PhD position in biogeochemical vegetation modelling

3 weken geleden


Amsterdam, Nederland Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Voltijd

Join the section Systems Ecology to utilize field and experimental knowledge on plant-soil interactions to test biogeochemical processes and improve numerical models to simulate the response of tropical forest to climate change.

Jouw functie

We are looking for an enthusiastic and qualified MSc, with a degree in biology, ecology, environmental science, physics, mathematics, or equivalent and experience in modelling and/or computational analysis, who wishes to pursue a PhD at the Systems Ecology section which is part of the Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment (A-LIFE).

Tropical forest response to rising atmospheric CO2, climate change, and disturbances depends on their ability to acquire nutrients. Tropical trees have evolved various mechanisms to overcome the inherent soil infertility, such as the symbiosis and interactions with soil microorganisms. Key mechanisms of this interplay are not yet accounted for in global models, and the response of tropical forests to unprecedented climatological conditions remains thus uncertain. This project sets out to utilize field and experimental knowledge from state-of-the-art monitoring programs and forest manipulation experiments in the Amazon rainforest to improve representations of tropical forests in land surface models to inform on effective adaption and mitigation measures.

You will develop novel formulations of plant-soil interactions that integrate trait-based processes of belowground ecology into vegetation models, with a focus on carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles in tropical forest ecosystems. Your code developments, model evaluations, and applications will focus on the multifunctionality of plant roots and their response to global change.

During your 4-year-long PhD, you will dive into the details of plant physiology, root and fungi ecology, soil organic matter dynamics, ecosystem ecology, community ecology, and climate change. You will engage with various aspects of trait-based modelling, Earth System science, biogeochemistry, and atmosphere-biosphere interactions. You will be supervised by Dr. Katrin Fleischer and Dr. Sebastiaan Luyssaert. The position benefits from strong international collaboration, in Europe, the US, and Brazil, so that you will work with an international and multi-faceted team of researchers.

Jouw profiel
  • MSc in biology, ecology, environmental science, physics, mathematics, or equivalent
  • Affinity for mathematics, programming, geo-ecology, and forest ecosystems
  • You bring enthusiasm for learning
  • You work well in a team, and are keen to work with researchers from diverse backgrounds

We recognize that diversity takes many forms and are always looking for talent with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We realize that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise, and mindset. Therefore, we are happy to invite anyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply.

Wat bieden wij

Your position will contribute to research, and that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:

  • a salary of minimum €2,872.00 (PhD) and maximum €3,670.00 (PhD) gross per month, on a full-time basis. This is based on UFO profile PhD candidate. 
  • a full-time position (1.0 FTE). Your employment contract will initially last 1 year. If there is sufficient perspective, this will be extended to a total of 4 years.

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and regulations. Some examples:

  • A full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata.
  • 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
  • contribution to commuting expenses
  • optional model for designing a personalized benefits package
  • a wide range of sports facilities which staff may use at a modest charge
Over ons

Systems Ecology section of the Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment
The position is embedded in the section Systems Ecology, a vibrant research group with a strong global track record in biology, ecosystem science, and atmosphere-plant-soil-microbe interactions with organismal traits as a key connector. The Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment offers a stimulating international research environment and state-of-the-art facilities. Research in the department covers a wide range of fundamental and applied research topics with the aim to advance the fundamental understanding of the interplay between life and its environment. 

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research. Learn more about our codes of conduct

We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility.  Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.

Diversity
Diversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding.

We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services.

Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community.

Interesse

Are you interested in this position and do you believe that your experience will contribute to the further development of our research? In that case, we encourage you to submit your application.

To apply, please submit a motivation letter (max 1.5 pages), an academic CV, and names and contact information of three referees. 

Submitting a diploma and a reference check are part of the application process.

Applications received by e-mail will not be considered.

Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated.



  • Amsterdam Zuid, Nederland Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Voltijd

    **Your function**: We are looking for an enthusiastic and qualified MSc, with a degree in biology, ecology, environmental science, physics, mathematics, or equivalent and experience in modelling and/or computational analysis, who wishes to pursue a PhD at the Systems Ecology section which is part of the Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment...


