PhD/Postdoc Position: Modelling the Effects of Nature-inclusive Agriculture and Forestry on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

Are you driven to understand how nature-inclusive agriculture and forestry may help to restore biodiversity and ecosystem services? Do you enjoy working with quantitative ecological models? Then this PhD/Postdoctoral position might be exactly what you are looking for!

The expansion and intensification of agriculture and forestry are among the primary drivers of global biodiversity loss and the degradation of ecosystem services. Nature-inclusive agriculture and forestry are proposed as strategies to conserve and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services. However, the benefits of nature-inclusive agriculture to biodiversity and ecosystem services are not yet fully understood.

In this position, you will apply meta-analytical approaches to quantify and understand the effects of nature-inclusive agriculture and forestry on biodiversity (e.g. species diversity and species abundance) and ecosystem services (e.g. pollination and carbon sequestration). You will also investigate how these effects depend on local context. Next, you will use the meta-analytical models in combination with spatial conservation prioritisation models to identify areas where restoration measures have synergistic effects on biodiversity, ecosystem services and productivity.

These efforts will contribute to a European project focused on assessing the environmental and socioeconomic impacts of nature restoration to support the effective implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation and Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. In addition to the research activities, you will contribute 10% of your working time to teaching activities in the BSc/MSc Biology programmes.

At Radboud University, I can fully focus on expanding my expertise while learning from my peers and mentors.

Noemí Segura-Solé, PhD candidate in Microbial Ecology

After completing my Master’s degree in Norway, I looked at several European universities for a PhD position, including the university where I studied. Then I saw a job opportunity at Radboud University, which aligned perfectly with my interests. After a great first impression of my supervisors during the job interview and positive feedback about Radboud University from my network, I decided to take the leap and move to Nijmegen. It was a risk to leave my Norwegian comfort zone, but I am extremely satisfied with my choice.

From the start, I immediately felt welcomed by the whole department. I have many social interactions with other PhD candidates, and the senior researchers are very approachable and interested in my research. The working conditions for PhD candidates here are also excellent: a good salary, plenty of days off, and flexible working hours. The latter is an added bonus because I already had two children when I started my PhD. Thanks to these factors, I can fully focus on expanding my expertise while learning from my peers and mentors.

Noemí Segura-Solé, PhD candidate in Microbial Ecology

Does this sound like you?

• You hold an MSc degree (for the PhD position) or PhD degree (for the postdoctoral position) in conservation ecology, macroecology or a related field.
• You are driven to contribute to a better understanding of broad-scale biodiversity change.
• You have affinity or experience with ecological data collection and statistical modelling.
• You are familiar with at least one common high-level programming language (e.g. R, Python).
• You enjoy collaborative research in international and transdisciplinary teams.
• You are proficient in written and spoken English.

We will consider differences in experience between the MSc and PhD levels in the selection procedure.

What we offer you

If you start as a PhD Candidate:

• We will give you a temporary employment contract (1.0 FTE) of 1.5 years, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, your contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4-year contract).
• You will receive a starting salary of €3,059 gross per month based on a 38-hour working week, which will increase to €3,881 in the fourth year.

If you start as a Postdoc:

• We will give you a temporary employment contract of 1 year with the prospect of an extension for 2 years.
• Your salary within salary scale 10 depends on your previous education and number of years of (relevant) work experience. The amounts in the scale are based on a 38-hour working week.

Whether you start as a PhD Candidate or as a Postdoc, in both positions you will also receive:

• An 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus.
• Extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20.

Additional employment conditions

Work and science require good employment practices. Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions reflect this. You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself. For example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports membership. In addition, you receive a 34% discount on the sports and cultural activities at Radboud University as an employee. And, of course, we offer a good pension plan. We also give you plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.

Where you will be working

You will be based at the Department of Environmental Science of the Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES), which is part of Radboud University (Nijmegen, Netherlands). The mission of our department is to produce scientific knowledge to support sustainable transitions. To achieve this, we aim to understand, project and address the impact of anthropogenic pressures on ecosystems and humans from the landscape to the global scale. This enables us to explore and develop wide-ranging sustainable solutions for the environmental challenges the world faces today. We are a diverse group that fosters a pleasant, collaborative and lively atmosphere.

Faculty of Science

The Faculty of Science (FNWI), part of Radboud University, engages in groundbreaking research and excellent education. In doing so, we push the boundaries of scientific knowledge and pass that knowledge on to the next generation.

We seek solutions to major societal challenges, such as cybercrime and climate change and work on major scientific challenges, such as those in the quantum world. At the same time, we prepare our students for careers both within and outside the scientific field.

Currently, more than 1,300 colleagues contribute to research and education, some as researchers and lecturers, others as technical and administrative support officers. The faculty has a strong international character with staff from more than 70 countries. Together, we work in an informal, accessible and welcoming environment, with attention and space for personal and professional development for all.