The department of Coastal Systems (department head dr. ir. Henk W. van der Veer) is looking for a highly motivated PhD student with a background in quantitative biology, physical oceanography or a related subject to take part in our research on survival and recruitment of plaice larvae.

The Vacancy
Marine flatfish can be sensitive to climate change if this affects essential parts of their life cycle. For plaice, an important commercial flatfish species, suitable spawning areas are expected to shrink to the extent that the connectivity between spawning and nursery areas may be impaired. The candidate will investigate effects this has on the larval stages of plaice, using an extensive data set of plaice recruitment from the Wadden Sea. He/she will also further develop and use and a particle tracking model to investigate potential changes in connectivity between spawning and nursery grounds. In this model, particles representing plaice larvae move through and are influenced by a three-dimensional hydrodynamical and biogeochemical environment simulated with a model of the North Sea. Historic, present-day and climate-change scenarios will be considered.

The candidate should be an excellent, highly motivated student with a strong background in quantitative/theoretical biology, physical oceanography, mathematics, physics or a related subject. The successful candidate will have a solid background in computer programming, and a strong interest in marine biology.

Due to the international character of the research group, excellent English communication skills are expected. PhD defense will take place at Utrecht University (promotor prof. dr. Karline Soetaert).

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

Employment of this position at Royal NIOZ is by NWO (The Netherlands Organization of Scientific Research). We offer a position for 4 (fulltime) years with an excellent salary, a pension scheme, a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary, a year-end bonus, and flexible work arrangements. You may expect attractive secondary employment conditions. We offer generous relocation expenses for employees coming from abroad and support with finding accommodation.

Royal NIOZ

Royal NIOZ

Coastal Systems

The department of Coastal Systems focuses on biological, chemical and physical processes that underlie the population dynamics of marine organisms (invertebrates, fish, mammals and birds), including transport of flatfish eggs and larvae between spawning and nursery areas.

A key aim of the department’s research is to better understand how coastal ecosystems function, and how changes in trophic interactions -in response to natural and anthropogenic environmental changes - influence the richness and productivity of coastal marine ecosystems and the ecological functions they provide. Within COS, research is performed as a combination of field observations, experiments and modelling activities, including demographics, migration and energetics.