Postdoctoral Researcher - Functional Diversity and Ecosystem Services (TerraChem Project)

The European research project TerraChem (www.terrachem.eu) is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to explore how chemical stressors affect biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and the services nature provides to people. The position will combine ecological data analysis with statistical and spatial modeling to quantify chemical impacts across multiple levels of biological organization.

Your work will focus on linking species-specific ecotoxicity data with information on species abundances and functional traits to assess how chemical exposure alters functional diversity—including its richness, evenness, and divergence components. You will investigate how these changes cascade across trophic levels and develop damage metrics that capture biodiversity loss under different contamination scenarios.

Building on this, you will connect biodiversity and functional diversity loss to changes in key terrestrial ecosystem services, such as organic matter decomposition and maintenance of genetic diversity. You will model how these effects propagate across ecosystems and scale up to larger geographical regions, while accounting for multiple environmental stressors.

We are looking for a candidate with a PhD in ecology, ecotoxicology, or environmental modeling, and strong analytical and programming skills (e.g., R or Python). Experience with biodiversity metrics, ecosystem service modeling, or spatial analysis is an advantage.

The TerraChem project runs until October 31st 2026 and the applicant is invited to start as soon as possible.

What you will do

• Quantify impacts of chemical stressors on biodiversity by linking species-specific ecotoxicity data with species traits and abundances to assess changes in functional diversity.
• Link biodiversity and functional diversity loss to ecosystem service changes.
• Scale up and spatialize model outcomes to regional and continental levels, integrating the influence of multiple environmental stressors.

Where you will work
Leiden University is situated between Amsterdam (36 km) and The Hague (15 km) and was founded in 1575, making it the oldest university in the Netherlands. It houses around 35,000 students originating from 112 nationalities, facilitated by approximately 8,000 staff.

The Institute of Environmental Science (CML) at Leiden University offers a vibrant and supportive community of scientists committed to the challenges of sustainability. CML distinguishes itself for its attention to professional development in coordination with the interests of its scientists. As such, there are plenty of opportunities to learn new skills, expand your knowledge, collaborate across disciplines, and experiment in a friendly environment fully embodying academic freedom across all career levels.

The core focus of CML is to perform research and education in the interdisciplinary field of Environmental Sciences. CML focuses on the sustainable use of natural resources and preservation of natural capital and biodiversity. CML has a culture of mutual support and collaboration between researchers. CML has two Departments: Industrial Ecology (CML-IE) and Environmental Biology (CML-EB). Presently, about 150 fte (including postdocs and PhDs) are employed at CML. CML further collaborates with TU Delft and Erasmus University in the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Centre for Sustainability (LDE-CfS), and with the Naturalis Biodiversity Centre.

The Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) is positioned in the Faculty of Sciences. The Faculty of Science is a world-class faculty where staff and students work together in a dynamic international environment. It is a faculty where personal and academic development are top priorities. Our people are committed to expanding fundamental knowledge by curiosity and looking beyond the borders of their own discipline; their aim is to benefit science and to make a contribution to addressing the major societal challenges of the future. The research carried out at the Faculty of Science is very diverse, ranging from mathematics, information science, astronomy, physics, chemistry and bio-pharmaceutical sciences to biology and environmental sciences. The research activities are organized in eight institutes. These institutes offer eight bachelor’s and twelve master’s programmes. The faculty has grown strongly in recent years and now has more than 2.800 staff and almost 6000 students. We are located at the heart of Leiden’s Bio Science Park, one of Europe’s biggest science parks, where university and business life come together.

For more information, see www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/science. Information about CML can be found at www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/science/environmental-sciences.

What you bring

• PhD in ecology, ecotoxicology, environmental sciences, or a related quantitative field (completed or near completion).
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills, with demonstrated experience in ecological or statistical modeling.
• Proficiency in data analysis and programming using tools such as R or Python.
• Experience with biodiversity metrics, functional trait analysis, or ecosystem service modeling.
• Strong collaborative skills and motivation to work in an interdisciplinary, international research environment.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English

We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team, welcoming applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. Your unique perspectives will enrich our research and foster a collaborative and innovative environment.

What we offer
We are looking to fill this position as soon as possible, offering a contract until the project concludes on October 31st 2026, following the pay scale 10 in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. Salary ranges from € 3.546 to € 5.538 gross per month based on a full-time position.

At our institution, we believe in flexibility and work-life balance! With a full-time position (38 hours per week), you are entitled to 232 vacation hours per year, which is equivalent to 30.5 vacation days (based on a 38-hour work week). If you value flexibility, you have the freedom to adjust your working hours. For example, you could choose to work 40 hours per week, earning extra compensation hours. Alternatively, if you prefer a shorter work week, you can work 36 hours per week by using some of your vacation days to create more time for yourself. You’ll work closely with your supervisor to tailor your schedule in a way that suits both your needs and the team’s.

In addition, we offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Holiday allowance (8%) and an end-of-year bonus (8.3%)
• An attractive pension scheme with ABP, ensuring your financial well-being both now and in the future
• Extensive options for secondary employment conditions: You can explore options such as sabbaticals, paid parental leave, and the individual choices model, which allows you to exchange leave days and/or salary for benefits like an advantageous sports subscription, bicycle scheme, and childcare options
• Hybrid working options: If your role allows, you can enjoy the flexibility of working from home within the Netherlands
• Home-working allowance: You’ll receive a home-working allowance (for both workdays and internet), and the university will provide you with a laptop and support for creating a comfortable home office

We are committed to offering a flexible, supportive, and rewarding work environment, designed to help you grow both professionally and personally. For more information about the working conditions, please visit: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at/job-application-procedure-and-employment-conditions

What we find important
At the Faculty of Science, we value inclusiveness and strive for a diverse community with equal opportunities for all. We give full support to our staff in achieving their potential to become independent academic researchers and teachers. For more information about our policy on diversity and equality please go to the diversity page on our website: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/dossiers/diversity

Female researchers are also welcome to join the Researchers In Science for Equality network of the Faculty of Science (rise.nu).

Want to apply or find out more?
Please submit your application via the online recruitment system, via the blue button at the top or bottom of this page. Applications received via e-mail will not be taken into consideration. Please ensure that you upload the following additional documents quoting the vacancy number:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover letter (max 2 pages.)
• Names and contact details of at least two referees

The deadline for submissions is December 31st, 2026; applications received after this date will not be considered.

Enquiries about the vacancy can be made to dr. Henrik Barmentlo (s.h.barmentlo@cml.leidenuniv.nl]

Selection Committee:

• Dr. Henrik Barmentlo
• Prof. dr. ing. Martina Vijver
• Philipp Kropf