PhD that studies agricultural collectives bending the curve of biodiversity loss

Project:

Are you an enthusiastic early career researcher who is keen to contribute to biodiverse communities and landscapes? Then this could be the ideal PhD position for you!

The ongoing worldwide loss of biodiversity is one of the most pressing issues of the current times. It urgently requires our full attention, not only in the realm of conservation and restoration, but at the socio-ecological and socio-cultural level. In our view, this calls for an inter and transdisciplinary approach to science-based knowledge creation that can bend the curve of biodiversity loss and restore relationships between humanity and nature.

The central idea of the 7-year, NWA funded project Curvebend (link) is that we are missing the intermediate landscape scale in the current approaches to biodiversity conservation and restoration, both from an ecological and a societal perspective. The project will develop and test solutions on how to fill this gap.

The university of Leiden is a central part of the consortium. We are hiring a fully funded PhD candidate (4 years) who will investigate the role of agricultural collectives in bending the curve of biodiversity loss in The Netherlands.

We are looking for an anthropologically and/or sociologically-trained candidate with a rural interest, an affinity with ecology and an ability to work interdisciplinary. You will draw on long-term and in-depth ethnographic research within selected Dutch agricultural collectives. You will seek to understand how the focus of collectives, for example on getting subsidies for later mowing benefitting meadow birds, or for higher water tables to reduce soil subsidence, shapes the identity formation and organisation of the agricultural collective in question. How do farmers negotiate all kinds of values around a topic such as nitrogen or water management? How do godwits or earthworms inspire farmers to take a long-term, multispecies perspective? And how does their common focus shape their ability to inspire and relate to other agricultural stakeholders such as other collectives, farmers, NGOs, and companies?

The PhD is part of the Dutch work package of Curvebend that consists of 3 PhD-candidates that will each study one dimension: an ecology-PhD will study biodiversity, a governance-PhD will study relations with government and the anthropologically-inspired PhD will study the identity formation of agricultural collectives by means of a focus on their everyday practices to do with soil health, animal care, and farm management. Besides the Dutch work package, there are two other, related research foci of the Curvebend project in Eastern Africa and Argentina. More info on the Curvebend project can be found on the website (link).

Preferred starting date is May 2025.

Selection criteria

• A completed (research) master degree in anthropology, (rural) sociology or geography;
• Proven experience with methods of ethnographic fieldwork;
• Proven affinity with ecology and/or other environmental sciences;
• Affinity with rural communities in the Netherlands;
• A team player with a collaborative attitude and ability to work within an interdisciplinary team composed of anthropologists, sociologists, and ecologists;
• Dutch language proficiency;
• English language proficiency.

Where you will work

Your position will be shared between the Department of Environmental Biology of the Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) (Faculty of Science) and the DEPT? ANTHROLOGY of FSW (Faculty of Social Sciences).

The Institute of Environmental Sciences CML at the Faculty of Science

The Faculty of Science is a world-class faculty where staff and students work together in a dynamic international environment. It is a faculty where personal and academic development are top priorities. Our people are driven by curiosity to expand fundamental knowledge and to look beyond the borders of their own discipline; their aim is to benefit science, and to make a contribution to addressing the major societal challenges of the future.

The environmental science research in CML is organized around two major research areas: ‘Industrial Ecology’ and ‘Environmental Biology’. This makes CML one of the few institutes covering both the circular, sustainable economic use of natural resources and natural capital, as well as assessing the environmental impacts of economic activities on natural resources, biodiversity and natural capital. Presently, over 150 FTE (including postdocs and PhD candidates) are employed at CML. CML collaborates with the TU Delft and Erasmus University (Rotterdam) in the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Centre for Sustainability (LDE-CfS).

CML is part of the Faculty of Science, which is a world-class faculty where staff and students work together in a dynamic international environment. It is a faculty where personal and academic development are top priorities. Our people are committed to expanding fundamental knowledge by curiosity and looking beyond the borders of their discipline; they aim to benefit science and make a contribution to addressing the major societal challenges of the future. The research carried out at the Faculty of Science is very diverse, ranging from mathematics, information science, astronomy, physics, chemistry and bio-pharmaceutical sciences to biology and environmental sciences.

Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (CADS)

Leiden University's Institute of Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology concentrates on 'global vulnerability and social resilience'. The institute has three main themes: diversity, sustainability, and digitalisation. CADS is dedicated to making a real-world impact, not just studying change, but also working with communities to promote positive change through education and research. We use a unique approach that blends qualitative, quantitative, audiovisual, and digital methods based on ethnographic fieldwork. With our unique blend of interdisciplinary interests, comparative regional studies, and social science research methods, we emphasize our role in the extensive collaborative network within Leiden University. In both our research and education, we engage in extensive interdisciplinary and international networks.

What we offer

Our goal is to work together to create a transparent and inclusive work environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated. Our organisation is always evolving, and we need your ideas for improvement and innovation to take us further. We want to devote attention to your personal development.

We also offer:

• At Leiden University, a PhD candidate is seen as an employee rather than a student. As such, we offer a 1-year position with the possibility of extension to 4 years based on performance and following the pay scale P in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
• Salary ranges from € 2.901.- gross per month in the first year to € 3707,- gross per month in the fourth year based on a full-time position. (38 hours)
• A holiday allowance (8%), an end-of-year bonus (8,3%), and an attractive pension scheme at ABP.
• Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break (“30% rule”).
• Flexible working hours: as a standard, you are entitled to a minimum of 29 leave days based on a full-time working week of 38 hours; you can also save for extra leave, for example by working 40 hours a week, and this way accrue an extra 96 leave hours, or exchange 96 leave hours for a 36-hour week.
• Lots of options are available when it comes to secondary employment conditions; we can, for example, discuss options for a sabbatical or paid parental leave. Within our terms of employment individual choices model, you can exchange leave days and/or salary for benefits such as an advantageous sports subscription or bicycle scheme, and we also offer child-care options.
• If your work allows it, hybrid working is possible within the Netherlands.
• A home-working allowance (day and internet allowance) and attention to good workplaces. The University will also provide you with a laptop.
• All our PhD students are embedded in the Graduate School of Science. Our graduate school offers several PhD training courses at three levels: professional courses, skills training and personal effectiveness.

What we find important

Promoting an inclusive community is central to Leiden University’s values and vision. Leiden University aims to be an inclusive community in which all students and staff members feel valued and respected, and are able to develop to their full potential. Diversity in experiences and perspectives enriches our teaching and strengthens our research. High-quality education and research means inclusive education and research.