This position focuses on developing a transdisciplinary food system model for the Netherlands within the NWA project: Transitie naar een duurzaam voedselsysteem. This model will serve as a tool to integrate and formalize the insights from the project by providing a systemic, qualitative, and quantitative understanding of effective leverage points for a sustainable food system, including social, environmental, and economic consequences. The model will be implemented to help both overcome obstacles (e.g. lock-ins) and exploit synergies (e.g. co-benefits of radical changes for sectors) that can accelerate the transition toward a sustainable Dutch food system. This model will thus capture material networks, stocks and flows, changes in biophysical environment (yield change, biodiversity etc.) and macroeconomic responses to changing global food trade. Key tasks include:

• Develop the structural components (production, supply chains, and trade) of the Dutch food system model;
• Quantitatively implement the knowledge generated during the participatory modelling;
• Aid in effectively communicating the tradeoffs of transitioning toward various future food systems;
• Develop future business models to ensure a viable transition toward a sustainable food system.

We are searching for a candidate with the following attributes:

• A strong quantitative background in system dynamics and environmental modelling, or a comparable background involving non-linear systems;
• Ideally has familiarity with the food system and/or an interest and understanding of sustainability challenges facing the Dutch food system;
• Has affinity with working in an interdisciplinary team;
• Has strong communicative skills.

The following criteria are also desirable:

• Knowledge of computational general equilibrium models;
• Knowledge of supply chains and business models;
• Understanding of life cycle assessment, material flow analysis, environmental input-output analysis.

We offer a 1-year position with the possibility of extension to 4 years based on performance. Salary ranges from € 2.395.- gross per month in the first year to € 3.061 gross per month in the fourth year based on a full-time position (pay scale P in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities). 

Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3 %), training and career development and sabbatical leave. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. For international spouses we have set up a dual career programme. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break.  

Diversity 
Leiden University is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from members of underrepresented groups.

Leiden University

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 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. The research activities are organised in eight institutes. These institutes offer eight bachelor’s and twelve master’s programmes. The faculty has grown strongly in recent years and now has more than 2,300 staff and almost 5,000 students. We are located at the heart of Leiden’s Bio Science Park, one of Europe’s biggest science parks, where university and business life come together.

The Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) is positioned in the Faculty of Sciences. The core focus of CML is to perform research and education in the interdisciplinary field of Environmental Sciences. CML has two Departments: Industrial Ecology (CML-IE) and Environmental Biology (CML-EB). Presently, about 125 fte (including postdocs and PhDs) are employed at CML. CML collaborates with the TU Delft and Erasmus University in the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Centre for Sustainability (LDE-CfS), Naturalis Biodiversity Centre, and other partners. For more information, see the website of the Faculty of Science.