UTYoung AcademyApplication Round

Application Round

Application round YAT 2026

The Young Academy Twente (YAT) is looking for new members. Are you an enthusiastic, ambitious researcher or teacher at UT? Would you like to help us in actively shaping the UT so that all early-career teachers and researchers can reach their full potential? And would you like to meet and work with other early-career academics from all faculties? Then, consider applying for YAT!

As YAT, we build a community of young academics, facilitate a learning platform for academic leadership, and strengthen the societal impact of our university. YAT has three core tasks:

  • Support. We support early career academics in their development as educators, scientists, leaders, and entrepreneurs within and beyond their own fields. We help to make our university an inclusive and attractive place to work.
  • Advise. We provide solicited and unsolicited advice to the UT community (including the Executive Board or Strategic Board of the UT) along the lines of research, education, and innovation.
  • Connect. We encourage multidisciplinarity and connect science with society.

YAT members have the opportunity to actively contribute to joint actions that improve the position and working culture for young academics. In practice, this means that approximately 8 hours a month are dedicated for a meaningful contribution. This can be through organizing events, helping to shape policy or through your own initiatives. Members are also encouraged to start new initiatives that help us strengthen our university's impact. Examples include our actions to extend the ius promovendi (everybody professor), advising new Recognition&Rewards policies, and demanding more efforts towards sustainability (Think Green, Act Green Manifesto).

To become a member,  you need to have made a relevant contribution to education, research, innovation and/or outreach. We strive for a diverse membership base with strong representation of all five UT faculties. In the selection process, this balance is taken into account.

Membership lasts for four years. New members have received their PhD degree less than 10 years ago (extended by a maximum of 18 months for parenthood or for other reasons) and hold a position at the UT.

If you are interested in joining YAT, please send

  • a one-page statement on why you would like to become a member and what you would like to work on as YAT member. Include one paragraph highlighting your strengths or your impact at the UT and beyond, and
  • a two-page CV, motivating your strengths

to youngacademy@utwente.nl before June 30th, 2026

For more information about YAT please take a look at our website or contact one of our members directly if you like to hear about our experiences within YAT.

Kind regards,

The YAT board