Key responsibilities

The Faculty of Science, Institute of Biology (IBL), is looking for candidates for a position as Associate / Full Professor in Quantitative and Computational Biology or Bioinformatics. The IBL performs research across all forms of life and has a strong capacity to generate diverse types of data, including omics data, analytical data, imaging data and ecological data. Through this position, we aim to strengthen research and methodological innovation capacities for data analysis and multimodal data integration across organismal domains and data modalities, making use of state-of-the-art methodologies such as systems/network analysis, artificial intelligence and machine learning and/or computational modelling approaches. Moreover, the candidate will have a leading role in expanding and professionalizing the growing computational biology research community at the IBL and fostering strategic partnerships within and beyond Leiden University. Finally, the person appointed will be involved in shaping educational innovations to train the next generation of biologists to be proficient in data science and quantitative approaches. 

The position falls within the Sectorplan Biology (available upon request) and connects primarily to two of the four research Themes of the IBL, namely Host-Microbe Interactions and Bioactive Molecules. 
 
Selection Criteria 

• PhD in computational biology, bioinformatics or a related field with a strong publication record
• A visionary (future) leader in the field, with an independent research line in quantitative and biological data analysis
• Excited to play a key role in our leading research themes Host-Microbe Interactions and/or Bioactive Molecules. Think of biological systems such as plant-microbe interactions and/or soil microbiomes, whereby an interest in bioactive natural products and their role in ecology is preferred.
• Proven ability to acquire larger scale research funding
• Proven methodological innovation capacities using network/systems analysis, machine learning, multimodal data integration or other areas relevant to the IBL 
• Track record in collaboration and community building, ideally including across scientific (sub)disciplines and/or across multiple kingdoms of life. 
• Clear educational vision on how to teach biology students quantitative and computational skills 
• University Teaching Qualification or willingness to acquire this within the next five years