PhD position in Ecology and Biodiversity, interested in belowground biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in a changing climate.
The Ecology and Biodiversity Group at Utrecht University is looking for a PhD candidate interested in belowground biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in a changing climate.
Climate change and biodiversity loss are intimately intertwined. Changes to the global climate cause massive declines in biodiversity. Yet, biodiversity is one of our strongest fail-safes in a changing world. Biodiversity increases communities’ resilience to current climate change and enables communities to adapt to and even mitigate future climate change by increasing carbon storage and sequestration. Recent global and European policy emphasizes the capacity of restoration to increase carbon storage and biodiversity of global ecosystems. Yet, the majority of research focuses on these dynamics above ground. Roots, their microbiome, and the soil surrounding them, however, are often the dominant form of carbon storage in terrestrial ecosystems.
As a PhD candidate you will address (1) how belowground biodiversity dynamics alter carbon storage and the resilience of ecosystems to future climate change and (2) examine how belowground biodiversity may alter the outcomes of restoration for increased carbon storage. You will gain skills in evaluating ecological theory, belowground field methods, data-analysis in R, and meta-analysis of global data. Apart from this you will have the opportunity to develop your own ideas within the framework of this position collaboratively with the Ecology and Biodiversity Group staff and as part of an international collaborative network of researchers.
Qualifications
We are looking for a candidate who has:
- a MSc in biology, ecology, plant science, or a related field;
- practical experience with data analysis in R;
- good communication skills in English, both in speech and writing;
- a strong interest in both practical field work and ecological theory;
- the ability to work collaboratively within an interdisciplinary team;
- the desire to collaboratively develop projects within a flexible PhD framework.
Offer
- a full-time position for four years;
- a full-time gross salary starting at €2,443 in the first year and increasing to €3,122 in the fourth year (scale P Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities (cao));
- 8% holiday bonus and 8.3% end-of-year bonus;
- a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave, and flexible employment conditions based on the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities.
- the research group will provide you with the necessary support on all aspects of the project.
In addition to the employment conditions laid down in the cao for Dutch Universities, Utrecht University has several additional arrangements. For example, there are agreements on professional development, leave arrangements and sports. We also give you the opportunity to expand your terms of employment yourself via the Employment Conditions Selection Model. This is how we like to encourage you to continue to grow.
More information about working at the Faculty of Science can be found here.
About the organisation
The Ecology & Biodiversity Group external linkinvestigates the mechanisms that regulate biodiversity and allow for the maintenance of ecosystem functioning in our changing world. We seek to obtain a process-based, mechanistic understanding of community assembly, species interactions and functional responses in order to predict the future impacts of climate and land-use changes on biodiversity and ecosystem functions such as carbon sequestration, water safety and disease suppression. We pay special attention to the movement of organisms and above and belowground species interactions, from ‘micro’ to landscape scale.
Utrecht University’s Faculty of Science external linkis a leader in world-class research and innovative education. The faculty is the largest science faculty of the Netherlands and is home to over 6,000 students and about 1,300 employees. The faculty offers research expertise and opportunities across all departments: Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Information and Computing Sciences, and Pharmaceutical Sciences. The faculty is internationally renowned for the quality of its research, which is interdisciplinary and socially relevant.
Utrecht University external linkis a friendly and ambitious university at the heart of an ancient city. We love to welcome new scientists to our city – a thriving cultural hub that is consistently rated as one of the world’s happiest cities. We are renowned for our innovative interdisciplinary research and our emphasis on inspirational research and excellent education. We are equally well-known for our familiar atmosphere and the can-do attitude of our people. This fundamental connection attracts researchers, professors and PhD candidates from all over the globe, making both the university and the Faculty of Science a vibrant international and wonderfully diverse community.
Additional information
For additional information about this vacancy, please contact K.E. (Kathryn) Barry, external link PhD (k.e.barry@uu.nl external link).
Do you have a question about the application procedure? Please send an email to science.recruitment@uu.nl.
Apply
Everyone deserves to feel at home at our university. We welcome individuals with a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives. If you have the expertise and the experience to excel in this role, then simply apply using the “Apply now” button! Please enclose:
- your letter of motivation;
- your curriculum vitae;
- the names, telephone numbers, and email addresses of at least two references.
If this specific opportunity isn’t for you, but you know someone who may be interested, please forward this vacancy to them.
Please note: Due to the current situation regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) the process of selection and interviews is subject to change. Initial interviews will most likely be conducted online.
The application deadline is 25 April 2022.