Assistant Professor in Applied Mathematics

Utrecht University via AcademicTransfer; Netherlands; On-site; EUR 59,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

8% holiday pay

8.3% year-end bonus

Pension scheme

Parental leave

Job summary

Utrecht University invites applications for an Assistant Professor in Applied Mathematics within the Mathematical Institute. You will develop your own research programme, inspire students, and advance education.

You will collaborate with colleagues and partners to apply mathematics to societal challenges and real-world data-driven modelling. You will balance research and teaching (about 50/50), supervise PhD candidates and postdocs, and develop courses from Bachelor to Master levels.

Qualifications

• PhD in mathematics or closely related field.
• Solid research foundation with peer‑reviewed publications and contributions, with drive to lead independent research.
• Ability to develop competitive funding proposals and foster collaborations.
• Experience or affinity with modelling, analysis and/or computational experimentation applied to real-world problems.
• Proven ability or potential to supervise and mentor postdocs, PhD candidates, Bachelor's and Master's students.
• Commitment to inspiring and engaging teaching across the breadth of mathematics education.
• Engagement with international and national scientific and societal communities.
• Proficiency in English (C1); Dutch language learning supported within 5 years.

Responsibilities

• Lead an independent research programme in applied mathematics and collaborate across disciplines.
• Balance research and teaching, mentoring PhD candidates and students.
• Develop courses from first-year to Master’s level and contribute to curriculum development.
• Secure funding, collaborate with partners, and engage with societal stakeholders.

Skills

PhD in mathematics

Independent research

Funding proposals

Modelling/analysis/ computational

Supervision/mentoring

Teaching across degree levels

International engagement

English proficiency (C1)

Education

PhD in mathematics or closely related field

Job description

Organisation/Company Utrecht University Research Field Mathematics » Applied mathematics Mathematics » Computational mathematics Researcher Profile Leading Researcher (R4) Established Researcher (R3) Application Deadline 31 Oct 2026 - 22:59 (UTC) Country Netherlands Type of Contract Permanent Job Status Not Applicable Hours Per Week 40.0 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Join the Mathematical Institute of Utrecht University! As Assistant Professor in Applied Mathematics, you’ll develop your research programme, inspire students and advance education. Collaborating closely with colleagues and students, you’ll apply mathematics to tackle societal challenges and bring new data-driven modelling, experiment, and computer-aided mathematics into education. We welcome applicants from all areas of applied mathematics.Your job Working in Applied Mathematics within the Mathematical Institute means contributing to research that connects mathematics with the wider sciences, from life sciences and medical imaging to climate and ocean dynamics, and to teaching in which students meet current research first-hand. As a team, we aim to develop models and methods that are mathematically sound, computationally powerful and useful to other disciplines, and to prepare students to use new tools with confidence and care. Our societal impact is reflected in close collaborations with partners such as UMC Utrecht, RIVM and CWI (see below for more), and in work on pressing problems such as the spread of diseases and changing climate. We are looking for an assistant professor (UD) in applied mathematics who can strengthen our Mathematical modelling research group, both substantively and strategically. We are open to candidates with an interdisciplinary research focus in mathematical modelling with a strong orientation toward real-world applications, as well as to candidates who can contribute to developing a sustainable vision on the role and impact of AI within mathematical research. As an assistant professor in applied mathematics, you will balance research and teaching (approximately 50% each) in a role that allows you to grow as a leader while making a real impact on society. In your research, you will develop your own line, driven by real-world problems. You’ll collaborate with scientists across disciplines, securing funding and building partnerships to amplify your impact. And as a mentor and supervisor, you’ll guide the next generation of mathematicians, including PhD candidates and postdocs. In teaching, you’ll have the opportunity to teach and develop courses at every level, from core first-year Bachelor’s courses to advanced Master’s courses. Master’s courses can be taught either at the local level or as part of the national master programme, Mastermath. You’ll also supervise theses and smaller-scale projects. With university funding available for innovation, you’ll play a key role in defining the future of our curriculum, ensuring it remains resilient and adaptive in the face of fast-changing research methods. By getting involved in the daily life of the Mathematical Institute , you’ll play an active and committed role in the academic life of our department and faculty. In addition, you help shape the future of the department, bringing fresh ideas and energy to our community.

We are looking for a mathematician who brings a combination of the following qualifications, experience and potential:

• a PhD in mathematics or closely related field;
• a solid research foundation for your career stage, with peer-reviewed publications and other meaningful research contributions, paired with the drive to lead independent research;
• capacity to develop competitive funding proposals and foster research collaborations;
• experience or demonstrable affinity with modelling, analysis and/or computational experimentation applied to real-world problems;
• proven ability or potential to supervise and mentor postdocs, PhD candidates, Bachelor's and Master's students with enthusiasm and dedication;
• a commitment to inspiring and engaging teaching and the ability to teach courses across the breadth of the core Bachelor programme up to specialist Master's courses in Mathematics and related disciplines, based on an in-depth understanding of current developments in the field;
• engagement with international and national scientific and societal communities;
• proficiency in English (C1 level). Dutch is not required at the start, but we do ask you to learn the language within 5 years (support provided).

We recognise that academics follow diverse career paths and that no list of qualifications can capture every strength. We are committed to improving gender balance and fostering an inclusive academic community in which colleagues can develop and thrive. If this role aligns with your experience and aspirations, we encourage you to apply—even if you do not meet every qualification. Applications from groups currently underrepresented in mathematics are particularly welcome.

Additional Information

• a position for one year, with the prospect of permanent employment following a positive evaluation;
• a gross monthly salary, depending on qualifications and experience, between €4.925 and €6.682 (salary scale 11 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU)). The salary is based on a 38-hour working week;
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment set out in our collective labour agreement, we offer attractive additional benefits, including opportunities for personal and professional growth , flexible leave arrangements, and extra vacation days. Through the UU Terms of Employment Options Model, you can tailor your employment package to your needs. In this way, we encourage you to grow in what you do, both in your work and in your development. Read more about our terms of employment .

Selection process

At Utrecht University, we strive to be a place where everyone feels at home. We value colleagues with different backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including differences in culture, religion or ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, neurodiversity, disability and age. We are committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive and contribute. Read more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Knowledge security screening can be part of the selection procedures of academic staff. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology.

Utrecht University endorses the principles of Recognition and Rewards . The Utrecht TRIPLE model is a tool for applying the basic principles of Recognition and Rewards in practice. It helps to consider the various aspects of the academic work from a broad perspective and relate them to each other.

For more information, please contact Prof. Jason Frank (chair of the selection committee) at [e-mail] .

Do you have a question about the application procedure? Please send an email to [e-mail] .

Timeline: The in-person interviews are scheduled for the week of January 11, 2027. In case of a large number of applications, a first round of online interviews will be scheduled on November 23, 2026.

The preferred starting date is September 1, 2027 or earlier.