Postdoc on soil carbon and fauna - NIOO-KNAW - Wageningen

Soil carbon is crucial for climate change mitigation and serves as the primary resource for soil life. The current consensus in soil biogeochemistry is that microorganisms play a key role in soil carbon cycling, but the contribution of soil fauna is almost fully overlooked. In this research, we are investigating how the composition of the soil food web can influence carbon transfer from the plant to different pools of soil organic carbon.

With your expertise in soil ecology and chemistry, you will carry out laboratory analyses related to soil biota, stable isotopes, and soil carbon. You will also perform statistical analyses on existing datasets and write scientific publications. You will present your research at conferences and scientific meetings and have the opportunity to mentor more junior colleagues.

We are looking for a motivated and organized candidate with a PhD in soil ecology or a related discipline. We expect the candidate to have experience with molecular and chemical laboratory work, to be comfortable with complex statistical analyses, and to have good writing and presentation skills. The candidate should be fluent in English. Experience with stable isotope probing and soil fauna morphological identification are important assets. We are looking for a talented researcher with strengths in open communication, adaptability, and independent problem-solving. The candidate should be willing to integrate into the department by being open to collaboration and knowledge exchange with colleagues.

What do we offer?

A one-year position (1.0 FTE) in the dynamic department of Terrestrial Ecology, with a preferred starting date in April 2025 (open to discussion) and a possibility to work 0.8 FTE.

Terms of employment
Depending on education and experience the minimum salary is €3.378 and the maximum salary is €5.331 gross per month for a full-time appointment (scale 10 cao Nederlandse Universiteiten/KNAW). This is exclusive of 8% vacation allowance, 8.3% year-end bonus, travel allowance, internet allowance, home working allowance and pension accrual with ABP.

The KNAW offers its staff an excellent package of secondary benefits. A package that meets the different needs of employees depending on their stage of life, lifestyle or career ambitions. For example, by working an extra two hours a week, it is possible to increase the number of days off from 29 to 41 days a year (with full-time employment).

For a complete overview of the terms of employment, please refer to the web page: werken bij de KNAW.

The Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO) is a national research institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). At NIOO we perform ecological research on biodiversity, climate change and sustainable use of land and water. We stimulate ecological research in the Netherlands and share our ecological knowledge with society. Everyone in our organisation is passionate about contributing to a sustainable world from their own area of expertise.

At the department Terrestrial Ecology, we aim to understand, predict, and mitigate effects of climate change, biodiversity loss and land use change in land-based ecosystems. Our research focuses on interactions between plants, microbes, and (in)vertebrates, in the soil and aboveground. Our approach is conceptual-experimental, and ranges from evolutionary adaptation to community interactions and ecosystem processes. Our aim is to enhance fundamental understanding of interactions and processes in nature in order to learn how to promote sustainability of life on Planet Earth.

Diversity & Inclusion
The KNAW considers a working environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated of great importance. A working environment in which attention is paid to individual quality and where development opportunities are paramount. Together we strive for an inclusive culture in which we embrace differences. We would therefore like to invite candidates who want to contribute to this through their background and experience. In the event of equal suitability, preference will be given to the candidate who thus enhances diversity within the Academy.

We will not respond to any supplier enquiries based on this job advertisement.

More information
Please contact:

Justine Lejoly, tenure-track researcher, j.lejoly@nioo.knaw.nl

Ciska Veen, Head of Department, c.veen@nioo.knaw.nl

Information about the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) can be found at the website: http://www.nioo.knaw.nl

Application procedure
For the application, please include a cover letter summarizing motivation and experience, a CV, and two professional referees (name, address, telephone, and email). Deadline for application is February 24, 2025. Applications received later than this date will not be considered. Interviews will be held in person or online, depending on the location of the candidate, and will be scheduled on March 5.