PhD student on dating and tracing of human-mediated plant introduction in the Pacific Islands

 

Pursuing a PhD at Naturalis in Leiden (the Netherlands) means working on research with a truly global impact — contributing directly to biodiversity. And you'll be well supported every step of the way. With 3,200 m² of state-of-the-art lab facilities, housed in a museum with more than 40 million natural history objects, dedicated mentorship, and access to our broad international network, this position offers everything you need to thrive as a scientist.

As a PhD student

• You will find yourself in a unique research environment, inspired by passionate scientists from a wide range of disciplines in biodiversity research (e.g., taxonomy, evolution, genomics, ecology and geology).
• You will receive dedicated supervision from experienced researchers and work closely with international experts and collaborators with whom you will regularly exchange ideas about your research. This will help you develop a strong academic profile.
• You will build valuable connections by participating in both academic and social activities of our PhD community.

This is what you'll be doing
You will be part of a Marie Curie Doctoral Network project, PacificPeopleForest, entitled History, Archaeology, and Botany of Pacific Islands: assessing the Long-Term Impacts of Early European colonialism on Peoples and Forests. Current definitions of native forests for the Mariana Islands tend to neglect the fact that they often consist of introduced species. There is a general lack of understanding of historic plant introduction and plant use on these Pacific islands, as well as a dismissal of the intimate intertwining of people and plants. Can we trace how plant use changed with European colonialism and the influx of non-native species?

You will be responsible for tracing and dating key forest species with genomics methods to support historical and archaeological research. In addition, you will initiate the first pilot on isotope dendrochronology for the Marianas Islands (Pacific region). You will perform field work on Rota Island, visit European partners in the consortium, publish your findings as scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals, and present results at (inter)national conferences. If successful, you will obtain your PhD degree from Leiden University.

Here's what we have to offer

• A gross monthly starting salary of € 3,463.00 for a full-time contract (36 hours).
• End-of-year bonus of 3.4% of your gross annual salary and 8% holiday pay.
• 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.
• Commuting allowance depending on your means of transport.
• Pension scheme via PFZW, where Naturalis pays 60% of your premium.
• 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.
• A laptop and mobile phone allowance.
• Fun team outings. We also get together for drinks every month, organise 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
You will join the research group Functional Traits with Dr. Frederic Lens, Dr. Marta Domínguez Delmás, and Dr. Angelica Cibrian Jaramillo (research group Tropical Botany) as supervisors. You will work closely with 5 other PhD students in the PacificPeopleForest consortium. This international research team aims to uncover the history, extent and chronology of the impacts of European colonialism in the Pacific Islands (16-17th century). By integrating historical, archaeological, and ecological disciplines and perspectives through an interdisciplinary consortium including 6 PhD students, we want to understand the interplay between human populations and forest dynamics, before and after European contact.

You will be part of our Naturalis PhD 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. You'll often meet in the PhD room, a dedicated space for regular interaction. And of course, for those interested, there are plenty of social activities outside of work as well.

What you bring to the table
You are capable of working independently while also proactively seeking collaboration — whether with your supervisor, fellow researchers, or external partners. You are confident in asking critical questions to further your research and you identify opportunities, effectively engaging others with your ideas. You are also eager to disseminate your research findings, whether through public lectures or publications. You excel at translating complex topics into engaging and accessible narratives, reaching not only the scientific community but also the general public.

Furthermore you have:

• A completed Master’s degree in a relevant field
• Experience working with molecular data and methods, preferentially to date and trace organisms, and with a strong background in bioinformatics tools. Experience with tropical fieldwork, and knowledge on plant biogeography and evolution, are an advantage.
• Strong organisation skills and eagerness to participate regularly in workshops and training sessions abroad.
• Strong proficiency in English.

Become our new PhD student

• Upload your CV and motivation letter, including the contact details of two referees, in one pdf document via the application button no later than November 23rd 2025.
• Interviews (online) will (probably) be held 27-28 November, so keep these two days available as much as possible.
• Want to know more about the position before you apply? Send an email to frederic.lens@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.

We are managing the recruitment for this vacancy ourselves; unsolicited acquisition is therefore not desired.

Eligibility criteria

EU eligibility rules, applied to this specific position, require that the recruited researcher:

• has not resided in The Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date, and has not carried out the main activity (work, studies, etc.) in The Netherlands, unless as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention;
• does not have a doctoral degree, but does have, at the time of enrollment, an MSc diploma recognized in The Netherlands.

These eligibility criteria are non-negotiable and ineligible applicants will not be considered.

Eligible applicants can be of any nationality.