Postdoc in Macro-Financial Modelling of Biodiversity Risk

Join the EU Horizon NATURE 3B project in September 2025 as a postdoctoral researcher to shape the future of biodiversity finance. You’ll contribute to develop a Stock-Flow Consistent behavioural model and a stress-test model to analyse the impacts of biodiversity loss on macro-financial risks, conduct asset-level biodiversity stress testing, and propose macroprudential policies to manage biodiversity risks in Europe. Collaborate with leading scholars, central banks, and financial regulators to mainstream biodiversity risk assessment into risk management and drive policy impact.

Your job
As part of the Horizon Europe project NATURE 3B (Including NATURE in decision making of central banks, investment benchmarks & bond issuers), you will work with the Utrecht University School of Economics (U.S.E.) team under the lead of Professor Irene Monasterolo. Next to the project, you will also be a member of the Finance Section at U.S.E.

Your key responsibilities include:

• developing quantitative tools such as a Stock-Flow Consistent behavioural model and biodiversity stress tests to assess biodiversity risks and their macroeconomic and financial stability impacts;
• collaborating with top scholars from leading institutions (e.g., University of Oxford, University of Venice) and engaging with central banks, regulators, the European Commission and the NGFS network;
• driving impact by informing macroprudential policies, financial regulations, and investors for managing biodiversity risks in Europe;
• contributing to academic output through publishing high-quality research with the team;
• supporting the project dissemination activities by participating in relevant conferences, workshops, and seminars.

We are looking for a motivated postdoc with the following qualifications:

• a PhD in Economics, Finance, Statistics, Physics, or a related field;
• proven experience with macro-financial and financial risk modelling, using either Stock-Flow Consistent models, or Agent-Based models, or network models;
• familiarity with climate finance; interest in biodiversity finance;
• strong coding skills in Matlab and Python;
• ability to work in teams, deliver quality and relevant work, manage tasks independently, and meet deadlines;
• ability to write and present research for academic and policy audiences;
• fluency in English and willingness to travel within Europe for conferences and meetings.

Location: You are expected to work from Utrecht, with access to facilities and a dynamic international research environment.

We offer:

• a temporary position for 24 months, starting in September 2025.
• a working week of 28 hours and a full-time gross salary between €4,537 and €6,209 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale 11 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit 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 strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

The Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance is a faculty at the heart of society, with a strong focus on social issues. Our subjects of Law, Economics and Governance give us a strong mix of academic disciplines that complement and enhance each other. This is a unique combination and a mark of our faculty's strength.

The Utrecht University School of Economics (U.S.E.) is part of the Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance. U.S.E. aims to contribute to an economy where people flourish by taking a broad view on welfare and its causes. We aspire to be an internationally renowned school of economics with scientifically robust and socially relevant research and education. We enrich economics with other disciplines to better solve problems and identify opportunities, from a business as well as government perspective.

For more information about this position, please contact Professor Irene Monasterolo at i.monasterolo1@uu.nl.

Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.

To apply, please send your curriculum vitae, including a letter of motivation, via the ‘apply now’ button.