The Early-Career Researcher position is part of the European Training Network TERRANOVA (H2020 ITN) in which 15 fellows collaborate to increase long-term understanding of landscape histories and land use strategies in Europe. This one year position will investigate future pathways of land use development, their impacts on Ecosystem Services, at European scale. There will be special focus on analyzing trade-offs between alternative land use options and the optimization/prioritization of land use planning to support sustainable land use development in Europe. As a junior researcher you will do GIS analysis, spatial modelling and write a scientific paper on the results, as well as contributing to policy-relevant documents.
While the position is in principle for one year, in case of good performance and availability of funding, the position can be prolonged into a full PhD position.

Your duties

• analyze literature, conducts spatial analysis and modelling
• publish a scientific paper and deliver synthesis
• interact and collaborate with other researchers in the project
• participate in TerraNova project events

• outstanding MA/MSc (or equivalent degree) in Environmental Sciences, Geography or related fields
• previous experience in working with Geographical Information Systems
• interdisciplinary skills and strong interest in environmental issues, land-use, and ecology
• good writing skills
• work or study outside the Netherlands is an important experience of the successful candidate following the eligibility requirements of Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)

Fixed-term contract: 1 year.

• a challenging position in a socially involved organization
• participation in a team of leading scientists in different fields of academia and commerce (science, landscape management, modelling and imaging techniques)
• an EU fellowship in which you will develop multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary research skills, and take part in programme training activitiesthe opportunity to establish a professional network in academia, business organizations and NGO’s
• internships and visits to different disciplinary institutes within industry and academia

The appointment will initially be for 1 years. After a satisfactory evaluation of the initial appointment, the contract can potentially be prolonged to enable a full PhD.
The salary will be in accordance with university regulations for academic personnel and amounts €2,325 per month during the first year, based on a full-time employment. Additionally, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers excellent fringe benefits and various schemes and regulations to promote a good work/life balance, such as:

• a maximum of 41 days of annual leave based on full-time employment
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• contribution to commuting expenses
• optional model for designing a personalized benefits package

The ambition of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is clear: to contribute to a better world through outstanding education and ground-breaking research. We strive to be a university where personal development and commitment to society play a leading role. A university where people from different disciplines and backgrounds collaborate to achieve innovations and to generate new knowledge. Our teaching and research encompass the entire spectrum of academic endeavor – from the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences through to the life sciences and the medical sciences.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is home to more than 26,000 students. We employ over 4,600 individuals. The VU campus is easily accessible and located in the heart of Amsterdam’s Zuidas district, a truly inspiring environment for teaching and research.

Diversity
We are an inclusive university community. Diversity is one of our most important values. We believe that engaging in international activities and welcoming students and staff from a wide variety of backgrounds enhances the quality of our education and research. We are always looking for people who can enrich our world with their own unique perspectives and experiences.

The Faculty of Science
The Faculty of Science inspires researchers and students to find sustainable solutions for complex societal issues. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to medicines and from molecules to the moon: our teaching and research programmes cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. We share knowledge and experience with leading research institutes and industries, both here in the Netherlands and abroad.

Working at the Faculty of Science means working with students, PhD candidates and researchers, all with a clear focus on their field and a broad view of the world. We employ more than 1,250 staff members, and we are home to around 6,000 students.
About IVM
IVM is a leading environmental research institute that is internationally recognized for its high quality research output in a range of environmental disciplines, as well as for its interdisciplinary work. The mission of the institute is to contribute to sustainable development and care for the environment through scientific research and teaching. IVM aims to do excellent problem-oriented research that is useful to a wide range of stakeholders in the Netherlands and internationally. A unique strength of our research is to understand sustainability problems in their social and economic context. IVM’s research community works within four departments: Environmental Economics; Environmental Policy Analysis; Environmental Geography; and Water and Climate Risk. Since 2001 IVM is part of the Faculty of Science at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (www.ivm.vu.nl). This position is based within the Environmental Geography department.