  • Amsterdam, Nederland Universiteit van Amsterdam Voltijd

    PhD Student Computational Modelling of Adolescents' Climate Friendly Choice **Faculty/Services**:Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences**Educational level**:Master**Function type**:PhD position**Closing date**:10 January 2025**Vacancy number**:13636- - Join us!- The PhD track is part of the developmental psychology programme group. This group has a...


  • Amsterdam Oost, Nederland AMOLF Voltijd

    **PhD-position: Quantum nano-optomechanics**: **Work Activities**: The Photonic Forces group at AMOLF is looking for PhD students to join our team working on the intriguing physics of nano-optomechanical systems. We are fascinated by the ability of light to measure and control mechanical motion in new and powerful ways. We seek to challenge the limits of...


  • Amsterdam, Nederland Universiteit van Amsterdam Voltijd

    PhD Position: Simulation Tool to Compare Outcomes of Treatments in Psychopathology **Faculty/Services**:Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences**Educational level**:Master**Function type**:PhD position**Closing date**:5 January 2025**Vacancy number**:13678- - The aim of this project is to build a tool to help in deciding which treatment for a given...


  • Amsterdam, Nederland Universiteit van Amsterdam Voltijd

    PhD Position in Electrocatalysis **Faculty/Services**:Faculty of Science**Educational level**:Master**Function type**:PhD position**Closing date**:03.01.2025**Vacancy number**:13622- Join the Electrochemistry team, part of the Heterogeneous Catalysis and Sustainable Chemistry Group, in tackling one of the most pressing challenges in sustainable energy. This...


  • Amsterdam Zuid, Nederland Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Voltijd

    **Your function**: VUSec performs world-leading research in the broad area of systems security. We work on attacks, defenses, reverse engineering, and formal verification of security. We cover all major areas where security is important, especially software security, hardware security, and network security. We love to work on low-level stuff, for example...


  • Amsterdam, Nederland CWI Voltijd

    Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) in Amsterdam has vacancies for: **Two PhD positions in AI-based methods for integrated hydrogen-electricity systems (M/F/x)** **Background** **Job description**: **[1] **The first position is part of WP2 of GVNL, that covers the transport and storage of hydrogen. The PhD position at CWI will concern the interface...


  • Amsterdam, Nederland Universiteit van Amsterdam Voltijd

    PhD Position: Abrahamic Entanglements: Intersections of Religion and Philosophy **Faculteit/Dienst**:Faculteit der Geesteswetenschappen**Opleidingsniveau**:Master**Functie type**:Promotieplaats**Sluitingsdatum**:24 oktober 2024**Vacaturenummer**:13322 **Full-time PhD Position: “Abrahamic Entanglements: Intersections of Religion and Philosophy in the...


  • Amsterdam, Nederland Universiteit van Amsterdam Voltijd

    PhD Positions, Project 'Spatiotemporal Reconstruction of Interacting People for Perceiving Systems' **Faculteit/Dienst**:Faculteit der Natuurw., Wiskunde & Informatica**Opleidingsniveau**:Master**Functie type**:Promotieplaats**Sluitingsdatum**:31 oktober 2024**Vacaturenummer**:13444 - The Computer Vision lab provides 3 fully-funded PhD positions as part of...


  • Amsterdam, Nederland Universiteit van Amsterdam Voltijd

    PhD Position in Bioinformatics of the Microbiome **Faculteit/Dienst**:Faculteit der Natuurw., Wiskunde & Informatica**Opleidingsniveau**:Master**Functie type**:Promotieplaats**Sluitingsdatum**:29.09.2024**Vacaturenummer**:13334- Are you fascinated by the microbiome and its interaction with the human host? Microbiome research has flourished in the last...


  • Amsterdam, Nederland Universiteit van Amsterdam Voltijd

    PhD Position in Machine Learning to Predict Enzyme Specificity **Faculteit/Dienst**:Faculteit der Natuurw., Wiskunde & Informatica**Opleidingsniveau**:Master**Functie type**:Promotieplaats**Sluitingsdatum**:06.11.2024**Vacaturenummer**:13466- - The position is part of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Network program “Modelling the Biochemistry of Terpene...


