Professor in dendrochronology for climate and environmental history
Category: Academic Staff & Researchers
1 - Working at the VUB
For more than 50 years, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has stood for freedom, equality and solidarity, and this is very much alive on our campuses among students and staff alike.
At the VUB, you will find a diverse collection of personalities: innovators pur sang, but above all people who are 100% their authentic selves. With some 4,000 employees, we are the largest Dutch-speaking employer, in the private sector, in Brussels; an international city with which we are happy to connect and where our four campuses are located.
Add to this our principle of free research – in which self-reflection, a critical attitude and an open, creative mind around scientific and social issues are central – and you have a university that is fundamentally groundbreaking and pioneering in education and research. In short: the VUB all over again.
Moreover, the VUB is a member of EUTOPIA, an alliance of like-minded European universities, all ready to reinvent themselves.
The Faculty of Engineering, Department Water and Climate, is looking for a part-time professor.
More concretely your work package contains:
Education and Research domain:
Climate and Environmental History Using Dendrochronological Methods
* You supervise MSc theses;
* You occasionally teach at the MSc level on topics linked to your expertise.
Research tasks:
* You will conduct research in the field of dendrochronology and climate reconstruction, specifically to investigate hydroclimatic variability through the analysis of tree-ring data;
* You will conduct cutting-edge research on topics such as climate dynamics, the role of forest ecosystems in hydrological cycles, and methods for reconstructing historical climate data;
* You will engage in interdisciplinary research, contributing to collaborations that analyze the interplay between past climates and socio-environmental changes;
* You will supervise students in research practices and field studies;
* You have a passion for linking historical climate data to contemporary issues, with a focus on enhancing our understanding of sustainability and climate resilience;
* The research will include:
* Tree-Ring Analysis: Using dendrochronology to reconstruct atmospheric circulation patterns, extreme climate events, and the terrestrial carbon cycle through tree-ring data;
* Climatic Variability: understanding climatic variability over the past 2,000 years, examining how it impacts both human systems and forest ecosystems;
* Multi-Proxy Approaches: Innovating in research methodology by integrating tree-ring data with other high-resolution proxies and historical documentary data for comprehensive climate studies;
* Fire-Climatic Interactions: Investigating the historical relationship between climate and wildfires, providing insights into how fire regimes have changed over time due to climate and human activities;
* You support the recruitment of fundamental, strategic, and applied projects on the topic of dendrochronology at national and European/international level;
* You supervise and guide PhD students;
* You collaborate with relevant partners in Belgium and other EU countries.
Other tasks:
* You engage in public education through publications and lectures, emphasizing the importance of tree rings in understanding past climate conditions and their applicability to current climate challenges;
* You contribute to the visibility and networking of the department;
* You contributes to the visibility of the university.
For this function, our Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene) will serve as your home base.
3 - Profile
What do we expect from you?
* You have obtained an MSc degree of Bioscience Engineering;
* You hold a PhD in dendrochronology;
* You have proven research experience in Tree-ring Analysis, Climatic Variability, Multi-Proxy Approaches, and Fire-Climatic Interactions;
* You have an outstanding publication track record;
* You have a robust publication record in leading journals, focusing on how historical land-use practices and climate events influence environmental systems in North America and beyond;
* You should have acquired the level of professor at another university;
* You subscribe to the university’s vision of education. The full text in relation to this is available on the university website.
* Every first appointment is dependent upon the successful delivery of a teaching session.
Language regulations:
A member of the academic staff who is entrusted with a teaching assignment must also be able to demonstrate that the language of instruction is known at ERK level C1 through a qualification certificate or through an adequate diploma. The VUB also provides courses in, for example, academic English.
The administrative language of the VUB is Dutch. In case of insufficient knowledge of Dutch, the VUB will provide an integration course. After a maximum of five years, a member of the academic staff must demonstrate adequate knowledge of the administrative language (ERK level B2).
Certificates demonstrating knowledge of the language can already be added to the application.
* As a (non-)EEA national, meet the conditions for obtaining a valid permit for VUB and comply with the VUB residence requirements. More info here.
The VUB wants to be a reflection of the society where everyone's talent is valued, regardless of gender, age, religion, skin color, migration background, disability and neurodiversity.
4 - Offer
Are you going to be our new colleague?
You’ll be offered an appointment as professor, for an assignment of 0.1 FTE, for 3 years (renewable, on condition of the positive evaluation of the activities), with planned starting date 01/07/2026.
You’ll receive a salary linked to one of the scales set by the government.
At the VUB, you’re guaranteed an open, involved and diverse workplace where you are offered opportunities to (further) build on your career.
As well as this, you will also enjoy various other benefits:
* Extensive homeworking options, a telework allowance of 50 euros per month OR an internet fee of 20 euros per month;
* An open and informal working environment where attention is paid to work-life balance, and exceptional holiday arrangements with 35 days of leave (based on a fulltime contract), closure between Christmas and New Year and 3 extra leave days;
* Cost-free hospitalisation insurance;
* Full reimbursement of your home-to-work commute with public transport according to VUB-policy, and/or compensation if you come by bike;
* A wide selection of meals in our campus restaurants at attractive prices;
* Excellent and affordable facilities for sport and exercise, a range of discounts via Benefits@Work (in all kinds of shops, on flights, in petrol stations, amusement parks...) and Ecocheques;
* Nursary near campus, discount on holiday camps;
* The space to form your job content and to continuously learn through our VUB learning platforms and training courses;
* And finally: great colleagues with a healthy drive.
5 - Interested?
Is this the job you’ve been dreaming of?
Then apply. Notes: please prepare your documents including your motivation letter, your diploma and language certificates. Further information about the application process may be found on jobs.vub.be.
Do you have questions about the job content? Contact Prof. Wim Thiery at wim.thiery@vub.be or on 02/629.30.29.
Would you like to know what it’s like to work at the VUB? Go to jobs.vub.be and learn about our campuses, benefits, strategic goals and your future colleagues.
Would you like more information about EUTOPIA? Go to eutopia-university.eu and read more about the role of the VUB in the development of the EUTOPIA alliance.
DO YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS VACANCY?
You can contact the person mentioned in the job description.
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