Researcher on Dutch Flora

Are you the innovative botanist who can bridge taxonomic expertise with modern species identification techniques? Then Naturalis in Leiden is the place for you! Working 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.

• € 4,532.00 - € 6,268.00 gross/month
• ⏱ 36 hours/week or part thereof
• 📅Tenure Track: a four-year temporary contract, with the possibility of a permanent contract after successful evaluation.
• 🎓 PhD degree

As a researcher

• 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 in identifying and applying for funding opportunities, with access to our dedicated Research Coordination Office.
• Through our collaborations with diverse partners, you will strengthen your international profile.

This is what you'll be doing
As an ambitious, enthusiastic, and innovative scientist, you will strengthen our research on the identification, description, and monitoring of Dutch plant species and actively support the development of our national research infrastructures. The Netherlands is losing biodiversity faster than most European countries, and urgent solutions are needed. Naturalis, home to one of the world’s largest natural history collections, combines the collection of specimens and digital solutions to accelerate species identification and deepen ecosystem insights. Join us to drive pioneering research and make a tangible impact.

We are looking for a pioneer to explore and unlock the richness of Dutch flora. A taxonomist with a sharp eye for the Dutch species — and the ambition to push new boundaries using molecular and computer vision tools. You will develop your own line of research, acquire project funding, and contribute to outreach, mentoring PhD students and postdocs, and work with a large network of Dutch citizen scientists. This is your chance to lead, innovate, and shape a scalable approach to biodiversity research in the Netherlands and beyond.

Here is what we have to offer

• A gross monthly salary of €4,532.00 to €6,268.00 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.
• Commuting allowance depending on your means of transport.
• Pension scheme via PFZW, where Naturalis pays 60% of your premium.
• Plenty of development opportunities. We offer the opportunity to all our researchers to develop personal lines of research into vibrant, visible, and viable research groups and full support for personal growth and career development. We also encourage collaboration and affiliation with one of the Dutch universities.
• 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, journal clubs, and gatherings on various (scientific) topics. You can also attend – or take part in – the fascinating internal information session ‘Naturalis Draait Door’.
• Laptop and phone allowance.
• Nice extras such as discounts on software 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!
iterally. 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 centers, 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 be part of the research group Tropical Botany. Describing species, understanding their distributions, evolutionary and ecological relationships, and recognizing their role in human societies – themes in the Tropical Botany research group – are strategic building blocks for global plans on nature conservation and sustainable use.

What you bring to the table
We're looking for an expert on Dutch flora with a proven track record in independent research who wants to use their expertise in modern taxonomy to accelerate and scale up the identification, description, and monitoring of species. You have experience combining knowledge of (Dutch) species with modern technologies like molecular and imaging techniques, or data science (AI). You possess excellent communication, presentation, and collaboration skills and know how to translate your vision and innovative ideas into tangible results.

In addition, you have:

• A completed PhD degree in a relevant field, such as Botany or Biodiversity.
• Proven skills in DNA-based species delimitation and taxonomic treatments.
• Experience in publishing and disseminating research findings via scientific publications, lectures, conference presentations, or teaching.
• Strong proficiency in English.

Become our new Researcher
Upload your application in one PDF via the application button no later than 5 January 2026.

Your application contains:

• A narrative academic profile of no more than three pages. This is a description of the scientific and societal impact of your research, including a list of no more than 10 key outputs with a description of why you consider this important, and a concise table including publications, teaching activities, and major grants and awards.
• A personal motivation letter.
• The names and contact details of two referees.

Want to know more about the position before you apply? Please send an email to vincent.merckx@naturalis.nl. Interviews (online) will probably be held 28-29 January, so keep those two days available as much as possible.

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.