PhD position ReefWatchers: Advancing Marine Ecosystem Assessment

PhD postion ReefWatchers: Advancing Marine Ecosystem Assessment through Integrated multi-Source Biodiversity Data.

Are you passionate about marine ecology and eager to develop innovative approaches for monitoring biodiversity and translating it into robust ecosystem indicators?

We offer a PhD position within the Reefwatchers project, which aims to deliver science-based knowledge and tools to advance the monitoring of marine ecosystem biodiversity and quality. As a PhD candidate, you will work with biodiversity data collected by remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) equipped with multiple sensors, including imaging systems, acoustic devices, and eDNA sampling technologies, as well as various physical sampling tools.

You will integrate diverse data streams to reconstruct trophic and food web interactions in reef food web using techniques such as stable isotope analysis, food web reconstruction, and eDNA metabarcoding. These data will be incorporated into modelling frameworks designed to develop innovative indicators for assessing the ecological status of marine ecosystems.

If you are motivated to pioneer new methodologies in marine ecosystem research and contribute meaningfully to addressing biodiversity loss, we encourage you to apply.

Key responsibilities:

• Investigate how multi-sensor biodiversity data (imaging, acoustics, eDNA, and stable isotopes) can be integrated to reconstruct marine food webs and ecosystem functioning; this includes ecological fieldwork in the North Sea.
• Conduct field monitoring using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and associated sampling tools from research vessels at the (coastal) North Sea and Lake Veere; perform laboratory analyses (e.g., stable isotope analysis and eDNA metabarcoding), advanced biodiversity data processing, and quantitative modelling. Integrate empirical data into conceptual and quantitative ecosystem models to develop ecological status indicators.
• Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present results at national and international conferences.
• Contribute to a vibrant and inclusive research culture within the research group and the broader Reefwatchers consortium.
• Mentor and supervise BSc and MSc students in thesis projects and field/laboratory activities.

You will work here
This research is part of the multidisciplinary ReefWatchers Project, funded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), and involves a collaboration between Wageningen University with the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Delft university, as well as project partners Boskalis, Guardline, Waardenburg Ecology, Oyster Heaven and Ark Nature.

You will be part of the Marine Animal Ecology group, as member of the Molecular Marine Ecology team led by Associate Professor and project PI Reindert Nijland https://www.linkedin.com/in/reindertnijland. You will be co-supervised by promotor Marjolijn Christianen https://www.linkedin.com/in/marjolijn-j-a-christianen-3a9a41b/ of the Coastal Experimental Ecology group at WUR, and Dick van Oevelen https://www.linkedin.com/in/dick-van-oevelen/ at the Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems at the NIOZ in Yerseke.

Link to site Chairgroup: Marine Animal Ecology Group | WUR.

About the ReefWatchers project
Biodiversity loss is a global problem that threatens our ecosystem. Nature restoration initiatives abundant. However, in practice it is difficult to determine the effectiveness of restoration measures, making such activities hard to assess. Therefore, we investigate the information needs to better support decision-making regarding nature restoration activities. We do this by collecting biodiversity data from various types of measurements (eDNA, acoustic, visual, physical) and translating such data into practical information about biodiversity of a project or site.

You are a motivated and creative researcher with a strong drive to pursue a PhD. You work effectively both independently and in interdisciplinary teams, think critically, and demonstrate initiative and problem-solving skills. You are flexible and willing to travel for fieldwork and collaboration across locations.

You also have:

• A completed MSc degree in marine biology, ecology, environmental sciences, or a related field, with demonstrated experience in quantitative data analysis.
• A strong interest in coastal ecology, biodiversity monitoring, and the North Sea ecosystem.
• Excellent English communication skills (written and spoken). Interest in science communication or interdisciplinary collaboration is an asset.
• Experience with molecular techniques (e.g. DNA metabarcoding), food web analysis, underwater video monitoring, or related approaches is advantageous.
• A driving license and willingness to conduct fieldwork at sea and do a safety at sea training
• Interest in the environmental impacts of human activities on marine ecosystems is highly valued.

For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognised Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here.

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• Partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team.
The gross salary for the first year is € 3.059,- per month rising to € 3.881,- in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well.

The worklocation is Wageningen. With (field)work in Zeeland and North Sea and regular meetings at the Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea Research, Yerseke.

Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment.

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 students and over 150,000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch the video below to get an idea of our green campus!

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.

Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees.

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. We can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.