Head of Department of Medical Biology
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.
Ongoing 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.
- 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.
You will work within the Department of Medical Biology at Amsterdam UMC (location AMC), an academically and internationally connected environment that operates in a broad and interdisciplinary field. The team of more than 100 staff includes researchers, educators, analysts, and support personnel, all dedicated to cutting-edge research and innovative academic education.
The department conducts internationally recognized research and maintains close ties with clinical and preclinical departments. The department trains the next generation of researchers and educators, from PhD students and postdocs to early-career group leaders. It makes a large, high-quality contribution to teaching at Amsterdam UMC, FNWI of the UvA and AUC, and is well embedded in national and international networks. The culture is open, ambitious, and focused on collaboration, quality and societal engagement.
You report to the divisional board and serve as the department’s leading representative, both within and outside Amsterdam UMC.
As Head of Department, our collaboration with Fundashon Mariadal Bonaire may be part of your responsibilities. In that case, you will contribute to maintaining and further developing the collaboration and knowledge exchange with Bonaire, as well as supporting the physicians from your department who are seconded to Fundashon Mariadal.
Do you have questions? For substantive information about this position, please contact Vincent Christoffels, prof. of Developmental Biology and head of department of Medical Biology, via v.m.christoffels@amsterdamumc.nl.
As part of your application, we ask you to submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae (CV) and a list of publications.
An (development) assessment is part of the selection process.
A reference check and screening may be part of the procedure. If you join us, we require a Certificate of Conduct (VOG) for certain positions.
Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated.
