A two year junior researcher position is available in the section Energy and Resources (~60 staff) at the Department of Innovation, Environmental & Energy Sciences. The department offers an enthusiastic, dynamic working environment, and conducts research of high scientific quality and relevance for industrial stakeholders and governments in the national and international arena.

         
There is an increasingly urgent need to decarbonize the transport sector. Biofuels are expected to have a critical role in it. This is especially the case for sectors that have little alternatives such as aviation, marine shipping and heavy freight road transport. The latest renewable energy draft directive sets clear limits to the contribution of food-based biofuels in the EU, while aiming for a larger role of advanced biofuels produced from lignocellulosic biomass and organic waste by 2030. The EU project ADVANCEFUEL, funded under Horizon 2020 with eight partners from six countries, aims to facilitate a market roll-out of advanced liquid biofuels and other liquid renewable fuels in the European transport sector between 2020 and 2030 with an outlook on post-2030 impacts. With respect to environmental impacts, most impact indicators of biofuel supply chains apply mainly to the first stages of the supply chain including feedstock production and harvesting & collection (soil, water, biodiversity, land use).

 

Your task will be to contribute to the ADVANCEFUEL project by mapping potential environmental impacts (GHG emissions, impacts on soil, impacts, water and biodiversity) of lignocellulosic biomass feedstock production spatially explicitly. The research will focus on domestic biomass supply in the European Union with a focus on agricultural biomass including perennial grasses (e.g. miscanthus, switchgrass), short rotation coppice (e.g. poplar, willow), and agricultural residues (e.g. straw from cereal crops).

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a MSc degree in energy science, environmental sciences or a related discipline. For this position, experience with (life cycle) environmental impacts and systems analysis are required. GIS skills are desired. Knowledge on bioenergy, agricultural production systems and land use modelling are an advantage. The candidate should have excellent communication and writing skills in English. The candidate should be able to start in January 2018.

A fulltime one year position with the possibility of extension to another year. We offer flexible employment conditions, parental leave, a pension scheme and collective insurance schemes. Facilities for sports and childcare are available on our campus, which is only 15 minutes away from the historical city centre of Utrecht. The starting salary is € 2,588 (scale 10 of the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities) gross per month on a fulltime basis (38 hours per week). The salary is supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3% per year. Conditions are based on the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities. Here you'll find more information about working at Utrecht University.

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major societal themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Sustainability.

The Faculty of Geosciences offers education and research concerning the geosphere, biosphere, atmosphere and anthroposphere. With a population of 2,600 students (BSc and MSc) and 600 staff, the Faculty is a strong and challenging organization. The Faculty is organized in four Departments: Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Earth Sciences, Physical Geography, and Human Geography and Urban and Regional Planning.

The vacancy has been opened within the Department of Innovation, Environmental & Energy Sciences. The research of the department is organised in the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development. The institute consists of four research groups: Environmental governance, Innovation Studies, Environmental Sciences and Energy and Resources.