Have you completed your PhD? Are you eager to enrich knowledge on biodiversity as a postdoc? Then Naturalis in Leiden (The Netherlands) 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
- 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 postdoctoral fellow in the NWO-funded VIDI project led by Dr. Renske Onstein, you will contribute to understanding how the extinction of large fruit- and seed-dispersing megafauna has shaped the distribution, population size, and genetic diversity of tropical palms with large fruits. You will lead the sampling and population genomic part of the project, focussing on ~20 palm species across Madagascar, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean. This includes:
- Coordinating international fieldwork in collaboration with local partners and field assistants;
- Conducting genome-wide sequencing (e.g., RAD-seq) and applying advanced demographic and population genomic analyses;
- Integrating genetic results with paleoclimate models, megafaunal range reconstructions, and paleoecological data to test eco-evolutionary hypotheses.
You will work closely with a diverse international research network, contributing to a deeper understanding of how ancient plant-animal interactions continue to shape today’s tropical biodiversity.
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 at national and international conferences, and in frequent interactions with our collaborators. 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
Within your research group Biodiversity Hotspots, you will work closely with Dr. Renske Onstein. You will also be part of our PhD- and postdoc community — a close-knit group of around 50 PhD candidates and postdocs with whom you can share experiences and participate in training sessions, workshops, and peer review meetings. And of course, for those interested, there are plenty of social activities outside of work as well.
What you bring to the table
You have a passion for tropical biodiversity at the intersection of ecology and evolution. 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.
In addition, you have:
- A completed (or soon to be completed)* PhD degree with expertise in evolutionary biology.
- Proven skills in population genomics, comparative biology, and integrative biodiversity research.
- Experience with tropical fieldwork, tropical plants, plant-frugivore interactions, paleoecology, and/or macroecology.
- Experience in publishing and disseminating research findings via scientific publications, lectures, conference presentations, outreach or teaching.
- Strong proficiency in English.
Become our new Postdoctoral Fellow
- Upload your CV and motivation letter (including the contact details of two referees) in one PDF via the application button no later than 10-08-2025. On 14-08-2025 you will be informed about a potential interview that will take place online on 18-08-2025.
- Want to know more about the position before you apply? Send an email to renske.onstein@naturalis.nl (but please note her absence from 29-7 until 12-8).
- For more information about the application procedure, you can send an email to our colleagues in the HR department via sollicitaties@naturalis.nl.
* We will consider your application if you have not yet obtained your PhD diploma, provided that it can be confirmed by the university (before the start date) that you will receive your degree and that your defense is scheduled.