Assistant / Associate Professor of Theoretical Biophysics and Machine Learning

Employment

0.8 - 1.0 FTE

Gross monthly salary

€ 4,332 - € 8,025

Required background

PhD

Organizational unit

Faculty of Science

Application deadline

28 March 2024

Apply now

The world needs to meet increasing demands and therefore requires people who can make a contribution; critical thinkers who will take a closer look at what is really important. As an assistant or associate professor, you will perform leading research and teach students in the fields of theoretical biophysics and physics-based machine learning to strengthen the role and visibility of the international Theoretical Biophysics landscape.
You will join the Physics of Machine Learning and Complex Systems Group at the Donders Centre for Neuroscience (DCN) and perform internationally leading theoretical research in an area of theoretical biophysics or theoretical machine learning based on theoretical physics. You can also integrate your research to neuroscience problems studied at DCN, and you will engage actively in interdisciplinary research collaborations with other physicists in Radboud University's Faculty of Science and with external partners. You will contribute to the teaching and the innovation of the physics curriculum at the Faculty of Science, including Radboud's popular theoretical machine learning and biophysics courses. Finally, you will contribute to the administrative tasks for the position, and will strengthen the role and visibility of Radboud University in the international Theoretical Biophysics landscape.

Profile

• You hold a PhD degree in theoretical physics or applied mathematics.
• You are enthusiastic about your research, and have a scientific reputation in theoretical biophysics and/or physics-based machine learning.
• You have an extensive international professional network and an affinity for cross-disciplinary research.
• You are passionate about academic teaching and have teaching experience in  a physics curriculum. 
• You are able to design bachelor/master programmes in physics and able to design and supervise bachelor/master interships, integrated with your area of expertise. 
• You have obtained a University Teaching Qualification or equivalent (or are committed to securing this qualification as soon as possible upon appointment).
• You combine being a team player with strong leadership and administrative skills, specifically in terms of inspiring young scientists and in providing a research team with a clear sense of direction and purpose.
• You have excellent communication skills, both verbally and in writing.
• You are proficient in written and spoken English, and are willing to learn Dutch.
• You are able to attract research funding from national (e.g. NWO, KNAW) and international (e.g. Horizon Europe, ERC) funding bodies.

We are
The Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour of Radboud University seeks to appoint a Professor of Theoretical Biophysics and Machine Learning. The Donders Institute is a world-class research institute, housing more than 700 researchers devoted to understanding the mechanistic underpinnings of the human mind/brain. Research at the Donders Institute focuses on four themes:
Language and Communication
Perception, Action, and Decision-making
Development and Lifelong Plasticity
Natural Computing and Neurotechnology
We have excellent and state-of-the-art research facilities available for a broad range of neuroscience research. The Donders Institute fosters a collaborative, multidisciplinary, supportive research environment with a diverse international staff. English is the lingua franca at the Institute.
You will join the academic staff of the Donders Centre for Neuroscience (DCN) - one of the four Donders Centres at Radboud University's Faculty of Science . The Physics of Machine Learning and Complex Systems Group (PMLCS) is part of the Neurophysics Section of DCN. Neurophysicists at DCN mainly conduct experimental, theoretical and computational research into the principles of information processing by the brain, with a particular focus on the mammalian auditory and visual systems. The PMLCS group (link is external) studies a broad range of theoretical topics, ranging from physics-based machine learning paradigms and quantum machine learning, to Bayesian inference and applications of statistical mechanics techniques in medical statistics, to network theory and the modelling of heterogeneous many-variable processes in physics and biology. The group engages in multiple national and international research collaborations, and participates in several multidisciplinary initiatives that support theoretical biophysics and machine learning research and teaching at Radboud University. Radboud University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion, and encourages applications from all sections of society. The university offers customised facilities to better align work and private life. Parents are entitled to partly paid parental leave and Radboud University staff enjoy flexibility in the way they structure their work. The university highly values the career development of its staff, which is facilitated by a variety of programmes. The Faculty of Science is an equal opportunity employer, committed to building a culturally diverse intellectual community, and as such encourages applications from women and minorities.

Radboud University
At Radboud University, we aim to make an impact through our work. We achieve this by conducting groundbreaking research, providing high-quality education, offering excellent support, and fostering collaborations within and outside the university. In doing so, we contribute indispensably to a healthy, free world with equal opportunities for all. To accomplish this, we need even more colleagues who, based on their expertise, are willing to search for answers. We advocate for an inclusive community and welcome employees with diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives. Will you also contribute to making the world a little better? You have a part to play.
 
If you want to learn more about working at Radboud University, follow our Instagram account (link is external) and read stories from our colleagues.
We offer

• It concerns an employment for 0.8 - 1.0 FTE.
• Depending on your scientific track record and experience you will be appointed as an Assistant Professor or Associate Professor, potentially with career track criteria for future promotion.
• For an Assistant Professor the gross monthly salary amounts to a minimum of €4,332 and a maximum of €6,737 based on a 38-hour working week, depending on previous education and number of years of relevant work experience (salary scale 11 or 12 ).
• For an Associate Professor the gross monthly salary amounts to a minimum of €6,002 and a maximum of €8,025 based on a 38-hour working week, depending on previous education and number of years of relevant work experience (salary scale 13 or 14 ).
• You will receive 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
• You will be appointed for an initial period of 18 months. At the end of this period, we evaluate your performance. After a positive evaluation, your employment contract will be changed to a permanent employment contract.
• You will be able to use our Dual Career and Family Care Services . Our Dual Career and Family Care Officer can assist you with family-related support, help your partner or spouse prepare for the local labour market, provide customized support in their search for employment  and help your family settle in Nijmegen.
• Working for us means getting extra days off. In case of full-time employment, you can choose between 29 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the legally allotted 20.

Additional employment conditions
Work and science require good employment practices. This is reflected in Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions . You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself, for example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports subscription. And of course, we offer a good pension plan. You are given plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.

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Would you like more information?
For questions about the position, please contact Ton Coolen, Professor, at +31 24 365 24 36 or [email protected] .
Practical information and applying
You can apply until 28 March 2024, exclusively using the button below. Kindly address your application to Ton Coolen. Please fill in the application form and attach the following documents:

• A letter of motivation.
• Your CV.

The first round of interviews will take place on Wednesday 24 April. The second round of interviews will take place on Monday 10 June. You would preferably begin employment as soon as possible.
We can imagine you're curious about our application procedure . It offers a rough outline of what you can expect during the application process, how we handle your personal data and how we deal with internal and external candidates.
Apply now Application deadline 28 March 2024

We would like to recruit our new colleague ourselves. Acquisition in response to this vacancy will not be appreciated.

Would you like more information?
Prof. A.C.C. Coolen (Ton)
Professor
[email protected] +31 24 365 24 36
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You are an internal candidate if you:

• Work at Radboud University (i.e. have an employment contract with Radboud University).
• Are a former Radboud University employee receiving unemployment (WW/BWNU) benefits paid by Radboud University (which started less than two years ago or resulted from the discontinuation of your job/redundancy).
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• Work as a temporary employee at, or have been seconded to, Radboud University.

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Last modified: 05 March 2024
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