Job description
The department of Estuarine & Delta Systems (EDS – location Yerseke) of the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (Royal NIOZ) is looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate to fulfil a 4-year position.
THE INSTITUTE
NWO-NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research is the national oceanographic research institute. The mission of NIOZ is to perform academically excellent multidisciplinary fundamental and frontier-applied marine research addressing important scientific and societal questions pertinent to the functioning of oceans and seas. NIOZ also serves as national marine research facilitator (NMF) for The Netherlands scientific community, and stimulates and supports national and international marine research, marine education programs and marine policy development.
THE DEPARTEMENT
The department of Estuarine and Delta Systems (EDS, NIOZ-Yerseke) studies how the interplay between biota, hydrodynamics, sediment dynamics and biochemistry shape the estuarine, deltaic and coastal environments within the context of natural and human-induced environmental changes. Our department assigns central importance to a multidisciplinary approach that combines state-of-the-art biophysical, biochemical, ecological and physiological measurements and experiments with remote sensing and numerical modelling to create in-depth understanding of the processes that control estuarine and delta systems. One important focus for the department is how our research can create value for society.
THE PROJECT
Human engineering in the form of dams and dikes has in many places created an abrupt division between the marine and terrestrial realms, with salty, tidal conditions on one side, and stagnant freshwater conditions on the other. This has led to a strong decrease in environmental heterogeneity and biodiversity, especially in terms of the loss of tidal wetlands and flood forest adjusted to strongly dynamic salt-water regimes.
In this project, we aim to investigate the importance of habitat formation along estuarine gradients in exposure to salt water, and its implications for biodiversity in tidal wetland conditions, using a combination of modelling and empirical study. An important focus is if and how plants and trees can persist by modifying their own environment, changing the soil elevation, salt intrusion into wetlands, and even stratification in the estuary. The modelling (can) include both within-estuary as within-wetland salt gradients.
THE VACANCY
In this PhD position, you will study how the interplay of vegetation growth, sedimentation-erosion processes and salt intrusion affects landscape development in estuarine wetlands, along the gradient from salt marshes to tidal flood forests. You will study how historical changes along the Rhine-Meuse and Schelde estuarine gradients affected salt gradients and vegetation composition. You will build biogeomorphic models to study how the formation of tidal creeks at various scales influences tidal wetland conditions, and confront the model with data either from databases or obtained yourself. An important focus is how wetlands along the estuarine boundary, ranging from salt marshes to tidal floodforests, are affected by future sea level rise imposing increasing salt intrusion.
Job requirements
THE CANDIDATE
We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with an MSc degree in the field of ecology/biology, geology, physical geography or civil engineering, with a keen interested in studying the functioning of ecosystems. A good understanding of numerical modelling (differential equations to describe plant growth, water flow, etc) is a prerequisite. Candidates should be capable of planning and organising their own work independently, to build models, organize and carry out field experiments, and meet deadlines imposed by the project. Good English oral and writing skills are demanded, as the candidate must publish the findings in scientific journals and effectively communicate results to users.
NIOZ wants to be a transparent institute with a healthy working climate and an inclusive culture, where people from diverse backgrounds and gender bring their talents and further develop these talents. We aim for inclusive decision-making processes and expect our leadership to show visible commitment, awareness of bias, and cultural intelligence.
CONDITIONS
- Employment of this full-time position at Royal NIOZ is by NWO-I, for a total duration of 4 years.
- Salary compliant with scales for PhD candidate (OIOs) CAO-WVOI (Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Research Institutes).
- An appointment at NIOZ as a PhD candidate means working and learning simultaneously conform the NIOZ PhD policy.
- 338 annualized holiday hours for a full-time 40-hour work week.
- Pension scheme via ABP, 8% holiday allowance and a year-end bonus of 8.33%.
- 2nd class public transportation travel is reimbursed 100%.
- Employment benefits plan to exchange a portion of your salary for days off or vice versa, or can be used to purchase a bicycle with tax benefits.
- We offer relocation expenses for employees coming from abroad and support with finding accommodation. Yerseke is located on commuting distance from major cities such as Antwerpen, Breda, Bergen op Zoom and Middelburg.
MORE INFORMATION
For additional information about this vacancy, please contact Prof. Dr. Johan van de Koppel. For additional information about the procedure, please send an e-mail to working@nioz.nl
This vacancy will be listed up to and including the 3th of February.
Find out more information about this opportunity here.