Do you have knowledge of European land use and are you interested in how land use planning can improve the conditions for protecting European biodiversity?
Then Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam would like to get to know you. Apply for the position of:

POSTDOC LAND SYSTEM MODELLING FOR BIODIVERSITY ASSESSMENT AND CONSERVATION PLANNING

Location:                      AMSTERDAM
Hours per week:         32 - 40 hours

Job description
The postdoc will be part of the BiodivERsA project FutureWeb. FutureWeb will integrate predictive biogeography, geography, biostatistics and trophic web ecology to derive an ensemble of scenarios of the impact of global change on multi-trophic vertebrate biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and the provision of ecosystem services in Europe. Through an effective involvement of relevant stakeholders, we will adapt methodological choices, scenarios and indicators in such a way that the results are useful for conservation planning and decision-making support. FutureWeb is a joint project of the University of Grenoble France, Duke University USA, iDiV Germany, the Finish Natural History Museum, WSL Switzerland and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
Within FutureWeb the postdoc will develop a set of land use scenarios at European scale that account for more subtle changes in landscapes, including agro-environmental management and landscape elements, that are expected to affect biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Novel approaches for ensemble modelling will be conducted and results will feed into modelling of ecosystem function and service provisioning.

Your duties
• Contribute to collaboration within the consortium by performing the assigned project tasks
• Harmonize land use data relevant to biodiversity and ecosystem service modelling for Europe
• Conduct land system change modelling for various scenarios
• Develop an approach for ensemble modelling
• Analyze ecosystem function and service consequences of land system cha

• PhD degree in geography or ecology, specializing in land use change
• Strong publication record relative to career stage
• Knowledge of and experience with spatial models of land use, ecosystem service or landscape processes
• Knowledge of ecosystem processes and European land use
• Availability to start the position on April 1st 2019

A challenging position in a socially involved organization. On full-time basis the remuneration amounts to a minimum gross monthly salary of € 2,640.- and a maximum € 3,796.- in accordance with salary scale 10, depending on your education and experience. The job profile (Onderzoeker 4) is based on the university job ranking system and is vacant for either 2.5 years full-time or (preferably) for the full project time duration of 3 years for 85%.

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
• considerable employer’s contribution to the ABP pension scheme
• 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. And to be a university where personal education and societal involvement play a leading role. Where people from different disciplines and backgrounds work together on innovations and on generating new knowledge. Our teaching and research embrace the whole spectrum of science – from the humanities, the social sciences and the pure sciences through to the life sciences and the medical sciences.
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is home to more than 23,000 students. We employ more than 4,500 individuals. The VU campus is easily accessible, located in the heart of Amsterdam’s Zuidas district, a truly inspiring environment for teaching and research.

Diversity is one of our university’s core values. We are an inclusive community, and we believe that diversity and international activities enhance the quality of education and research. We are always looking for people who can enhance diversity on our campus thanks to their background and experience.

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 5,750 students.

About the Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM)
The postdoc will be based within the Environmental Geography department of 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. The Department of Environmental Geography investigates the role of spatial variation in environmental systems to increase our understanding of environmental change and support environmental management. The focus of the group is on land use change and its impacts on ecosystem services and society. Temporal dynamics and future scenarios are explored with spatial modeling of changes in land use and ecosystem services, including natural, rural and urban systems. Advanced methods for stakeholder participation and ex-ante evaluation are developed and tested to support environmental management and land use planning.