Assistant Professor in (Applied) Probability

In case of exceptionally qualified candidates, an appointment at Associate Professor level could be considered.

Key Responsibilities

The holder of this post is expected to:

• (Further) develop their own identity as a researcher;
• Acquire national or European research grants to support their own research line;
• Be actively involved in teaching and contribute to the development of our curriculum;
• (Co-)supervise PhD candidates, BSc/MSc students from our programs in Mathematics and MSc students from our program in Statistics & Data Science;
• Contribute to the administrative tasks of the institute.

Selection Criteria

• Hold a PhD in Mathematics or closely related discipline;
• Have a track record (evidenced by publications in highly ranked journals), preferably with a profile in one of the following two areas:
  • Operations Research
    • Affinity with stochastic and deterministic Operations Research, with ideally a focus on the interface between them.
    • A keen interest, and preferably some experience, in industrial research interactions.
    • An interest in the use of data-driven techniques in Operations Research, and an interest to connect with AI research in the Faculty of Science.
    • Equipped to play a role in the intra-faculty focus area in complex networks.
    • Equipped to teach classes in stochastic and deterministic Operations Research, and to supervise master and bachelor projects.
  • (Applied) Probability
    • Affinity with probability theory, with preferably a focus on physics-inspired models.
    • A keen interest, and preferably some experience, in multi-disciplinary scientific research interactions.
    • Equipped to play a role in the intra-faculty focus area in complex networks.
    • Equipped to teach classes in the broad area of probability theory and to supervise master and bachelor projects.
• Have good communication skills and experience in teaching;
• Have a good command of the English language;
• Have an interest in supporting the Mathematical Institute, through participation in committees and other departmental duties.

Additional Requirements to fulfil after hiring

• Leiden University requires teaching staff to obtain the University Teaching Qualification (UTQ). Successful applicants that do not already possess this qualification or its equivalent must be willing to obtain this qualification within two years;
• Newly hired staff not already holding a Dutch language proficiency certificate at level B2 or better, are required to obtain such a certificate within two years.

Career development

The Mathematical Institute has embraced the ‘Recognition and Rewards’ initiative and has formulated a transparent and attractive career policy based on diverse and flexible assessment criteria that span the full range of academic activities. These criteria are discussed and made specific during annual performance and development interviews. Specialized training courses and coaching programs are available to help candidates develop their skills and prepare for further career steps towards associate and full professorship.Read more about the university’scareer policy at the website here

Leiden University

Leiden University is one of Europe’s leading international research universities. Thanks to its committed and inspired employees, the university enjoys a leading role in academic research and education. Leiden also scores very well every year in prominent rankings. This means that, to maintain our position, the bar is set very high. Regardless of the work you do at our university, you are always encouraged to broaden your horizons, develop your talents and reach your full potential. For more information about working at Leiden University please visit the website.

Faculty of Science

The Faculty of Science is a world-class faculty where staff and students work together in a dynamic international environment. It is a faculty where personal and academic development are top priorities. Our people are driven by curiosity to expand fundamental knowledge and to look beyond the borders of their own discipline; their aim is to benefit science, and to contribute to addressing the major societal challenges of the future.

The research carried out at the faculty is very diverse, ranging from mathematics, information science, astronomy, physics, chemistry and bio-pharmaceutical sciences to biology and environmental sciences. The research activities are organized in eight institutes. These institutes offer eight BSc and twelve MSc programmes. The faculty has grown in recent years and now has almost 2,800 staff and over 6,000 students. We are located at the heart of Leiden’s Bio Science Park, one of Europe’s biggest science parks, where university and business life come together. You can find more information about the Faculty of Science here.

Mathematical Institute

The Mathematical Institute (MI) is one of the eight institutes within the Faculty of Science and has a strong international orientation. Its mission is to push the frontiers of scientific knowledge by developing and applying high quality mathematics, while offering a wide range of mathematical training in a friendly but challenging environment. We believe that mathematics is an essential part of human knowledge, and we take pride in our role as keepers of this rich field of science. We are dedicated to push the boundaries of mathematical knowledge and to contribute our experience towards solving problems in other sciences, society, and industry. In addition, we promote mathematical literacy in society at large through a multitude of outreach activities. The Mathematical Institute has four research themes: Algebra, Geometry and Number Theory; Analysis and Dynamical Systems; Probability Theory; and Statistics and Data Science. There are many collaborations between the themes. More information about the Mathematical Institute can be found here.

Diversity and inclusion

Fostering an inclusive community is a central element of the values and vision of Leiden University. Leiden University is committed to becoming an inclusive community which enables all students and staff to feel valued and respected and to develop their full potential. Diversity in experiences and perspectives enriches our teaching and strengthens our research. High quality teaching and research is inclusive.

Terms and conditions

The position is available from 1 September 2024 or as soon as possible afterwards. An assistant professor position commences with a temporary appointment for a period of 18 months. The intention is to convert this to a permanent appointment after this period, subject to satisfactory performance reviews.

You will be appointed in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. The gross monthly salary at the assistant professor level is between €4332,- and €6737,-, depending on your qualifications and experience.

Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package including pension build-up, paid parental leave and additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3%). Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. For international spouses we have set up a dual career programme. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. For more information, see the website.

Contact and further information

For further information about this position, please contact Prof.dr. Michel Mandjes (m.r.h.mandjes@math.leidenuniv.nl ).

Applications

Applications for this vacancy can be submitted before 1 May 2024 via the blue button of our online system. Please ensure that you include the following documents quoting the vacancy number:

• Cover letter
• 2 page research plan
• 1 page teaching statement
• Curriculum vitae
• List of all publications
• Names of two reference persons with affiliation and email address who may be contacted during the selection process.