preferably in a different country than where you received your PhD.
• A relevant international research network.
• The potential to acquire substantial research grants from external sources.
• Demonstrable communicative and organisational competences.
• The ambition and the potential to develop academically.
• The ability to work well with others in international and diverse teams.
• Good command of spoken and written English.

Furthermore, we expect all new staff members to either have a University Teaching Qualification (Dutch: “Basiskwalificatie Onderwijs”) or obtain it within three years, and – if they do not already speak it – to learn the Dutch language within at most five years.

Conditions of employment

The Faculty of Science and Engineering of the University of Groningen was the first on the European mainland to introduce a tenure track career policy, twenty years ago, and with significant success. We have attracted great talents that have contributed strongly to the worldwide leading position of our faculty’s ten research institutes. Our career system has helped our staff members to develop highly successful and rewarding academic careers. The latest version of this system, ‘Career Paths in Science and Engineering’, offers

• Diverse career paths with a focus on research, education, or impact.
• Dynamic career paths, in which staff members can switch focus during their career.
• Promotion to Assistant Professor level 1, in combination with a permanent contract, after 1 - 3 years, provided the relevant criteria are met. Promotion to Associate Professor after 5 years, and promotion to Full Professor after another 5 years if the corresponding criteria are met.
• Significant freedom for staff members whether and when to apply for promotion.

For more information about Career Paths in Science and Engineering, see: https://www.rug.nl/(...)catures/careerpaths/. Please consider the career path with a focus on research for the criteria for tenure and for promotion to more senior positions.

As starting conditions, we offer a salary, depending on qualifications and work experience, from € 4,492 up to a maximum of € 6,986 gross per month (scale 11 or 12 CAO Dutch Universities, depending on your career stage) for a full-time position as Assistant Professor. Additionally, we offer

• A holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8% and 8.3%, resp., of your yearly salary.
• A pension scheme.
• Maternity and parental leave.
• The possibility of working part-time (0.8-0.9 FTE).
• A mentor programme and a broad range of opportunities for personal development.
• Dual career support for partners of new faculty members moving to Groningen.

Consider our website for more information about the working conditions at the University of Groningen: https://www.rug.nl/about-ug/work-with-us

Application

We invite you to submit a complete application, including the following

• A cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• A curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications, a description of your teaching. experience, and a list with names and contact details of references.
• A list of five self-selected papers with an explanation of your contribution and what impact it made on science and/or society.
• A statement of your teaching goals and experience.
• A research statement, including a description of your scientific interest and plans.

You may apply for this position until 15 January 11:59pm / before 16 January 2025 Dutch local time (CET) by means of the application form (click on "Apply" below on the advertisement on the university website).

Please also arrange for three letters of reference to be sent directly by your referees dskapteyn@astro.rug.nl by the indicated deadline.

The on-site selection interviews will likely take place between February 24 and March 21, 2025.

The University of Groningen strives to be a university in which students and staff are respected and feel at home, regardless of differences in background, experiences, perspectives, and identities. We believe that working on our core values of inclusion and equality are a joint responsibility and we are constructively working on creating a socially safe environment. Diversity among students and staff members enriches academic debate and contributes to the quality of our teaching and research. We therefore invite applicants from underrepresented groups in particular to apply. For more information, see also our diversity policy webpage: https://www.rug.nl/(...)rsity-and-inclusion/

Our selection procedure follows the guidelines of the Recruitment code (NVP): https://www.nvp-hrnetwerk.nl/nl/sollicitatiecode and European Commission's European Code of Conduct for recruitment of researchers: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/charter/code

We provide career services for partners of new faculty members moving to Groningen.

Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated.

Information

For information you can contact:

• Prof. Léon Koopmans, Scientific Director, dskapteyn@astro.rug.nl
• Prof. dr. Inga Kamp, Co-chair, dskapteyn@astro.rug.nl

Please do not use the e-mail address(es) above for applications.

Additional information

• Profile report in which the position is described in more detail
• Career Paths in Science and Engineering
• More information about the research institute