The Ruhr-Universität Bochum is one of Germany’s leading research universities, addressing the whole range of academic disciplines. A highly dynamic setting enables researchers and students to work across the traditional boundaries of academic subjects and faculties. To create knowledge networks within and beyond the university is Ruhr-Universität Bochum’s declared aim.
The Faculty of Geosciences at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum is seeking to fill a W2 Professorship (m/f/d) in Soil Science and Soil Resources at the Institute of Geography from 01.03.2024.
We are looking for an outstanding scientist who can demonstrate internationally visible achievements in research and teaching as well as an above-average acquisition of third-party funds and thus make an important contribution to the further profile of the Faculty and the Institute of Geography.
The central research area of the successful candidate is to contribute to the clarification of current questions in the context of carbon and nutrient cycles within the framework of process-oriented soil analysis in metropolitan areas. With the help of innovative soil chemical and biological laboratory methods, soil ecological mechanisms should be investigated and placed into a spatio-temporal context. Based on the understanding of soil biogeochemical processes, environmental changes (due to climate change, land use changes) will be evaluated so that sustainable soil management strategies can be developed and soil ecosystem services may be quantified in order to sustainably shape the transformation of metropolitan areas.
The willingness and proven ability to acquire significant third-party funded research projects and to participate in research networks is a prerequisite. In addition to a focus on third-party funded basic research, the commitment to initiate interdisciplinary collaborative projects is expected to elucidate the interrelationships between anthropogenic influences on soil processes and the associated possible environmental risks for developing sustainable soil management systems. In addition, the professorship should significantly contribute to col-laborative research proposals within the Faculty. The future professor shall engage in trans-disciplinary research collaborations with actors beyond academia and assume societal responsibility in knowledge transfer, especially in the Ruhr Region.
The subject-specific teaching is to be provided in the B.Sc. and B.A. degree programmes in Geography, in the M.Sc. degree programme in Geography in the specialisation Urban and Landscape Ecology and the international Master’s degree programme “Redesigning the Post-Industrial City”. This requires the ability and willingness to teach undergraduate courses in the entire subject spectrum of physical geography, including excursions lasting several days. Teaching languages are German and English. Fluent German is not required to start the position but the successful candidate will be expected to hold lectures in German within the first five years.
The willingness to establish and expand digital teaching programmes with international co-operation partners (“Virtual Exchange”) is expected in addition to predominant classroom teaching at the university. Furthermore, teaching should be offered within the framework of research-based learning involving students in the own research projects. The supervision of empirical Bachelor’s and Master’s theses are an integral part of the teaching of this professorship.
Associated with the professorship is the scientific management of the comprehensively equipped physical geography laboratory.
Positive evaluation as a junior professor, habilitation or equivalent academic achievement and evidence of special aptitude for academic teaching are just as much required as the willingness to participate in the University’s self-governing bodies.
Furthermore, the following are expected:
- internationally visible and networked research in the specified field, evidenced by high-quality publications in peer-reviewed journals;
- competences in didactics of higher education and a high commitment to teaching;
- the ability and willingness to engage in interdisciplinary scientific work;
- the willingness and proven capability to attract third-party research funding;
- the willingness to engage in the university networks: UAR, UNIC, UniverCity, especially in the context of externally funded research projects.
The Ruhr-Universität Bochum stands for diversity and equal opportunities. For this reason, we favor a working environment composed of heterogeneous teams, and seek to promote the careers of individuals who are underrepresented in our respective professional areas. The Ruhr-Universität Bochum expressly requests job applications from women. In areas in which they are underrepresented they will be given preference in the case of equivalent qualifications with male candidates. Applications from individuals with disabilities are most welcome.
Application materials including a cover letter, CV detailing academic qualifications and awards, lists of publications and third-party funding, copies of academic certificates, and a research and teaching statement, should be sent in a single pdf file by E-Mail to the Dean of the Faculty of Geosciences, Prof. Dr Matthias Kiese (geodekanat@rub.de), no later than 26 March 2023. In addition, we kindly ask applicants to submit a self-disclosure form available at https://www.geos.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/sites/default/files/media/file/Self-Disclosure-Form-Applicants.xlsx. Further information about the Institute can be found at https://www.gmg.ruhr-uni-bochum.de and the Geosciences Faculty at www.geos.rub.de. Please contact Prof. Dr Christian Albert (christian.albert@rub.de) for further questions on the position.
For legal requirements, please refer to www.rub.de/appointments. Information on data collection during the application process can be found under: https://www.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/en/information-collection-personal-data-application-process.