Job NIOO - KNAW - PhD position

Context: Measures against eutrophication have mainly led to a reduction in phosphorus inputs into coastal seas like the North Sea, whereas nitrogen and silica loadings were much less reduced. This has resulted in major changes in the relative availability of different nutrients, and there is currently substantial disagreement whether phytoplankton growth in coastal waters is limited by nitrogen, phosphorus, or light. Furthermore, resource-mediated changes in the cellular composition of phytoplankton will have major implications for their nutritional quality for zooplankton, with effects that may cascade throughout the entire aquatic food web.

Within the Dutch ZKO National Program for Coastal and Sea Research, a new project will be initiated to study the effects of different resource limitations (nutrients and light) on the dynamics of the phytoplankton and its cellular composition within the North Sea. We will also study the consequences of these resource limitations for the fate of the phytoplankton in the marine food web. This project involves three academic partners, the Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW). 

Research topic: The goal of the NIOO PhD project is to examine effects of different resource limitations on the cellular composition of phytoplankton species in laboratory cultures and to use this information to interfere which resources are actually limited North Sea phytoplankton growth. The approach will primarily be based on stable isotope (¹³C) labelling and analyzing the biosyntheses rates of major cellular components by GC-IRMS and the latest LC-IRMS techniques.

We are looking for an enthusiastic candidate with an MSc in the natural sciences (marine biology, aquatic ecology, microbiology), who has a strong interest phytoplankton ecology. The research activities involve experimental work in both laboratory and field (seagoing cruises within the North Sea area), as well as the use of analytical GC- and LC-based techniques. Good communicational skills in English are essential to publish research findings in peer reviewed international journals.

The appointment is for 4 years, with a 1 year evaluation period. The gross salary starts at € 2.042,- per month in the 1^st year, and will gradually increase to a maximum of € 2. 612,- per month in the 4^th year according to the Collective Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO-Nederlandse Universiteiten) and includes an 8% holiday pay and a year-end bonus. We offer an extensive package of fringe benefits.

The Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO) is a top research institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). It has three locations: Nieuwersluis, Heteren and the Centre for Estuarine and Marine Ecology (CEME) in Yerseke. Mission of the NIOO (http://www.nioo.knaw.nl)  is to carry out excellent fundamental and strategic research in ecology.

Location: The Centre for Estuarine and Marine Ecology (NIOO-CEME) is located in Yerseke, within the Dutch Delta area (www.nioo.knaw.nl).

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