The
Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development at Utrecht University invites applications for two tenure track faculty positions at Assistant Professor level in the Environmental Sciences group. We are searching for highly self-motivated natural sciences oriented and quantitative scientists. Human-induced pressures such as climate change, increased food production, and deforestation are altering terrestrial systems. With these two new positions, we aim to contribute to the solution of these challenges in environmental sciences while also increasing our fundamental knowledge of the system. The first position is focused on ecosystem resilience. The second position is focused on Sustainable land, water and nutrient interactions.
1. Ecosystem resilience, Assistant Professor (1.0 FTE)
You will contribute to the understanding of ecosystem resilience in the context of global change and the ambition of sustainable development. We are interested in the interactions between human activities, the abiotic environment, the functioning of ecosystems and biodiversity. Ecosystems are under pressure, important issues are whether or not we can quantify ecosystem resilience, and restore ecosystem resilience. Examples include, but are not limited to, increased droughts and associated fires, but also restoration measures like reforestation. In this position, you contribute to the development of sustainable solutions for environmental change across scales. You strengthen our research line on the intersection between environmental sciences and spatial ecology. You have skills in mathematical modelling and statistical analysis.
2. Sustainable land, water and nutrient interactions, Assistant Professor (1.0 FTE)
You will contribute to the understanding of sustainable land use and cycling of water, nutrients and carbon in natural and anthropogenic terrestrial systems. Ecosystem services like food, water availability and quality, storage and sequestration of carbon, and biodiversity are under pressure by intensive land-use practices and climate change. With climate adaptation and sustainable land and water management we try to increase circularity and resource efficiency from a local to a global scale. For this position, we are interested in quantifying these changes either through scaling up empirical findings, modelling or analysis of large data sets. You strengthen our research line on the intersection between environmental sciences, hydrology and biogeochemistry.