Junior lecturer master's programmes life sciences (a-life department) - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - job portal


Junior lecturer master’s programmes life sciences (a-life department)
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Workplace	Amsterdam - North Holland - Netherlands
Category	Environment \| Life Sciences
Position	Lecturer
Published	19 March 2026
Junior LECTURER Master’s Programmes Life Sciences (A-LIFE department) O2 Gebouw Amsterdam 0.8 / 0.8 Faculty of Science Teacher MSc Closes on 09-04-2026 Publishing date 19-03-2026 You will primarily support the Master’s programme in Biomolecular Sciences but will collaborate with and teach in the Master’s programme in Biomedical Sciences as well. Your function We are looking for a colleague who is passionate about education within the context of the Life Sciences. You will primarily support the Master’s programme in Biomolecular Sciences but will collaborate with and teach in the Master’s programme in Biomedical Sciences as well. The junior lecturer position is ideally suited for starting teachers. You will be involved in various teaching and organizational activities as an academic skills and career lecturer. You will be encouraged to work on academic innovations and to build a portfolio in the context of education as preparation for various career paths. Your duties The junior lecturer will be expected to: be actively involved in course teaching within the Academic skills and Career courses, such as Professionalism in Biomolecular Sciences contribute to the development of academic skills and community-building activities in courses and internships initiate and participate in innovation projects to further improve teaching practices in the programmes advise students on programme choices and career orientation beyond the master contribute to promotional activities and admission procedures of the Master’s programme in Biomolecular Sciences assist in coordination and administrative tasks of the Master’s programme in Biomolecular Sciences assist in other study programmes within A-LIFE, if needed Your profile The candidate must have completed a master’s program in Life Sciences and show a proven affinity and experience with education. In addition, the candidate must: be fluent in English have strong oral and written communication skills possess good organizational skills be proactive and able to work independently, as well as in a team As a university, we strive for equal opportunities for all, recognizing that diversity takes many forms. We believe that diversity in all its complexity is invaluable for the quality of our teaching, research, and service. We are always looking for talent with diverse backgrounds and experiences. This also means that we are committed to creating an inclusive community so that we can use diversity as an asset. We realize that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise, and mindset. Therefore, we are happy to invite anyone who recognizes themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements. What do we offer? A challenging position in a socially engaged organization. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research, and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So, in return for your efforts, we offer you: a salary of € 3708 (10-1) in the first year and a maximum of € 4241 (10-4) gross per month in the fourth year, for full-time employment an appointment for 4 years and 2 months, including a period of probation of 2 months. The lecturer position is placed in the A-LIFE department further professional development in teaching with the Basic Teaching Qualification (BTQ/BKO) and through events in a programme specifically designed for junior lecturers We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and arrangements. Some examples: A full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata. 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus contribution to commuting expenses solid pension scheme (ABP) a wide range of sports facilities which staff may use at a modest charge About us Programme description Modern society faces major challenges such as ensuring safe food production, combating antibiotic resistance, and developing new treatments for disease. The Master’s program in Biomolecular Sciences prepares students to address these issues by building a strong foundation in molecular and cellular biology and training them to work critically with large-scale data. Students follow core courses in the first year, choose electives, and complete two substantial research internships - one experimental and the other either experimental or bioinformatics-focused. Throughout the two years, students also receive training in academic skills and career preparation within an interdisciplinary Life Sciences environment. A-LIFE This position will be hosted in the department of the Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment (A-LIFE) in the Faculty of Science at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. A-LIFE aims to advance the fundamental understanding of the interplay between life and its environment through innovative and curiosity-driven science. The department seeks to connect properties and emergent behaviors from micro to global scales, from molecules to ecosystems, including human populations. We aim to inspire students and apply our expertise to shape a sustainable future and support healthy living. A-LIFE comprises a team of around 200 scientists, teachers, and support staff. Faculty of Science Working at the Faculty of Science means collaborating with students, lecturers, and researchers who are focused on their field yet have a broad view of the world. We are proud of a positive and inclusive workplace culture within the faculty, where we work together with great energy and a pragmatic attitude to tackle social challenges. At the Faculty of Science, scientists and students work on fundamental and complex societal issues for a sustainable, healthy, and just future. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to malnutrition, from helium to the universe, and from genetics to medicine: our education and research cover the full breadth of science, from molecules to mankind. Our academic education and research are highly experimental, technical, and interdisciplinary in nature. That is why we collaborate extensively with leading scientific institutes and industry. The faculty has more than 8,000 students studying in one of the 39 programs and employs more than 1,400 staff across 10 scientific departments, making us one of the largest science faculties in the Netherlands. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance, and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and the planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate and an inspiring environment for education and research. Learn more about our codes of conduct We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam’s Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility. Over 6,150 staff work at the VU, and over 31,000 students attend academic education. Diversity Diversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences, and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest, and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence, and to a broader understanding. We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalization contribute to the quality of education, research, and our services. Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community. Interested Are you interested in this position, and do you believe that your experience will contribute to the further development of our university? In that case, we encourage you to submit your application. We ask for: a motivation letter which describes your skills and motivation for this position your curriculum vitae, including a description of your language skills in English a transcript of MSc grades names and contact information of two referees Please compile all documents into a single PDF for submission. Interviews will be held in the second half of April. The intended start date is June 2026, depending on availability. A pre-employment screening (references, diplomas) may be part of the selection procedure. Applications received by e-mail will not be considered. Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated. Information For additional information, please contact Dr. M.R. Brouns, coordinator of the Master’s program in Biomolecular Sciences, via [email protected] . Your function We are looking for a colleague who is passionate about education within the context of the Life Sciences. You will primarily support the Master’s programme in Biomolecular Sciences but will collaborate with and teach in the Master’s programme in Biomedical Sciences as well. The junior lecturer position is ideally suited for starting teachers. You will be involved in various teaching and organizational activities as an academic skills and career lecturer. You will be encouraged to work on academic innovations and to build a portfolio in the context of education as preparation for various career paths. Your duties The junior lecturer will be expected to: be actively involved in course teaching within the Academic skills and Career courses, such as Professionalism in Biomolecular Sciences contribute to the development of academic skills and community-building activities in courses and internships initiate and participate in innovation projects to further improve teaching practices in the programmes advise students on programme choices and career orientation beyond the master contribute to promotional activities and admission procedures of the Master’s programme in Biomolecular Sciences assist in coordination and administrative tasks of the Master’s programme in Biomolecular Sciences assist in other study programmes within A-LIFE, if needed Your profile The candidate must have completed a master’s program in Life Sciences and show a proven affinity and experience with education. In addition, the candidate must: be fluent in English have strong oral and written communication skills possess good organizational skills be proactive and able to work independently, as well as in a team As a university, we strive for equal opportunities for all, recognizing that diversity takes many forms. We believe that diversity in all its complexity is invaluable for the quality of our teaching, research, and service. We are always looking for talent with diverse backgrounds and experiences. This also means that we are committed to creating an inclusive community so that we can use diversity as an asset. We realize that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise, and mindset. Therefore, we are happy to invite anyone who recognizes themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements. What do we offer? A challenging position in a socially engaged organization. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research, and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So, in return for your efforts, we offer you: a salary of € 3708 (10-1) in the first year and a maximum of € 4241 (10-4) gross per month in the fourth year, for full-time employment an appointment for 4 years and 2 months, including a period of probation of 2 months. The lecturer position is placed in the A-LIFE department further professional development in teaching with the Basic Teaching Qualification (BTQ/BKO) and through events in a programme specifically designed for junior lecturers We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and arrangements. Some examples: A full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata. 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus contribution to commuting expenses solid pension scheme (ABP) a wide range of sports facilities which staff may use at a modest charge About us Programme description Modern society faces major challenges such as ensuring safe food production, combating antibiotic resistance, and developing new treatments for disease. The Master’s program in Biomolecular Sciences prepares students to address these issues by building a strong foundation in molecular and cellular biology and training them to work critically with large-scale data. Students follow core courses in the first year, choose electives, and complete two substantial research internships - one experimental and the other either experimental or bioinformatics-focused. Throughout the two years, students also receive training in academic skills and career preparation within an interdisciplinary Life Sciences environment. A-LIFE This position will be hosted in the department of the Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment (A-LIFE) in the Faculty of Science at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. A-LIFE aims to advance the fundamental understanding of the interplay between life and its environment through innovative and curiosity-driven science. The department seeks to connect properties and emergent behaviors from micro to global scales, from molecules to ecosystems, including human populations. We aim to inspire students and apply our expertise to shape a sustainable future and support healthy living. A-LIFE comprises a team of around 200 scientists, teachers, and support staff. Faculty of Science Working at the Faculty of Science means collaborating with students, lecturers, and researchers who are focused on their field yet have a broad view of the world. We are proud of a positive and inclusive workplace culture within the faculty, where we work together with great energy and a pragmatic attitude to tackle social challenges. At the Faculty of Science, scientists and students work on fundamental and complex societal issues for a sustainable, healthy, and just future. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to malnutrition, from helium to the universe, and from genetics to medicine: our education and research cover the full breadth of science, from molecules to mankind. Our academic education and research are highly experimental, technical, and interdisciplinary in nature. That is why we collaborate extensively with leading scientific institutes and industry. The faculty has more than 8,000 students studying in one of the 39 programs and employs more than 1,400 staff across 10 scientific departments, making us one of the largest science faculties in the Netherlands. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance, and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and the planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate a nd an inspiring environment for education and research. Learn more about our codes of conduct We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam’s Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility. Over 6,150 staff work at the VU, and over 31,000 students attend academic education. Diversity Diversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences, and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest, and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence, and to a broader understanding. We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalization contribute to the quality of education, research, and our services. Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community. Questions about the vacancy? Please contact M. R. Brouns Hoofddocent 020-5986645 Send an email Interested Are you interested in this position, and do you believe that your experience will contribute to the further development of our university? In that case, we encourage you to submit your application. We ask for: a motivation letter which describes your skills and motivation for this position your curriculum vitae, including a description of your language skills in English a transcript of MSc grades names and contact information of two referees Please compile all documents into a single PDF for submission. Interviews will be held in the second half of April. The intended start date is June 2026, depending on availability. A pre-employment screening (references, diplomas) may be part of the selection procedure. Applications received by e-mail will not be considered. Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated. Information For additional information, please contact Dr. M.R. Brouns, coordinator of the Master’s program in Biomolecular Sciences, via [email protected] . Questions about the vacancy? Please contact M. R. Brouns Hoofddocent 020-5986645 Send an email Application procedure Other interesting vacancies There are no other relevant vacancies available please sign up for our job alert.

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