Are you an early career PhD candidate who likes to work in a team? And who is an independent thinker who plans well, communicates efficiently, is passionate about multi-disciplinary science, enjoys working with models and feels comfortable working both in the field and behind the computer? Then you may the ideal candidate for us!

As a PhD student you are responsible for coupling aeolian sediment transport and ecological processes to topographic evolution and habitat development at the beach-dune interface. You will assess parameters related to dynamics of sediment, soil moisture, vegetation and habitat development using a combination of both land-based and UAV-based techniques. You will translate the data collected into probability density functions and integrate these functions into an existing dune-building model. You will be co-supervised by staff from the Plant Ecology and Nature conservation (PEN) and Soil physics and Land Management (SPLM) groups and work closely together with staff of the GIS and Remote Sensing group of Wageningen. Within the broader Wageningen-Delft project-team you will work together with one technician, one PhD and one postdoc.

• MSc degree in earth system science related subject area with training in ecology or vice versa:
• excellent ability to think conceptually and quantitatively
• excellent proficiency in English, both orally and in writing
• good organisational skills and ability to work independently and together with colleagues
• experience with modelling in R or Phyton
• good knowledge of biogeomorphologial interactions (sediment, hydrology, vegetation) • experience with remote sensing techniques and data processing & statistical analyses

You will receive a fully funded PhD position and a course program tailored to your needs and the research team. The gross salary for the first year is € 2.395,- per month rising to € 3.061,- in the fourth year according to the Collective Labour Agreement (scale P). This is based on a full working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the remaining duration of the project (30 months) if you perform well.

In addition, we offer:

• 8% holiday allowance
• a structural end-of year bonus of 8.3%
• excellent training opportunities and secondary employment conditions
• flexible working hours that we determine together in good consultation
• pension plan through ABP
• 232 vacation hours, the option to purchase extra and good supplementary leave schemes, e.g. the possibility to work a maximum of 2 hours per week extra for extra leave
• a flexible model to put together part of your employment conditions yourself, such as a bicycle plan
• a lively workplace on the Wageningen Campus
• make use of the sports facilities on campus for a small fee.

Wageningen University & Research stimulates internal career opportunities and mobility with our internal recruitment policy. There are ample opportunities for personal initiative in a learning environment. With us you get a versatile job in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere, with students and staff from over 100 countries around the world. You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the "Best University" in the Netherlands for the 15th consecutive time.

Wageningen University & Research

The mission of our University is to explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life. Nine specialised research institutes from the Wageningen Research Foundation and Wageningen University have joined forces to help answer the most important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment.

With approximately 30 locations, 6.500 employees, and 12.000 students, it is one of the leading organisations in its domain worldwide. A coordinated approach to problems and the cooperation between various fields are at the heart of the outstanding approach of Wageningen. We have been named Best Employer in Education category 2019-2020. Click here for more information about working with us and watch a video about our campus here.

The PhD position is a joint project between two chair groups within the department of Environmental Sciences: the chair groups of PEN, and chair group SLM. PEN studies and teaches the processes and underlying mechanisms that link biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and service delivery and applies these insights to design effective conservation and management strategies for resilient ecosystems. SLM focusses on soil physical and hydrological processes at different temporal and spatial scales, and their central role in sustainable land and water management.