About your role
As Head of the Department of Medical Biology, you will lead a dynamic and internationally visible department comprising more than 100 staff, including visiting researchers. The department consists of eight research groups, an experienced Anatomy Education section including the dissection room team, the central Microscopy & Cytometry Core Facility (MCCF-AMC), and a broad base of supporting staff.
Together with the department’s staff, you are jointly responsible for the strategic development of the department, in alignment with the ambitions of Amsterdam UMC. You foster an inspiring and inclusive working environment where excellent research, high-quality education, and societal impact go hand in hand. The department is diverse in both expertise and its range of activities; effective, connecting and future-oriented leadership is key. The department is strongly committed to continuous talent and career development.
Research is a core activity. You will lead an environment that enables internationally prominent research, ranging from cardiovascular to neurological diseases. Publishing high-impact papers and increasing scientific visibility and impact are top priorities. The research groups actively contribute to (inter)national consortia and maintain a strong track record in scientific output and collaboration. In the coming years, the aim is to further strengthen both scientific and societal impact.
Facilities The MCCF-AMC and the embalming/body donation program are of major importance. The MCCF-AMC supports research and education both within and beyond Amsterdam UMC, serving over 500 users. National and international collaboration, technological innovation, and new application development are central to its mission. The teaching and research enabled by the department relies heavily on the advanced dissection facilities, successful body donation program, and dedicated staff. Microscopy, flow cytometry, and anatomy act as bridges for interdisciplinary collaboration, scientific innovation, and the co-development of university and PhD-level teaching.
Education is another key pillar. The department develops, coordinates and facilitates educational programs for various faculties within the University of Amsterdam, external partners, and post-academic training. The educational team plays key roles in program and examination boards, as Principal Educator, and as head program directors. With both the core facility and wet labs/dissection halls, the department is uniquely positioned to deliver high-quality teaching in microscopy, flow and dissection. The faculty prides itself on excellent didactic skills and a strong commitment to evidence-based teaching at bachelor, master, and professional levels.
About youOngoing developments in research, education, valorization, and academic healthcare require strong and connecting leadership. At Amsterdam UMC, we embrace a vision of leadership that centers on four essentials: connection, accountability, transformative ability, and trust.
You are an inspiring and collaborative leader with a clear vision for the future of the Department of Medical Biology. You know how to motivate and support researchers, educators, and professional staff, enabling them to achieve their full potential individually and collectively. You create support for change, promote collaboration, and are capable of bringing a department forward within a complex and dynamic academic environment.
You bring sound management, including effective management of the human capital, and you strike a balance between timely decision-making and delegation. The challenges facing research, education, valorization, and academic healthcare require leadership marked by collaboration, accountability, and the ability to drive change. You possess strong strategic skills, are decisive, and appreciate different perspectives within a diverse working environment. Trust is the foundation of your leadership style.
You are also a distinguished scientist with demonstrable affinity for research and education that aligns with the Department of Medical Biology. You have a strong scientific profile and extensive experience leading research groups, collaborative partnerships, and professional networks. You have a strong track record in driving educational innovation. You have a clear vision for developing a multidisciplinary department where fundamental and translational research, education, and technological innovation reinforce each other. You enjoy working with both basic and clinical researchers and have substantial experience teaching medical and biomedical sciences students.
In addition, you bring:
- A full professorship or the qualifications required for appointment as a professor in the near future;
- Demonstrated leadership abilities and the ambition to further develop your leadership profile;
- A University Teaching Qualification (UTQ/BKO) or comparable teaching certificate;
- Excellent command of both Dutch and English, spoken and written.
Our offer- A permanent contract, with an appointment as Head of Department for five years, with the option of a second five-year term.
- Classification in salary scale 16: € 8.394 to € 10.851 gross for full-time employment (depending on education and experience). In addition to a good basic salary, we offer 8.3% end-of-year bonus. Calculate your net salary here.
- Pension accrual with the ABP, of which we pay 70% of the premium.
