Vacancy: Full Professor of Rural Water Management and Soil Physics
The University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) is currently inviting applications for the position of a Full Professor of Rural Water Management and Soil Physics.
The position of a Full Professor for Rural Water Management and Soil Physics will become available as of 1st July 2016 at the Institute of Hydraulics and Rural Water Management (IHLW), Department of Water, Atmosphere and Environment (WAU), University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). The position is offered in accordance with §98 of the 2002 Universities Act in the form of an ongoing contract.
The University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, the Alma Mater Viridis, is a teaching and research center for renewable resources, which are essential for human life. It is BOKU's task to make a key contribution to the conservation and protection of resources for future generations through its wide variety of expertise. Combining natural sciences, engineering and economic sciences, its aim is to increase knowledge of the ecologically and economically sustainable use of natural resources. With more than 12,000 students and over 2,500 staff, BOKU is one of Europe's leading universities in the field of life sciences.
Duties and main concerns:
The professorship is considered a central position in the training and the research areas of water management and environmental engineering.
The teaching involves – in cooperation with the other scientists at the institute – the whole subject of rural water management and soil physics. The course portfolio has to be offered in accordance with the relevant curricula at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna.
The research focus of the institute is currently on hydromelioration, soil physics, agrohydrology and soil water protection and erosion control; its key areas of expertise relate to the systemic examination of interactions in soil-water-plant-atmosphere, namely from field measurement to model creation and simulation. The unique characteristics of IHLW in Austria are the soil physical and land improvement tasks in rural areas.
A revision of research priorities may still significantly complement the institute's development in the future.
The institute operates a remote base at the experimental farm of BOKU in Groß-Enzersdorf, in which applied questions in the above-mentioned disciplines are worked on. The university management as well as the department will support the continued operation of a long-term monitoring there.
The professor's research remit will generally focus on rural water management, especially in developing countries. Applicants should set out their research interests within the following ranges and have experience in one or more of these areas:
• Quantification and modeling of water and mass transport processes, like in the soil-water-plant system (e.g. migration processes of substances, detection of potential and actual evapotranspiration, infiltration and storage)
• Optimization of land use in terms of soil and soil water protection and erosion control
• Hydromelioration (soil water management; irrigation and drainage, salinization)
• Methods of hydrogeophysics e.g. GPR, ERT and/or the Tracer Hydrology
The ability to do interdisciplinary research based on technical and scientific methods is required for fulfilling these responsibilities.
Job specifications:
• Authorization to teach acquired at an Austrian university (venia docendi) or foreign equivalent or an equivalent subject-relevant academic qualification.
• Relevant experience and competence in teaching, guidance in scientific work, as well as the supervision of young scientists (PhD students). The candidate is expected to submit a teaching portfolio.
• Teaching in German and English.
• Subject-specific research experience of international reputation, as well as ability to network on national level.
• Experience in developing countries desirable.
• Experience in the successful acquisition, execution and management of research projects.
• Cooperation with national and international research institutions and with relevant partners from public services and business.
• Management and interpersonal skills, communication and team skills and a willingness to participate in public relations.
• Willingness to participate in relevant focus and cooperation programs of the University.
• Willingness to participate in the self-governance of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna.
For more information about this position, please contact the Head of Department Prof. Dr. Herwig Waidbacher, Department of Water-Atmosphere-Environment, telephone: +43-1-47654-5222, e-mail: herwig.waidbacher@boku.ac.at
Please send your application by email to rektorat@boku.ac.at as well as 1 hard copy no later than 10th April 2016 (date on postage stamp) to the Rectorate of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Gregor-Mendel-Straße 33, A 1180 Vienna.
Please include the following documents with your application:
• CV including details of professional, teaching and research activities (incl. presentation of teaching portfolios – further information is available in German at
http://www.boku.ac.at/fileadmin/data/H05000/H17100/Qualifizierungsvereinbarung/Lehrportfolio_-_Leitfaden_zur_Erstellung.pdf)
• List of publications (referenced / not referenced), presentations and projects
• Copies of 5 recent publications that you consider particularly important
• Draft concept for research and teaching; presentation of planned research priorities
• Brief explanation of why you believe yourself to be particularly suitable for this position (max. 1 page A4)
By submitting the application, you also agree to the participation of an external recruitment consultant in the selection process.
The University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna is seeking to increase the number of its female faculty members and therefore, qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply. Women are given priority when qualifications are equal, except in cases where there are outweighing factors concerning another candidate.
The employment contract is classified as group A1 of the collective agreement for university employees. Minimum gross yearly salary: € 66.953,60; the actual annual gross salary is subject to negotiation.
More information on this position and about BOKU and this department can be found on the website: www.boku.ac.at and www.wau.boku.ac.at/ihlw