The Informatics Institute of the University of Amsterdam is seeking an assistant professor in the area of data management methodologies. The assistant professor is to be jointly positioned in the Intelligent Data Engineering Lab (INDElab), the Complex Cyber-Infrastructure group (CCI) and the Data Science Centre (DSC) as part of the Accelerate Programme.

INDElab, CCI and the DSC are collaborating to establish an overarching methodology that brings together techniques and technologies for individual data-related tasks, relying on fundamental principles of data management, system design and security. The systematic acquisition and management of research data involves challenging tasks such as preparing data for analysis, making data available for reuse and replication, transforming data for new applications, and publishing data. Throughout these processes, the provenance of data and the privacy of data subjects is to be maintained. Such methodologies and associated tooling aim to increase control and accountability and to reduce efforts of the various stakeholders, including the data scientists and data engineers operating within the Accelerate Programme. As such, the research contributes to the data-curation and related services across the University and involves cross-faculty and cross-disciplinary partnerships.

What are you going to do?
In this role you will conduct research into these methodologies and associated systems. The work will be done in close collaboration with the data science and software and system experts of INDElab and CCI and draw on the experience of data scientists and data engineers in the UvA’s Data Science Centre. You will confer with data scientists, data engineers and data stewards from various faculties to identify common challenges related to all aspects of data management and to address the identified challenges in collaborations with colleagues from the Complex Cyber Infrastructure group and the Intelligent Data Engineering lab. Besides you will seek out partnerships and funding opportunities to further the described research and to bring the methodology to practice in interoperable software systems.

In terms of teaching, you will teach MSc and BSc level courses in curricula involving data science (e.g. the Data Science track of the Master Information Science) and supervise BSc, MSc and PhD students. The total teaching load will be around 30%.

This position is situated across INDElab, CCI and DSC, working at least one day a week from the DSC and two days a week within INDElab and CCI.

What do we require?

• Excellent research skills, evidenced by a track record of publications in renowned international conferences and journals and invited talks at international conferences, workshops or seminars.
• A background in and research experience related to one or more of the following: scientific workflows, data science, data management, data curation, data provenance.
• The ability to form and implement a research agenda by acquiring external funding and attracting personnel; the agenda should bring together research efforts from INDElab and CCI and be to the benefit of the Data Science Centre.
• The ability to work closely with researchers of diverse (scientific) backgrounds, including data scientists and system/software engineers.
• A strong affinity with data science and the necessity of FAIR data.
• experience or affinity with software, software languages, software development and language engineering;
• A proven record of high quality and diverse academic teaching at the BSc and MSc level.
• The Dutch Basic Teaching Qualification (or foreign equivalent), or willingness to acquire such a qualification within two years.
• Preferably experience with the (co-)supervision of BA/BSc, MA/MSc and/or PhD students.
• The ability to develop the management skills required for general academic administration, organisational and coordination tasks.
• Excellent communication and social skills.
• Good command of English and the willingness to learn Dutch.

We offer a temporary contract for 38 hours a week, for the duration of 18 months. A permanent contract follows if we assess your performance positively.

The salary, depending on relevant experience before the beginning of the employment contract, will be €3,821 to €5,230 (scale 11) gross per month, based on a fulltime contract (38 hours a week). This is exclusive 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

Are you curious about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits like our excellent opportunities for study and development? Take a look here.

University of Amsterdam

With over 6,000 employees, 30,000 students and a budget of more than 600 million euros, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) is an intellectual hub within the Netherlands. Teaching and research at the UvA are conducted within seven faculties: Humanities, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Economics and Business, Law, Science, Medicine and Dentistry. Housed on four city campuses in or near the heart of Amsterdam, where disciplines come together and interact, the faculties have close links with thousands of researchers and hundreds of institutions at home and abroad.  

The UvA’s students and employees are independent thinkers, competent rebels who dare to question dogmas and aren’t satisfied with easy answers and standard solutions. To work at the UvA is to work in an independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterised by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society.

Faculty of Science - Informatics Institute

The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 7,000, as well as 1,600 members of staff working in education, research or support services. Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works, be it elementary particles, the birth of the universe or the functioning of the brain.

The mission of the Informatics Institute is to perform curiosity-driven and use-inspired fundamental research in Computer Science. The main research themes are Artificial Intelligence, Computational Science and Systems and Network Engineering. Our research involves complex information systems at large, with a focus on collaborative, data driven, computational and intelligent systems, all with a strong interactive component