The Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) has a job opening (16.5 months) for a Postdoctoral researcher in global ecology of palms at the University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The researcher will be responsible for conducting high-quality research on palm macroecology, e.g. on global biodiversity patterns, biogeography of species interactions, and/or global changes in ecosystems and biodiversity. A particular focus will be on palm macroevolution and species interactions with animal seed dispersers.

We are looking for a candidate with exceptionally strong quantitative skills in computer modelling, analysis of large biodiversity datasets, and/or solid experience in phylogenetic analyses. Background in ecological network and functional trait analysis and/or spatial ecological statistics is advantageous. The person should show a passion for global biodiversity and biogeography and a deep understanding of how biodiversity and ecosystems change due to natural processes. Familiarity with R and GIS, programming skills, and experience in geospatial analyses are required. The candidate should also show strong writing and verbal communication skills and have a successful track-record of publications.

You will conduct high-quality research on global ecology with a focus on the distribution of life and ecosystems on Earth. This will include analyses of broad-scale patterns and changes of biodiversity and ecosystems, especially with focus on palms, using comprehensive datasets on species distributions, functional traits, phylogenetic trees and biotic interactions of palms and their animal seed dispersers. You are expected to write scientific papers on the project in internationally peer-reviewed journals, and to present the research at national and international meetings. In your daily work, you will closely interact with members of the Biogeography & Macroecology (BIOMAC) lab and be imbedded in the Department Theoretical and Computational Ecology. There is the possibility, but not the requirement, to contribute to educational tasks, e.g. contribute to teaching within courses of the BSc Biology, BSc Future Planet Studies, MSc Earth Sciences and MSc Biological Sciences.

We are looking for a candidate with exceptionally strong quantitative skills in computer modelling, analysis of large biodiversity datasets, and/or solid experience in phylogenetic analyses. Background in ecological network and functional trait analysis and/or spatial ecological statistics is advantageous. The person should show a passion for global biodiversity and biogeography and a deep understanding of how biodiversity and ecosystems change due to natural processes. Familiarity with R and GIS, programming skills, and experience in geospatial analyses are required. The candidate should also show strong writing and verbal communication skills and have a successful track-record of publications.

We offer a position for 38 hours a week in an exciting, dynamic and international research environment, starting as soon as possible. The full-time appointment will be on a temporary basis for a period of 16.5 months. This position is classified in the function profile Researcher at level 4. The full-time gross monthly salary varies between €2,588 and €4,084 gross per month, depending on relevant experience (salary scale 10). The Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities is applicable. The annual salary will be increased by 8 % holiday allowance and 8,3 % end-of-year bonus.

University of Amsterdam

With over 5,000 employees, 30,000 students and a budget of more than 600 million euros, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) is an intellectual hub within the Netherlands. Teaching and research at the UvA are conducted within seven faculties: Humanities, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Economics and Business, Law, Science, Medicine and Dentistry. Housed on four city campuses in or near the heart of Amsterdam, where disciplines come together and interact, the faculties have close links with thousands of researchers and hundreds of institutions at home and abroad.  

The UvA’s students and employees are independent thinkers, competent rebels who dare to question dogmas and aren’t satisfied with easy answers and standard solutions. To work at the UvA is to work in an independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterised by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society.

http://www.uva.nl/en/home

Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics

The Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) is one of the eight research institutes of the Faculty of Science. Our scientific work aims at a better understanding of the dynamics of ecosystems at all relevant levels, from genes to ecosystems, using a truly multi-disciplinary approach, and based on both experimental and theoretical research. Scientific focus is on aquatic (both freshwater and marine) and terrestrial ecosystems, evolutionary and population biology, ecosystem and landscape dynamics, and theoretical and computational ecology. We want to unravel how ecosystems function in all their complexity, and how they change due to natural processes and human activities.

http://ibed.uva.nl/