(Junior) Lecturer Mechanical Engineering

Do you have mechanical engineering or (applied) physics background? Are you interested in designing,

coordinating, and teaching courses in Mechanical Engineering? Please apply to the Science Faculty of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU)

Location: AMSTERDAM
FTE: 0,8
Start date: 01 September 2022

Programme Description
The joint-bachelor programme Mechanical Engineering in Amsterdam by the University of Twente (UT) and the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) will start its fourth year in September 2022. It provides an educational program in engineering in the vicinity of Amsterdam. The bachelor' is based on the “Twente educational model” in which (design) projects form the program's backbone. Students work collaboratively on this project during a semester, and the other courses support the projects. During the project, the students have to cooperate with their peers to solve problems similar to professional engineers.

We are looking for an energetic, flexible Jack(y) of all trades with a (thermodynamics) mechanical engineering background, an affinity for academic skills, and excellent communication skills for the tutoring of project groups and coordination of projects. You will join a small team operating from the VU and will need to be able to find your feet quickly in the innovative UT-VU Mechanical Engineering Programme.

Your duties
You will support the project coordinator of a semester-long course “Project and Skills” which covers thermodynamics, renewable energy and energy transition concepts. Within this role you will contribute to refining and coordinating the project itself, you will teach tutorials for Thermodynamics 1, and you will coordinate the provision of integrated Academic Skills lectures. There is also the option to teach the academic skills sessions.
In addition to this, you will tutor various project groups in different semesters. As a tutor you will provide students with content- and process-oriented support through weekly meetings and feedback sessions, and you will liaise with other tutors and the Project and Skills teachers to moderate progress towards learning outcomes. You will also support Project and Skills teachers in various (formative) assessment moments such as peer reviews and final presentations.

• You have obtained a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or (applied) Physics, or you are a qualified teacher in physics (eerstegraads bevoegd).
• You have experience working with thermodynamics, renewable energy technologies and energy transition concepts, and are comfortable coordinating a semester-long project around these topics.
• You have an affinity with academic skills within mechanical engineering (e.g. writing technical reports, poster presentations, teamwork) and are willing to coordinate and/or teach courses on these topics.
• You have excellent social skills and have an affinity for mentoring students. Preferably, you also have experience tutoring or coaching small groups of students.
• You have excellent skills with the Microsoft Office package, can work with LaTeX and Matlab (or comparable coding software), and you have experience with Solidworks (or similar 3Dsketching software).
• You have strong organizational and coordinating skills and have experience collaborating with colleagues from a variety of backgrounds and nationalities.
• You have strong communicative skills in English (all educational activities are in English).
• You live in the Netherlands and can be present at the VU in Amsterdam regularly for the purpose of the above-mentioned duties that are part of your work.

A challenging position in a socially involved organization! On a full-time basis, the remuneration amounts to a minimum gross monthly salary of €2,790 (scale 10) and a maximum of €4,402 (scale 10), depending on your education and experience. The job profile is based on the university job ranking system and is vacant for 0,8 FTE. The employment will be for 12 months, with 2 months probationary period. If you join us as a Junior Lecturer you would also benefit from an extensive supervision scheme, training for your University Teaching Qualification (UTQ), and would be part of the Development

Program Junior Lecturers. This programme is also available for more experienced lecturers who do not yet possess a UTQ, though alternative options for professional development are available. As a member of the Mechanical Engineering team, you will also have the opportunity to contribute to various existing educational initiatives, including decreasing the teacher workload while accommodating growing cohorts, honing the existing tutoring learning progression, and further facilitating (inter-university) communication within the project teams.

Additionally, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers excellent fringe benefits and various schemes and  regulations to promote a good work/life balance, such as:
• a maximum of 41 days of annual leave based on full-time employment,
• 8% holiday allowance
• 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• contribution to commuting expenses

The ambition of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is clear: to contribute to a better world through outstanding education and ground-breaking research. We strive to be a university where personal development and commitment to society play a leading role. A university where people from different disciplines and backgrounds collaborate to achieve innovations and to generate new knowledge. Our teaching and research encompass the entire spectrum of academic endeavor – from the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences through to the life sciences and the medical sciences.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is home to more than 30,000 students. We employ over 5,500 individuals. The VU campus is easily accessible and located in the heart of Amsterdam’s Zuidas district, a truly inspiring environment for teaching and research.

Diversity
We are an inclusive university community. Diversity is one of our most important values. We believe that engaging in international activities and welcoming students and staff from a wide variety of backgrounds enhances the quality of our education and research. We are always looking for people who can enrich our world with their own unique perspectives and experiences.

The Faculty of Science
The Faculty of Science inspires researchers and students to find sustainable solutions for complex societal issues. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to medicines and from molecules to the moon: our teaching and research programmes cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. We share knowledge and experience with leading research institutes and industries, both here in the Netherlands and abroad.

Working at the Faculty of Science means working with students, PhD candidates and researchers, all with a clear focus on their field and a broad view of the world. We employ more than 1,250 staff members, and we are home to around 6,000 students.

About the division iH2LS
The division Innovations in Human Health & Life Sciences (iH2LS) is a young and dynamic team of lecturers and researchers under prof. dr. Jacqueline van Muijlwijk. This team is involved in the teaching and development of educational programs in the Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences. In addition to teaching, they especially focus on scientific research regarding the implementation and effect of e.g. active learning. You will perform your duties for the faculty within the iH2LS team.

Are you interested in this position? Please apply via the application button and upload your motivation letter (max 1 page) and curriculum vitae no later than Sunday May 29th 2022.

The job interviews
will take place on campus in the week of June 6th. Please take this into account when applying for the position. Applications received by e-mail will not be processed.

Vacancy questions
If you have any questions regarding this vacancy, you may contact:
Name: Isabel Braadbaart, M.Ed.
Position: Team leader VU-location Mechanical Engineering Team
E-mail: [email protected]