Assistant Professor in AI in Digital Agriculture and Sustainability

Welcome to Maastricht University!
Use your expertise in Artificial Intelligence to help shape the future of sustainable agriculture and food systems and make a real difference for people and the planet.

• Our goal: By combining advanced AI and data science with real-world applications, we develop solutions for today’s and tomorrow’s challenges in food production and environmental resilience.
• Your colleagues: You will join the Department of Advanced Computing Sciences (DACS). We collaborate with partners at Brightlands Greenport Venlo, where researchers, entrepreneurs and students co-create innovations in healthy nutrition, future farming and the biocircular economy.

Assistant Professor in AI in Digital Agriculture and Sustainability

Your Role

As an Assistant Professor, you will:

• Conduct innovative research, develop and maintain an independent, externally (EU) funded research program in agritech, artificial intelligence and agrifood related domains.
• Publish and present your work in leading journals and at international conferences.
• Collaborate with colleagues across data science, agriculture, food and sustainability domains, both within UM and with external partners.
• Teach at bachelor’s and master’s level in AI, climate data, machine learning and related topics into your courses.
• Supervise and mentor PhD candidates, postdocs and student projects, fostering a dynamic and inclusive learning environment.
• Engage in leadership and service, including community outreach, industry partnerships, and interdisciplinary initiatives within UM and Brightlands.

What You Bring

We’re not looking for checklists, we’re interested in who you are and what you bring. Does this sound like you?

• A PhD in Computer Science, AI, Electrical Engineering or a related field, with expertise in AI and/or ICT for agriculture, food and sustainability.
• Proven research skills in AI, machine learning or data science, ideally applied to agrifood or environmental domains.
• A strong publication record and experience in securing research funding (or clear potential to do so).
• Teaching experience and excellent communication skills in English; knowledge of Dutch is an asset.
• A collaborative mindset and experience working in interdisciplinary environments.

Preferred:

• Experience with advanced AI techniques (e.g. deep learning, computer vision, NLP) in agritech applications.
• Familiarity with regulatory, ethical and data privacy considerations in research.

If shaping sustainable agriculture with AI excites you, we’d love to meet you.

What we offer
As an Assistant Professor at DACS - Faculty of Science & Engineering, you will join the most international university in the Netherlands. We offer you:

• Good employment conditions. The position is graded in scale 11 according to UFO profile Assistant Professor, with corresponding salary based on experience ranging from €4.728,00 and €6.433,00 gross per month (based on a full-time employment of 38 hours per week). In addition to the monthly salary, an 8.0% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus apply.
• An employment contract for a period of 18 months with a scope of 1.0 FTE. Upon proven suitability, the employment contract will be converted to an indefinite contract.
• 29 vacation days (full-time), four additional days off, and the possibility to accrue up to 12 extra days through compensation hours.
• Freedom and space to organize your work independently and develop your own ideas.
• A solid pension plan via ABP, access to company fitness schemes, and a wide range of sports facilities.
• An inspiring work environment in the heart of Europe.

The terms of employment at Maastricht University are largely set out in the collective labor agreement of Dutch Universities. In addition, local provisions specific to UM apply. For more information, click here.

Faculty of Science and Engineering
At the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE), we focus on themes such as circularity and sustainability, future farming, digitisation and (scientific) instrument development. FSE's leading projects, like the Einstein Telescope Pathfinder, are sure to grab anyone's attention. The faculty is a vibrant hub of education and research in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS). At FSE, over 450 staff members and 3700 students gather to explore exciting interdisciplinary research and educational programmes. Feel welcome, be part of our team and put your brilliant mind to work!

FSE at the Brightlands Campuses
Maastricht, Sittard-Geleen, Heerlen, and Venlo, the home of four creative Brightlands campuses, are bustling with 30,000 entrepreneurs, researchers, and students working diligently to solve global challenges. The Faculty of Science and Engineering is active on all four Brightlands campuses, and this is where our impact reaches its peak. To give you an idea of what is happening at each campus: Sittard-Geleen is home to the largest chemical site in the Euregion, while Venlo is a large hub for agri-food innovation. Maastricht is the site of the Health Campus, and Heerlen is the place to be for Smart Services.

Department of Advanced Computing Sciences
The Department of Advanced Computing Sciences (DACS) is part of the Faculty of Science and Engineering. DACS is Maastricht University’s largest and oldest department broadly covering the fields of artificial intelligence, data science, computer science, mathematics and robotics. Over 100 researchers work and study in the Department of Advanced Computing Sciences, whose roots trace back to 1987. The department’s staff teaches approximately 1250 bachelor’s and master’s students in 4 specialized study programmes in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence.

Click here for more information.

About Maastricht University
At Maastricht University, we collaboratively seek solutions to help move the world forward. We do this with 23,000 students and 5,000 employees across 5 regional locations, 6 faculties, and more than 70 research institutes. We encourage you to push boundaries and discover new opportunities for yourself and the world around you. Together, we can find the answers for tomorrow.

Curious?
Are you interested in this exciting position but still have questions? Feel free to contact Professor Christopher Brewster at christopher.brewster@maastrichtuniversity.nl for more information. Do you have any questions regarding the procedure, please contact Lisa Turcotte (Recruiter) at lisa.turcotte@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Applying?
Or are you already convinced and ready to become our new Assistant Professor? Apply now, no later than 09/21/2025, for this position and include:

• Your cover letter
• CV with publications
• Research statement (including funding plans)
• Teaching statement
• Contact details of three referees

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.