[staff-physics-and-astronomy-HL-UHD-UD] Opportunity for a teaching-focused staff position (Amsterdam University College)

[Juan Rojo]

Dear colleagues,

As discussed yesterday at the Section Representative Meeting (SRM), we have received an attractive offer from the Amsterdam University College (AUC) to support their physics education.

The AUC is a joint honours college of the UvA and the VU, founded in 2009 and located in the Science Park. It offers a selective, English-taught liberal arts and sciences Bachelor's degree with a broad interdisciplinary curriculum, hosting an international, residential community attracting students from across the world.

In addition to the N&S JD courses, AUC students can also choose among a number of “in house” physics courses. There is high interest in physics courses, and many AUC students move to the Physics master program.

We receive regular requests from the AUC for teachers for their physics courses. These teachers can be staff (e.g Greg teaches a Complexity course) or postdocs.

The AUC is very keen on a structural solution for their physics courses, and would like us to appoint a "physics champion" who would take the lead in several of the AUC physics courses. The idea is a 0.4fte structural teaching commitment, and we would receive some additional funding to support this construction. One one makes the maths, if the accept the AUC offer, we would receive a financial compensation corresponding to around 90% of the full-time salary of an UD during (at least) 5 years, which as you can see is very attractive (given that the teaching commitment is "only" 0.4fte).

We discussed at the SRM and there was broad consensus that this is for our department a great opportunity. Many AUC students go their B projects in our groups, and many of them go to our master program. So increasing the VU visibility there can only help. Financially it is also an attractive deal, with very limited to none risk for our department.

So now we have two options:

Option 1: hire a UD2 in 2027 with a teaching focus (0.4fte teaching at the AUC & 0.6fte research). The research activities need to fit, as with all our staff, in one of the existing sections. This hire would be on top of the 3 hires that we already plan to do in 2027 and hence this extra position can be considered in the retreat discussions.

Option 2: appoint an existing staff member to this role of AUC physics champion (with an education profile). Note that this colleague would still have significant research time (at least 0.5fte) so it could be an attractive option for one of us and a way to support the department. This person would also get a career track and be offered the opportunity to grow academically within the expectations for a teaching profile.

Should anyone be interested in further discussing option 2, please reach out to me. We can also further discuss at the retreat. A final decision in any case needs to be taken relatively soon.

best,
Juan


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Prof. Dr. Juan Rojo
Professor of Theoretical Physics
Head of the Department of Physics and Astronomy
Faculty of Science, VU Amsterdam
De Boelelaan 1081, 1081HV Amsterdam
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Nikhef Theory Group, Science Park 105,
1098 XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Webpage: http://www.juanrojo.com/
Zoom: https://vu-live.zoom.us/my/juanrojo
E-mail: j.rojo at vu.nl
         j.rojo at nikhef.nl
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