"Assistant Professor in Agentic AI for Smart Systems (Tenure Track)"

Job Description

Are you passionate about shaping the next generation of Agentic AI systems—AI that not only reasons and learns, but also acts with autonomy, adaptability, and responsibility? Do you aspire to combine cutting-edge research with education that prepares students for the future of smart, interconnected systems? The Information Technology Group at Wageningen University & Research offers an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact in this emerging field.

In this position, you will explore the rapidly evolving domain of Agentic AI for Smart Systems and share your expertise with highly motivated students. Your research will advance intelligent, autonomous, and interactive AI agents that contribute to solving challenges in life sciences, agriculture, the environment, and beyond. We particularly seek candidates who can integrate Agentic AI with systems thinking, agent-based modeling, and system dynamics, thereby linking advanced AI with methods for analyzing, simulating, and designing complex socio-technical systems. You will design and investigate methods that make AI not only smarter, but also more explainable, safe, and beneficial when integrated into system-of-systems contexts.

Renowned as a leading institution in food, agriculture, and environmental sciences, Wageningen University prides itself on its excellence and impact. Our Information Technology (INF) Group is at the forefront of research in smart systems and system-of-systems engineering, with a strong track record in artificial intelligence, data science, software engineering, and socio-technical systems. To strengthen our research and education in the fast-growing domain of agentic AI and smart systems engineering, we are seeking applications for an Assistant Professor position.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• Conducting high-quality scientific research and publishing in leading journals
• Acquiring, coordinating, and implementing innovative (inter)national research projects
• Supervising PhD candidates, MSc and BSc theses, and collaborating with colleagues
• Developing and teaching courses in AI, agent-based modeling, system dynamics, and smart systems engineering
• Contributing to the further development of the INF group

This position is part of the Academic Career Framework (ACF) at Wageningen University & Research, which has replaced the traditional Tenure Track. This new career framework for all academic staff at Wageningen University starts on 9 March 2025. One of the 3 career paths is the Professor Career Path. The aim of this ACF is to achieve a new balance in recognising and valuing academics where both team collaboration and the unique talent of individual scientists are seen, by creating more differentiation in career paths, putting the emphasis on the quality of work and less on quantitative results, doing justice to the individual qualities and ambitions of academics as much as to team performance, promoting all aspects of open science and encouraging high-quality leadership in the academy.

In this challenging career trajectory: you acquire, lead and implement innovative and creative (inter-) national research projects in {name of chair group}; you collaborate with colleagues and supervise PhD students, BSc and MSc theses and you develop and teach courses; you contribute to the further development of the {name of chair group}.

Requirements

You are ambitious and enthusiastic about education and research in Agentic AI and Smart Systems. You also possess: A completed PhD in artificial intelligence, computer science, systems engineering, or related fields; A strong research profile in Agentic AI, systems thinking, agent-based modeling, or system dynamics; Demonstrated ability to publish in leading journals and conferences; Relevant and well-evaluated teaching experience; Excellent communication skills and team spirit; English proficiency at C1 level; University Teaching Qualification (UTQ; in Dutch BKO), or willingness to obtain within 3 years.

Conditions of Employment

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include: sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave; working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance; there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee; a fixed year-end bonus of 8.3%; excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will be offered a fixed-term, 18 months contract which, upon positive evaluation, can lead to a permanent employment contract. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between €4.571,- and €6.433,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 11).

Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes. You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the "best university" in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.