PhD position: Effects of paludiculture on peat soil carbon dynamics

Do you want to do field-based research? Be part of a dedicated peatland research-team? Are you interested in paludiculture as Nature-Based- Solution for Dutch peatlands? Then this position is for you!

Jouw functie

Drained Dutch peatlands currently emit large quantities of greenhouse gasses because of peat degradation. At the same time, these peatlands also hold the potential to capture and store carbon when developed as natural or production wetlands (paludiculture). You will study the effects of peatland paludiculture on greenhouse gas emissions and conservation of the peat soils. Especially you will focus on the links between emissions, soil processes, and soil changes as a result of paludiculture. During the recent years we have already observed that paludiculture takes up CO2, emits methane, and changes the stability and composition of the peat soil. However, where, when, and how carbon is released, stored and changed within the plant-peat-soil continuum, how peat soils change under influence of paludiculture, and the longevity of the paludiculture system on peat soils are the open research questions that you will explore.

Your duties

• Design and execute your own research plans
• Publish results in scientific journals and present on scientific conferences.
• Contribute to maintaining paludiculture sites, field equipment and data collection
• Participate in education of Earth-science and Alife departments
• Participate in outreach activities

Jouw profiel

• A MSc degree in environmental sciences, soil sciences, biogeochemistry, hydrology or equivalent
• Basic programming/data analyses skills in R or Python.
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary research team
• Affinity to teach and supervise student projects
• English language proficiency both in speech and writing
• Preferably a Driving license

As a university, we strive for equal opportunities for all, recognising that diversity takes many forms. We believe that diversity in all its complexity is invaluable for the quality of our teaching, research and service. We are always looking for talent with diverse backgrounds and experiences. This also means that we are committed to creating an inclusive community so that we can use diversity as an asset.

We realise that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. Therefore we are happy to invite anyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements.

Wat bieden wij

A challenging PhD position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:

• a salary of minimum € 2.901,00 (PhD) and maximum € 3.707,00 (PhD) gross per month, on a full-time basis. This is based on UFO profile PhD candidate. The exact salary depends on your education and experience.
• a position for at least 0.8 FTE. Your employment contract will initially last 1 year. Afterwards, the intention is to extend the position for another 3-years enveloping the full PhD. 4 years of funding is secured.

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and regulations. Some examples:

• A full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata.
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• contribution to commuting expenses
• optional model for designing a personalized benefits package
• hybrid working enables a good work-life balance

Over ons

About the project
You will work in an interdisciplinary Carbon and Water research team (4 Postdocs, 4 PhD students and 4 senior researchers). This team combines researchers from both the Earthsciences and Alife departments at the VU and works closely together with the UVA through the European funded PalusDemos project and the National Research Program on Greenhouse Gases from Peatlands (NOBV). The new PalusDemos fieldsite close to Amsterdam (paludiculture in Burkmeer) and the NOBV monitoring network and its datasets form a unique starting point and research infrastructure for your project and the whole research team.

Faculty of Science
Researchers and students at VU Amsterdam’s Faculty of Science tackle fundamental and complex scientific problems to help pave the way for a sustainable and healthy future. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to malnutrition, and from molecules to the moon: we cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. Our teaching and research have a strong experimentally technical, computational and interdisciplinary nature.

We work on new solutions guided by value-driven, interdisciplinary methodologies. We are committed to research, valorisation and training socially engaged citizens of the world who will make valuable contributions to a sustainable, healthy future.

Are you interested in joining the Faculty of Science? You will join undergraduate students, PhD candidates and researchers at the biggest sciences faculty in the Netherlands. You will combine a professional focus with a broad view of the world. We are proud of our collegial working climate, characterised by committed staff, a pragmatic attitude and engagement in the larger whole. The faculty is home to over 11,000 students enrolled in 40 study programmes. It employs over 1,600 professionals spread across 10 academic departments.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research.

We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility. Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.

Diversity
Diversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding.

We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services.

Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community.