  • Amsterdam, Nederland Universiteit van Amsterdam Voltijd

    PhD Position in Experimental Physics **Faculteit/Dienst**:Faculteit der Natuurw., Wiskunde & Informatica**Opleidingsniveau**:Master**Functie type**:Promotieplaats**Sluitingsdatum**:31 October 2024**Vacaturenummer**:13384 - Do you enjoy working in an interdisciplinary research setting and are you interested in the intersection between nanophotonics and heat...


  • Amsterdam, Nederland Universiteit van Amsterdam Voltijd

    PhD Position in Mechanistic Interpretability **Faculty/Services**:Faculty of Science**Educational level**:Master**Function type**:PhD position**Closing date**:31 December 2024**Vacancy number**:13609- - Come work at the largest university of the Netherlands- As machine learning (ML) models continue to have influence on everyday life, it becomes increasingly...


  • Amsterdam, Nederland Universiteit van Amsterdam Voltijd

    PhD Position in Experimental Physics: Nanophotonics with 2D Quantum Materials **Faculteit/Dienst**:Faculteit der Natuurw., Wiskunde & Informatica**Opleidingsniveau**:Master**Functie type**:Promotieplaats**Sluitingsdatum**:31 October 2024**Vacaturenummer**:13371 - Are you a highly motivated physicist interested in a PhD project at the intersection between...


  • Amsterdam, Nederland Universiteit van Amsterdam Voltijd

    PhD Position in Secure Multi-party Computation **Faculteit/Dienst**:Faculteit der Natuurw., Wiskunde & Informatica **Opleidingsniveau**:Master **Functie type**:Promotieplaats **Sluitingsdatum**:15 April 2025 **Vacaturenummer**:13605 - Promovendus - Als werkgever handhaaft de UvA een beleid van gelijke kansen. We vinden diversiteit belangrijk en zetten...


  • Amsterdam, Nederland Universiteit van Amsterdam Voltijd

    PhD Position "Intercultural Triadic Shared Decision-Making in Mental Healthcare" **Faculty/Services**:Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences**Educational level**:Master**Function type**:PhD position**Closing date**:3 January 2025**Vacancy number**:13662- - PhD Opportunity: Enhancing Triadic Shared Decision-Making for Migrants- - Shared decision-making...


  • Amsterdam, Nederland Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Voltijd

    Would you like to do research on the interactions between trade, climate, and policies to improve potential negative effects of trade on climate? Then apply for this PhD position at the Institute of Environmental Studies (VU).Jouw functieTrade plays a significant role in both driving and preventing emissions, climate change, and environmental degradation. On...


  • Amsterdam Oost, Nederland AMOLF Voltijd

    **Two PhD positions: Metasurfaces for energy-efficient wave-based computing**: **Work Activities**: Metasurfaces are ultra-flat and compact nanophotonic elements that are pursued worldwide to replace conventional bulky optical elements like mirrors, lenses, and prisms. Going beyond simple optics replacements, metasurfaces can also perform data processing on...


  • Amsterdam Oost, Nederland AMOLF Voltijd

    **PhD Position: The stochastic thermodynamics of nanomechanical computers**: **Work Activities**: - Scientific background - _The energy consumption of computers is a significant scientific and societal problem: Information technology is already responsible for more CO2 emissions than the airline industry. At the fundamental level, the energy cost of a...


  • Amsterdam, Nederland Universiteit van Amsterdam Voltijd

    PhD Position in Children's Media and Diversity **Faculteit/Dienst**:Faculteit der Geesteswetenschappen**Opleidingsniveau**:Master**Functie type**:Promotieplaats**Sluitingsdatum**:5 november 2024**Vacaturenummer**:13409- Are you looking for a challenging position in a dynamic setting? The Amsterdam School for Cultural Analysis (ASCA) currently has a vacant...