Educational development (primary focus)

• Conduct a national inventory of existing microbiome-related programmes, modules, minors, master tracks, micro-credentials, and post-graduate offerings across WO, HBO, and professional training providers.
• Identify gaps in competencies and opportunities for synergy across institutions.
• Coordinate the design and refinement of the Holomicrobiome master track and related educational pathways (e.g., interdisciplinary modules, blended learning resources, digital content).
• Co-create new educational components with lecturers and researchers, ensuring alignment with emerging scientific insights.
• Contribute to open educational resources, flexible learning formats, and life-long learning initiatives, including the development of post-graduate and upskilling programmes.

Alignment with research groups and applied universities

• Collaborate with microbiome researchers and applied partners to translate current findings, datasets, and methods into high-quality learning materials.
• Participate in scientific and applied research meetings to ensure curriculum relevance.
• Strengthen two-way knowledge exchange between fundamental research, applied practice, and professional education.
• Align competencies and internship opportunities across HBO and WO and support the formation of national learning communities that address real-world microbiome challenges.

 Experience & profile

• A Master’s degree or PhD in the life sciences, environmental sciences, microbiology, or a related field.
• Experience in curriculum development, educational innovation, programme coordination, or professional-sector training.
• Familiarity with multi-level education, flexible formats, micro-credentials, and lifelong learning.
• Strong organisational and communication skills; ability to work across diverse institutions and sectors.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with microbiome research or education.
• Understanding of Dutch higher education and professional training structures.

We offer a temporary employment contract for 30.4 hours per week for a period of 12 months. After satisfactory evaluation the contract will be extended with 16 months. The preferred starting date is to be discussed. 

The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week and dependent on relevant experience, ranges between €3.546 - €5.538 (scale 10). This does not include 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% year-end allowance. The UFO profile Project leader is applicable. For this position we can not sponsor a visa. The Collective Labour Agreement of Universities of the Netherlands is applicable.

Curious about our extensive secondary benefits package? You can read more about it here.