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PhD-researcher to study cell wall integrity signaling in plants, using tip-growing root hair cells as a model

The University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking, European university. We offer an innovative academic education to more than 20000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research and play an important service-providing role in society. We are one of the largest, most international and most innovative employers in the region. With more than 6000 employees from 100 different countries, we are helping to build tomorrow’s world every day. Through top scientific research, we push back boundaries and set a course for the future – a future that you can help to shape.

The Faculty of Sciences of the University of Antwerp is looking for a full-time PhD-researcher to study cell wall integrity signaling in plants, using tip-growing root hair cells as a model. This exceptionally dynamic and elegant pathway is still poorly understood, yet it is crucial for plant development and its interaction with the biotic and abiotic environment.

The selected candidate is expected to have excellent study results, a critical, curious and open mindset, an interest in deciphering the molecular workings of plant growth regulation and the willingness to write a research proposal for additional and competitive funding on this topic. The research will be executed at the Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology (IMPRES) research group of the University of Antwerp, under the supervision of Prof Kris Vissenberg. The IMPRES group is a highly dynamic research group with a strong thematic focus on understanding the regulation of plant growth and the plant’s response to changes in the environment. Our research combines cell biology, molecular biology, biotechnology and state-of-the-art live cell microscopy. The PhD candidate will be part of our research line which focusses on how plant cells dynamically regulate the composition and strength of their cell walls during growth. The cell wall needs to be flexible to allow for growth, but sufficiently strong to prevent cell rupture. Plants have evolved a mechanism to rapidly sense and fine-tune cell wall biomechanics to facilitate robust growth. Being a prime candidate for targeted breeding efforts, there is an urgent need to examine how the key receptor-like kinases (CrRLK1Ls), rapid alkalinization factors (RALFs) and leucine-rich repeat extensin (LRX) proteins of this pathway coordinate to fine-tune cell wall biomechanics at the cell’s growth zone. The PhD candidate will be tasked with characterizing the dynamic interplay between these components at the growing tip of Arabidopsis thaliana root hairs. This model cell type displays exceptionally rapid and oscillatory growth, which is accompanied by dynamic changes in the sensing and fine-tuning of the cell wall.

Recent publications of the group on the regulatory mechanisms can be found here:

Position

Amongst other approaches, the PhD candidate will be required:

to design and perform phenotyping experiments to quantify different aspects of root hair growth, in a variety of transgenic and mutant Arabidopsis lines.
to use advanced fluorescence confocal microscopy coupled to microfluidics to image and quantify the relative whereabouts and dynamics of key components of the cell wall integrity pathway, in different genetic background and different experimental conditions.
to identify novel suppressor mutations from an EMS mutagenesized seed population.
to perform downstream characterization of novel members of the cell wall integrity pathway by cloning and imaging transcriptional and translational reporter lines.
to carry out a variety of wet-lab experiments using molecular (cell) biology and biotechnology approaches.
to conceptualize novel experiments that could contribute to our understanding of the plant cell wall integrity pathway.
to write scientific papers for publication in high-impact journals.
to assist in practical courses, guiding internship/Erasmus students
to apply for a PhD fellowship at the FWO call of December 2025.

Profile

You hold an MSc degree with excellent study results in biology, biotechnology, biochemistry, environmental sciences, or a related area, and you should be eligible to apply for a FWO PhD fellowship.
You preferably have experience with molecular biology and/or biotechnology, and experience or interest in using different kinds of microscopes (bright-field, fluorescence, confocal, spinning disc, live cell imaging).
You preferably have experience with in vivo and in vitro growth of plants
You have experience with statistical analyses.
You possess excellent English communication skills, both written and oral.
You are available to work full time, with high motivation, and you have good planning, communication, and organizational skills.
You are able to work effectively both independently and in team, as part of a multidisciplinary, international, and multicultural group; you can manage conflicting demands and meet deadlines.
You commit, upon acceptance of the position, to apply for a PhD fellowship at a subsequent FWO PhD call (December 2025-March 2026), with the University of Antwerp as host institution. Applicants who are not eligible to submit a FWO application will not be taken into consideration.

What we offer

Scientific development opportunities in an international cooperative, interdisciplinary research environment and an excellent working atmosphere in a dynamic, international and professional team.
Extensive state-of-the-art microscopy equipment, plant growth and molecular biology infrastructure, experience with microfluidics coupled to (live cell) imaging of growing plant cells, availability of many transgenic lines and mutants.
An open-door policy in which communication, collaboration and idea-sharing are key to our working ethos and the advancement of science.
The opportunity to present your data on international conferences and to participate in workshops.
A competitive salary for a period of initially 24 months.
The planned start date is 1 November 2025 or as soon as possible after that date.

Want to apply

You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including 30 September 2025 (by midnight Brussels time). Click on the ‘Apply’ button, complete the online application form and be sure to include the following attachments: a 1-page motivation letter, and your CV.
We will review all applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. Selected candidates will be invited for an interview early October.
If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions or send an email to jobs@uantwerpen.be. If you have any questions, please contact: Prof. Kris Vissenberg (kris.vissenberg@uantwerpen.be).

