Assistant Professor Evolutionary Diversity and Biogeography

Welcome to Maastricht University!
Maastricht University will upgrade its plant-biological research-line with an expansion in the field of plant-evolutionary biology and is looking for two Assistant Professors. They will work as part of the recently established chair Evolutionary Diversity and Biogeography. 

Assistant Professor Evolutionary Diversity and Biogeography

• Our goal: You will work at the System Earth Science (SES) department at the Brightlands Campus Greenport Venlo in the Southern Netherlands. SES is a transdisciplinary department aimed at understanding the structure and functioning of the Earth as a complex, adaptive system. The diverse SES research themes address the functioning of system Earth in past and present, the role of humans in this system, and tackle pressing environmental challenges, like climate change and loss of biodiversity, to provide solutions for a more resilient planet. All activities have a strong systems approach.
• Your colleagues: You will work in a department founded only three years ago within a recently established team encompassing PhD students to full professors. The activities of the SES team focus on earth and plant-biological research (from fundamental to applied) in relation to human health, the environment and relevant stakeholders. Currently, at the campus a strong knowledgebase is being developed to facilitate education, research and innovation in an interdisciplinary setting.

You will work as part of the recently established chair Evolutionary Diversity and Biogeography. The aim of this chair is to explore the evolutionary patterns in plant-species diversity in space and (deep) time to gain insights into the origins, diversification and distribution of plants. Specifically, you help to expand research in the field of plant phylogenomics, systematics and biogeography.

What you do
You will have the following responsibilities:

• Support the chair’s ongoing research work on the tropical plant family Annonaceae. 
• Develop your own research line in the context of the chairs’ themes. This can be on other taxa or regions, including (underutilised) crops.
• Work in an interdisciplinary manner and have a willingness to cross boundaries between scientific disciplines and to society.
• Coordinate educational modules at the bachelor level using a Problem- and Research-Based Learning approach and supervise students during projects periods and final thesis works at the bachelor and master level.
• Engage in cooperation with other research clusters at Maastricht University (such as the Brightlands Future Farming Institute, Maastricht Centre for Systems Biology or Department of Advanced Computing Science) and knowledge partners (such as Naturalis Biodiversity Centre).  
• Be a stimulating, collaborative and approachable team member for staff and students and will readily interact with colleagues within Maastricht University and with other knowledge and business partners.

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?

• Plant evolutionary-biology skills: a doctoral degree in Biology, Evolution, Biodiversity studies, Biogeography, Systematics or a related discipline with expertise in at least two of the following areas: Tree of Life reconstruction, spatial analyses, systematics and taxonomy, or conservation biology.
• Strong quantitative skills: e.g. plant-phylogenetics skills (or in phylogenomics or phylogeography), biogeographic analyses, species-distribution modelling, next-generation sequencing skills, statistical analyses.
• Herbarium skills: a history of working with herbarium collections.
• Grant acquisition skills: proven track record of obtaining research funding.
• Educational competencies: proven experience in educational delivery and student supervision.

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

• A 12-month contract (0,8 - 1,0 fte) with the prospect of a permanent contract based on mutual satisfaction. 
• A gross monthly salary between €4728,00 and €6433,00 (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 Science and Engineering (FSE)
FSE is a young, rapidly growing faculty where science, technology, and society converge. We combine STEM and social sciences in innovative programmes such as Data Science, Circular Engineering, and Systems Biology. Our research and education are interdisciplinary, practice-oriented, and socially relevant. We take pride in our open culture and strong team spirit.

Interested?
Want to know more about this position or what it’s like to work at our university? Reach out to Roy Erkens at roy.erkens@maastrichtuniversity.nl or +31433881182. The end date of the publication is 6th May 2026. 

Apply now via the button below. 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.