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The Leiden Institute of Chemistry (Faculty of Science) is looking for:

Assistant Professor in Protein Design
Vacancy number: 14676

The Leiden Institute of Chemistry (LIC) aims to hire a talented researcher at the level of assistant professor with an interest in the design and application of artificial proteins in the fields of therapeutics and/or biocatalysis for bioconversion. You employ experimental and/or computational methods to design tailor-made proteins, for example, with directed evolution, incorporation on non-natural amino acids or machine-learning methods. We offer an attractive research and teaching environment, including scientific independence, a collaborative atmosphere, an attractive start-up package and a personal career-development track, including mentoring and support.

Key responsibilities
You will perform research, contribute to the teaching tasks, and share other responsibilities of the Leiden Institute of Chemistry. You are expected to develop an independent research line and to integrate in the local, national and international research landscape. You have a collaborative mind-set to help enhance the innovative chemical biology research within the LIC, in collaboration with researchers from the Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR), the Leiden Institute of Biology (IBL) and the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). See for example the Leiden Early Drug Discovery and Development hub. You are expected to contribute to the teaching programs of the Leiden Institute of Chemistry, which include Bachelor programs in Life Science & Technology and Molecular Science & Technology (both conducted jointly with the Technical University Delft), as well as in Biopharmaceutical Sciences and in Master programs in Life Science & Technology and Chemistry.

Selection Criteria

• PhD degree in Biochemistry, Biophysics, Biotechnology or Chemistry
• Excellence in research, as proven by PhD thesis and publications
• Affinity with teaching
• Potential to obtain research grants
  

Research at our Faculty and the Leiden Institute of Chemistry
The Faculty of Science (https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/science) is a world-class faculty where staff and students work together in a dynamic international environment, with a strong focus on personal and academic career development. Our people are committed to expand fundamental knowledge through curiosity-driven research and are stimulated to look beyond the borders of their own discipline, and in this way to make a contribution to addressing the major societal challenges of the future.

The research carried out at the Faculty of Science is highly diverse, and covers mathematics, computer science, astronomy, physics, chemistry, bio-pharmaceutical sciences, biology and environmental sciences. The research activities are organized in eight institutes. These institutes offer eight bachelor’s and twelve master’s programs. The faculty has grown strongly in recent years and now has almost 2,400 staff and 6,000 students. We are located at the heart of the Leiden Bio Science Park, one of Europe’s largest science parks.

The Leiden Institute of Chemistry combines advanced research and higher education in chemistry. Research in Chemical Biology focusses on improving human health and creating a biotech-based economy. The research is rooted in a fundamental chemical approach, where chemical tools and methods allow to interrogate biological systems. Core research areas are biochemistry, (bio)-organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, molecular biology and structural biology. Research in Energy & Sustainability focusses on fundamental aspects of chemical reactions of importance for sustainable energy and chemistry, with the goal to remove chemistry-related bottlenecks for the implementation of a society and economy based on renewable building blocks, such as hydrogen. We employ a molecular physical chemistry approach to electrocatalysis, heterogeneous catalysis, molecular catalysis, and bio-inspired artificial photosynthesis, specifically of reactions crucial to the advancement of cyclic chemistry and sustainable energy.

Terms and conditions
The appointment will be at the level of assistant professor. Salary ranges from € 4.332,- to € 6.737,- gross per month (pay scales 11-12), in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3%), training and career development and sabbatical leave. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. Leiden University requires teaching staff to obtain the University Teaching Qualification (UTQ), and newly appointed staff is expected to obtain this qualification within 2-3 years from the start of their appointment. It is expected that staff is able to teach in Dutch after several years in the Netherlands.

Diversity
At the Faculty of Science we believe in the value of diversity, equality and inclusiveness. We are open to anyone who wants to get the best out of themselves and wants to contribute to valuable and curiousness driven research and education. We strive for a diverse community where every colleague gets equal opportunities. Do you want to know more about what exactly we do in this area? Read it on our website: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/science/about-faculty-of-science/diversity.

Information
Enquiries can be made to the Scientific Director of the LIC, Prof. Dr. Marcellus Ubbink (wd@lic.leidenuniv.nl).
Interested candidates are invited to get acquainted with our research and researchers through browsing the website of the LIC (https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/science/chemistry).
More information about working at Leiden University and the Faculty of Science can be found at https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/science and https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at.

Applications
If you want to apply straight away, click the application button.

To help us get to know each other better, we follow a number of steps in the application procedure. For more information, see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/werken-bij/sollicitatieprocedure-en-arbeidsvoorwaarden

Please ensure that you upload the following additional documents quoting the vacancy number:

• Letter of motivation
• Full curriculum vitae, including a list of publications and detailing teaching experience
• Brief past and future research statements;
• Contact details of at least three persons who can be contacted for reference (and have agreed to be contacted)

Only applications before or at May 14th, 2024 can be considered.

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