The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award for its HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organization which invests in its employees’ growth. We encourage diversity and attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or age. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse characteristics to apply.

Staff scientist

Umeå University is one of Sweden’s largest higher education institutions with over 37,000 students and about 4,700 employees. The University offers a diversity of high-quality education and world-leading research in several fields. Notably, the groundbreaking discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, was made here. At Umeå University, everything is close. Our cohesive campuses make it easy to meet, work together and exchange knowledge, which promotes a dynamic and open culture.

The ongoing societal transformation and large green investments in northern Sweden create enormous opportunities and complex challenges. For Umeå University, conducting research about – and in the middle of – a society in transition is key. We also take pride in delivering education to enable regions to expand quickly and sustainably. In fact, the future is made here.

Are you interested in learning more? Read about Umeå university as a workplace

Humlab is a work unit and research infrastructure with around twenty employees at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. Humlab’s mission is to initiate, inspire, and develop the interaction between the humanities, culture and information technology. Humlab’s premises are located in two buildings on campus: one in the Humanities building and another in the Social Science Building located below the University Library, where Humlab’s laboratory environment is also situated. In this creative and interdisciplinary environment, lectures, workshops and other events are offered to researchers, students, and the general public.

Job Description:
The primary tasks involve working within the visualization infrastructure InfraVis, as well as other infrastructures at Humlab, alongside Humlabs general operations.

This includes:
• Node Coordinator (approx. 20% from 2025 onward) within the national infrastructure InfraVis. This role entails leading the work at Umeå University’s local InfraVis node (Humlab) and coordinating and co-organising activities with other nodes at other universities.
• InfraVis Application Expert (IAE) (60% during 2025, 55% during 2026 and estimated between 20–40% from 2027), with a focus on providing expert support and developing solutions for research projects that require expertise primarily in GIS and network analysis.
• Contributing to Humlab’s regular program activities, which may involve developing and conducting short courses, participating in various events and arrangements, supporting teachers and researchers at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities regarding GIS and/or network analysis.
• Working within Humlab’s other infrastructures (e.g. HumInfra).
• Work may also include teaching to a lesser extent, teaching planning and development, supervision, and supporting research project applications.

Tasks may change over time.

Qualifications required:
To be eligible for appointment as staff scientist, candidates must have:
• A PhD in a relevant field for data visualization, GIS, and network analysis, such as geographic information science, geography, geoinformatics, cartography or geosciences.
• Several years of theoretical and practical experience in working with GIS.
• Expertise in network analysis and associated tools.
• Strong collaboration and initiative skills.

Other desirable qualifications:
• Experience of coordinating group work, which is valuable for the Node Coordinator role within InfraVis.
• Experience working in digital humanities, aiding the understanding of user groups’ needs and research questions.
• Practical experience with GIS tools ArcGIS or QGIS.
• Experience working with GIS-related research data, including data collection and processing.
• Ability to develop “ready-to-use” solutions and user interfaces within GIS (e.g., ArcGIS Online) for visualizing research data.

Application:
The application shall include:
1. A cover letter (1–2 pages) with motivations to your interest in the position, detailing your qualifications, and describing their relevance to the job.

2. A CV (Curriculum Vitae).

3. Relevant degrees and certifications supporting the information stated in the CV.

Applications must be submitted via e-recruiting system Varbi no later than September 12, 2025. Documents must be written in Swedish or English. A probationary period may apply.

Other information:
For more details about the position, contact:
Karin Danielsson, Director, Humlab, Phone: +46 (0)90-786 65 86, E-mail: karin.danielsson@umu.se
Questions regarding the recruitment process are answered by:
Anneli Taflin, HR-coordinator, Humlab, Phone: + 46 (0)90-786 89 31, E-mail: anneli.taflin@umu.se

For more information, visit:
• Humlab: https://www.umu.se/humlab
• InfraVis: https://www.infravis.se

Welcome with your application!

Doctoral student in microbial resource limitation and element cycling in soils

Lund University welcomes applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We regard gender equality and diversity as a strength and an asset.

This PhD position is in collaboration with the University of Amsterdam (UvA).

Soil microorganisms play a fundamental role in global biogeochemical cycles, shaping life on Earth and influencing climate change. Through the decomposition of organic matter, they regulate the balance between carbon stored in soils and carbon released into the atmosphere as CO2. Additionally, they drive nutrient cycling, determining the availability of essential elements for plants and crops, and also contributing to environmental challenges related to nutrient leaching.

Despite the critical role of soil microorganisms in element cycling, the extent to which it is constrained by the simultaneous limitation of multiple nutrients (co-limitation) remains poorly understood. This project will integrate laboratory experiments, field assessments, and modelling approaches to investigate microbial nutrient limitations across diverse ecosystems and climates. By improving our understanding of these processes, this research will contribute to the development of more sustainable land management strategies that enhance soil carbon storage, optimize nutrient availability, and mitigate negative environmental impacts.

