Vacancy
PhD Sparkling Seas: Unraveling bioluminescent plankton dynamics in coastal waters
Your job
Are you passionate about (marine) plankton ecology research and eager to enlighten the ecological functioning of bioluminescent plankton?
We are looking for a motivated PhD candidate to join our plankton ecology team, with a focus on understanding the impacts of global environmental changes on the occurrence of marine bioluminescent plankton blooms. If you are driven by improving our fundamental knowledge on plankton blooms dynamics whilst engaging citizen scientists, this position is for you!
Key responsibilities:
- Investigate how global environmental changes affect the biolumniscence of bloom-forming marine plankton and the occurrence of biolumininescent species in dutch coastal waters.
- Conduct ecological laboratory experiments, including the culturing of marine (zoo)plankton. Integrate empirical findings into (conceptual) models.
- Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present them at national and international conferences.
- Contribute to a vibrant and inclusive research culture within the research group.
- Mentor BSc and Msc students.
You will be part of the Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Chair Group, which is led by prof. dr. Bart Koelmans. Within that department, you will work closely with dr. Mandy Velthuis and dr. Marjolijn Christianen.
About the Sparkling Seas project
While the phenomenon of bioluminescent plankton has sparked the interest of the general public for centuries, there are a lot of unknowns about these intriguing organisms due to limited scientific studies. What are for instance the dominant blooming bioluminescent species in dutch coastal waters and how do global environmental changes affect the frequency and duration of their blooms? Furthermore, how does the intensity of bioluminescence relate to environmental stressors and ecological interactions?
This project aims to address these questions and thereby establish a scientific foundation on the occurrence of bioluminescent plankton. Laboratory experiments and field observations will be combined to shed more light on bioluminescence, its ecological functions and potentially utilize this information in order to predict harmful algal bloom occurrence. Additionally, the project aims to engage the public through collaborations with citizen scientists.
Your qualities
Essential qualities include the ability to work well in a group, strong motivation to obtain a PhD degree, creativity, flexibility, initiative, problem-solving skills, independence, critical thinking, and a willingness to travel for fieldwork and collaboration.
You also possess:
- a succesfully completed MSc degree in biology, ecology, environmental sciences or a related field with demonstrated experience in experimental work and quantitative data analysis;
- a strong interest in aquatic ecology and plankton ecology;
- a drivers license;
- fluent English communication skills, both written and spoken, with a proven track academic track record (e.g., thesis);
- interest in public engagement/citizen science (e.g, science communication, art, joint monitoring).
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.
We offer you
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.
The gross salary for the first year is € 2.901,- per month rising to € 3.707,- 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.
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. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the "best university" in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.
Coming from abroad
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.
Do you want more information?
For more information about the position, please contact Mandy Velthuis, Assistant professor, via email: mandy.velthuis@wur.nl .
Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Noorien Abbas, Corporate Recruiter, Email: noorien.abbas@wur.nl
Ready to apply?
Click on the application button next to the vacancy on our website. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.
You can apply until the 2nd of June 2025. We hope to schedule the first interviews on the 6th of June.
Additional information form
For this position, you must fill in a mandatory form which will allow us to have a comprehensive view of your qualifications and better assess your fit for it. You can access the form using the link below:
https://forms.office.com/e/pQzEVMTfyy
Your prompt response will ensure that your application continues to move forward in the evaluation process. We assure you that the information provided will be kept confidential and used solely for this application process.
Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone's unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.
We are
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.