Assistant Professor Environmental Health Policy at Department of International Health

Welcome to Maastricht University!
We are hiring an assistant professor on environmental health policy research to strengthen the team at the Department of International Health at Maastricht University, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences. You are an early-career researcher with demonstrated success in scientific grant writing and publishing in the area of environmental health policy and intersectoral collaboration for health. You also possess teaching experience within the health sciences.

Assistant Professor Environmental Health Policy at Department of International Health

• Our goal: We aim for an assistant professor that is expanding and strengthening our growing research activities on environmental health policy public health competencies for environmental health, One Health and intersectoral governance and to translate this research into our teaching.
• Your colleagues: The FHML Department of International Health focusses on health policy and workforce development in public health to support policy-makers and practitioners in evidence-informed decision making. We do this by interdisciplinary, innovative education and research with societal relevance addressing health and societal challenges and proposing solutions with impact at the local, national and international level.The Department of International Health is a team of 10 researchers and teachers with various disciplinary and nationality backgrounds to support policy-makers and practitioners in evidence-informed decision making.We offer an inspiring position in a growing field of research and societal relevance. You have the space to develop your own research line together with colleagues and social partners with the perspective to contribute to solutions for better health, well-being of humans, animals and our planet.

What you do

As assistant professor you will

• Collaboratively initiate and conduct research relating to environmental health policy. We interpret ‘environmental’ broadly to mean natural, built, social and cultural environments.
• Apply for and secure national and international research funding
• Publish in peer-reviewed journals and in contributions with societal impact
• (Co-) Supervise PhD candidates, junior researchers and master and bachelor students
• Conceive, plan and execute curriculum components as lecturer and coordinator within the Bachelor European Public Health and the Master Governance and Leadership in European Public Health. Particularly, contribute to the further conceptualization and development of the environmental health policy teaching components
• Help shape the Department’s vision and mission through coordination of research and teaching
• Actively engage in civil society, scientific and academic networks contributing to and developing the environmental health field on the local, national and/or international level.

Are you ready to set the course for the years ahead? Then we’d love to meet you. 

What you bring 
We’re not looking for checkboxes; we’re interested in who you are and what you bring. Do you recognize yourself in this?

• A completed PhD in public health, health sciences, epidemiology, health policy or closely related area
• At least 2 years of relevant research experience after PhD completion with a thematic focus on environmental health policy either (1) on the effects of a changing environment (natural, built, social and/or cultural) on human health or (2) of human activities on those environmental dimensions and/or (3) on evaluating of proposed or attempted solutions to address these effects
• Demonstrable experiences in conducting research to provide policy advice with quantitative and/or qualitative research methods
• Proof of understanding and applying relevant conceptual perspectives such as governance, One Health/Planetary Health/Urban Health, or ecological sustainability
• Active participation in relevant research or professional networks transcending human health, animal health and environmental health domains
• Demonstrated success as co-applicant for research funds
• Experience in supervision of PhDs, junior researchers or students
• Demonstratable teaching experience in health science programs
• A team player in an interdisciplinary and international setting
• High level of fluency in written and spoken English.

We are not seeking a candidate with a narrow focus on environmental health protection and safety research involving (lab-based chemical) monitoring of factors relating to air, water or soil quality, or to waste.

What we offer 
At Maastricht University, you’ll work in an international, open, and engaged environment. We offer: 

• An employment contract for a period of 12 or 18 months with a scope of 0.9 FTE (0.5 research/ 0.4 teaching) and prospect of conversion to a permanent contract by sufficiently positive evaluation of performance.
• A gross monthly salary between €4.728 and €6.433 (based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week). 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus.
• 29 vacation days (based on full-time), four additional days off (Carnival Monday and Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day), and the possibility to accrue up to 12 extra days through compensation hours.
• Flexible working hours, a home office allowance, and the option to work from home.
• Freedom and space to shape your work independently and develop your ideas.
• A close-knit community of colleagues to collaborate and grow with.
• A solid pension plan via ABP, company fitness schemes, and access to various university sports facilities.
• An inspiring work environment in the heart of Europe. 

About the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML)
FHML is committed to health in the broadest sense: from molecule to human, and from healthcare to prevention. We train healthcare professionals and researchers through innovative educational programmes and conduct groundbreaking research in health and well-being. As part of Maastricht UMC+ (MUMC+), our international and interdisciplinary community forms a unique collaboration between university and academic hospital, where education, research, and care come together.

About CAPHRI- Care and Public Health Research Institute
This research is embedded in the CAPHRI research institute, which is committed to improving health through innovative, practice-oriented, and societal relevant research. CAPHRI connects science and society through participatory research in public health and primary care. CAPHRI offers an inspiring academic working environment where research groups are organised along six thematic-oriented ‘research lines’ in which researchers from different departments operate together in multidisciplinary teams. CAPHRI attracts top scientists from around the world and is known for its comprehensive ‘PhD training programme’ for young talented scientists.

Interested? 
Want to know more about this position or what it’s like to work at our university? Reach out to contact Timo Clemens at timo.clemens@maastrichtuniversity.nl You can also apply directly using the button below.

Apply now, no later than January 18, 2026 for this position.

Please upload the following documents:

• Letter of motivation
• CV, including
• List of publications & brief description of research focus (100 words)
• Record of teaching experiences
• Record of project work & applications
• Contact information of two referees
• Sketch of proposed research to shape environmental health policy (max. 300 words)

We look forward to getting to know you!

About Maastricht University
At Maastricht University, we collaboratively seek solutions to help move the world forward. We do this with 23,300 students and 5,400 employees across 5 regional locations, 6 faculties, and more than 70 research institutes. We encourage you to push boundaries and discover new opportunities for yourself and the world around you. Together, we can find the answers for tomorrow. 

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

At Maastricht University, we prefer to contact potential candidates directly. We therefore kindly ask that no agencies or intermediaries submit offers or approaches.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.