Postdoctoral fellow studying benthic meiofauna taxonomy

Have you completed your PhD? Are you eager to enrich knowledge on biodiversity as a postdoc? Then Naturalis in Leiden is the place for you. Pursuing a postdoc at Naturalis means working on research with a truly global impact — contributing directly to biodiversity. With state-of-the-art museum collections and lab facilities, many inspiring colleagues, and access to our international network, Naturalis offers everything you need to strengthen your career as a scientist.

As a postdoctoral fellow at Naturalis

• You will have ample opportunities to showcase and share your research and results widely, through publications, presentations, or with partners in our international network.
• You will receive strong support, with access to our dedicated Research Coordination Office, which will assist you in developing new project proposals.
• You will build valuable professional connections by participating in both the academic and social activities of our PhD- and postdoc community. Furthermore, through our collaborations with diverse partners, you will strengthen your international profile.

This is what you'll be doing
As a postdoc in the groundbreaking MEIODYSSEA project, you will help revolutionize how we identify and describe the vast diversity of meiofauna. This position focuses on integrative taxonomy, combining cutting-edge imaging and molecular approaches to tackle the taxonomic bottleneck in small-bodied marine animals. You’ll have the freedom to develop your own research line within this framework, working on one or more meiobenthic taxa of your choice.

Together with your supervisors, you will shape all aspects of your postdoctoral trajectory. You will actively share your discoveries through high-impact scientific publications and presentations. If you are enthusiastic about mentoring, you will also have the opportunity to supervise students and contribute to teaching. Our strong academic networks and training programs provide a platform for deepening your expertise and developing the next generation of biodiversity scientists.

Here's what we have to offer

• A gross monthly salary of € 3,768.00 to € 4,897.00 gross/month for a full-time contract (36 hours).
• End-of-year bonus of 3.4% of your gross annual salary and 8% holiday pay.
• Time off thanks to 27 days of leave per year with full-time employment. Plus 1 extra day that you can use for a holiday that is important to you.
• Travel allowance. Are you travelling by public transport, bicycle or on foot? Then you get € 0.21 per kilometer. For commuting by car you get € 0.125 per kilometer.
• Pension scheme via PFZW, where Naturalis pays 60% of your premium.
• A focus on your work-life balance. You can flexibly schedule your workday between 07.00 and 19.00.
• Plenty of development opportunities. We support your growth and give you unlimited access to the online training platform Goodhabitz.
• Fascinating knowledge events. These help you stay up to date on the latest developments in both your own field and outside it, such as our lectures and gatherings on various (scientific) topics. You can also attend – or take part in – the fascinating internal information session Naturalis Draait Door.
• Nice extras such as discounts on software and hardware for private use, collective health insurance plans, and a bicycle scheme. You’ll also enjoy discounts in our museum restaurant and unlimited free access to our award-winning museum for you and your family.
• Fun team outings. We also get together for drinks every month, organize an annual BBQ and a fantastic New Year's party. Not your scene? That's fine too, of course. All team activities are voluntary.
• A unique work environment in a state-of-the-art building where you will feel proud to work every single day – we guarantee it!

The world lies at your feet!
Literally. Whatever your role may be, you contribute to the preservation of our planet on a daily basis. Naturalis Biodiversity Center...

• is the national research and knowledge institute and a key player in biodiversity data and infrastructures.
• houses one of the largest natural history collections in the world.
• welcomes 500,000 museum visitors per year.
• collaborates with universities, expertise centres, and museums around the world.
• has a staff of diverse colleagues in various functions and with many different nationalities, with whom you will work together in an informal atmosphere.

This is your team
At Naturalis, you will join the Marine Biodiversity Group and work closely with Prof. Dr. Willem Renema and Dr. Jan Macher, as well as PhD student Romy Gielings. As part of the MEIODYSSEA project, you will also work with colleagues from IFREMER (France) and Senckenberg (Germany).

What you bring to the table
You have a passion for marine environments. You are capable of conducting independent research, working in an organized manner, and structuring your approach effectively. At the same time, you know when to seek help when necessary. You enjoy collaborating with colleagues, supervisors, and external partners, and you actively maintain both your internal and external networks. You are skilled at identifying opportunities and engaging others with your ideas. Additionally, you can translate complex topics into compelling narratives, making them accessible even to those outside of the scientific community. Ideally, your research interests align with other Naturalis goals, such as North Sea biodiversity.

Qualifications

• A completed PhD degree with expertise in meiofauna taxonomy.
• Proven skills in microscopy, morphological characterization, and integrative taxonomy, including experience in species description.
• Experience with molecular tools is considered an advantage.
• Experience in publishing and disseminating research findings via scientific publications, lectures, conference presentations, or teaching.
• Strong proficiency in English.

Become our new postdoctoral fellow

• Upload your CV and motivation letter via the application button no later than July 25, 2025.
• Want to know more about the position before you apply? Send an email to willem.renema@naturalis.nl and jan.macher@naturalis.nl.

For more information about the application procedure, you can send an email to our colleagues in the HR department via sollicitaties@naturalis.nl.