Work duties

The PhD student will investigate the co-limitation of organic matter decomposition by carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, aiming to improve our understanding of how multiple nutrient limitations shape soil microbial processes and element cycling in ecosystems. The main tasks include:

Developing a simple and cost-efficient approach to assess and quantify resource co-limitation across different biomes, environmental conditions, and climates.
Investigating the mechanisms of co-limitation by integrating microbial and organic matter assessments through laboratory experiments.
Upscaling the implications of co-limitation for element cycling at the ecosystem level.
Enhancing the mechanistic representation of microbial co-limitation in models.

The main duties of doctoral students are to devote themselves to their research studies, which includes participating in research projects and third cycle courses. The PhD project will also involve research stays at the University of Amsterdam.

The work duties can also include teaching and other departmental duties (no more than 20%).

Admission requirements

A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if he or she:

has been awarded a second-cycle qualification in a relevant field, such as environmental engineering, soil science, microbiology, or a related discipline,
has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or
has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

Additional requirements:

Good oral and written proficiency in English.
Experience with analytical methods, such as microbial physiological and biochemical assays or organic matter characterisation.
Technical background in data analysis.
Experience with basic mathematical principles and their application in modelling.
Familiarity with programming languages such as Matlab or Python .

Given the interdisciplinary nature of the project, a strong interest in learning and applying these techniques can compensate for limited prior experience.

Assessment criteria

Selection for third-cycle studies is based on the student’s potential to profit from such studies. The assessment of potential is made primarily on the basis of academic results from the first and second cycle. Special attention is paid to the following:

Knowledge and skills relevant to the project and the subject of study.
Strong analytical skills. Interest in the topic and enthusiasm for learning.
An assessment of ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems.
Written and oral communication skills.

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant, through his or her experience and skills, is deemed to have the abilities necessary for successfully completing the third cycle programme.

Terms of employment
Only those admitted to third cycle studies may be appointed to a doctoral studentship. Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 7 §.

The advertised position will be located at Department of geography and ecosystem science (INES) within the Faculty of Science in 2025, to be transferred to the newly formed Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences within the same faculty from 1 January 2026.

By merging the Centre for Environmental and Climate Science, the Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science and the Department of Geology in a joint and co-located organisation, the new department will strengthen the link between different research fields, develop new educational programmes and promote collaboration with society.

Instructions on how to apply

Applications shall be written in English and include:

A cover letter (max 2 pages) outlining your interest in the position and how the research project aligns with your academic background and interests, how the research project aligns with your academic background and interests, and some thoughts/ideas on how to carry it on
A CV.
A degree certificate or equivalent

The application can also contain other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.).

Welcome to apply!

Research Coordinator with a focus on research grants (grant manager) for BECC

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world’s top universities. The University has around 47 000 students and more than 8 800 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain and improve our world and the human condition.

Lund University welcomes applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We regard gender equality and diversity as a strength and an asset.

In BECC , you will be part of a long-term strategic effort (since 2010) that brings together excellent research and training at Lund University and the University of Gothenburg to address our society’s need for knowledge about the dynamics between biodiversity, ecosystem services and the carbon cycle in a rapidly changing world. With about 300 members, BECC offers an extensive network of potential collaborators from different disciplines.

Work duties

BECC is looking for a Research Coordinator with a focus on research grants with appropriate professional experience to support researchers in the application process and disseminate information about opportunities: from identification of suitable major calls and grant opportunities (especially international, and especially within the EU Framework Programme, now Horizon Europe) and project application, to project management support, project administration and reporting, so-called pre-award (primarily) and post-award.
Within this position you will regularly interact with BECC researchers and the institutions where they are active (administration and finance), central research services at Lund and Gothenburg Universities, communication officers, external collaboration partners, funders and bibliometricians. Overall, you will have a central role in contributing to BECC’s common goals, such as strengthening international collaboration and increasing external funding through, for example, EU funds. The role requires initiative, creativity and a broad interest in research.

Qualifications

Doctoral degree in a research area relevant to BECC, focusing on biodiversity, ecosystem services, carbon cycle or climate change, or equivalent.
Documented experience in writing, applying for and obtaining national and/or international research grants.
Documented experience in contributing to the application process and writing of Horizon Europe or similar major applications.
Documented excellent communication and organizational skills.
Documented experience in scientific writing, including for a wider audience.
Understanding of, and interest in interdisciplinary work.
Documented experience in coordinating research and/or collaborative projects with several participating organisations.
Excellent written and spoken English.

Other merits

Experience in working in a dynamic international environment.
Experience in working in an interdisciplinary way.
Experience in collaborating with societal stakeholders.
Experience in organizing seminars and workshops
Good writing and speaking skills in Swedish.

We will place great emphasis on personal suitability. The position requires a very good ability to work both independently and collaboratively, a great enthusiasm for supporting and interacting with our researchers, and responsiveness to the researchers and other staff.
We highly value qualities such as self-motivation and initiative, the ability to plan, structure, prioritize, work efficiently and meet deadlines.
In addition to this, consideration will also be given to how the applicant’s experience and expertise is expected to complement and strengthen the current strategic and administrative work within BECC, but also linked network environments (CEC) and the host institution, and contribute to their future development.

Terms of employment

Permanent position with preferred start date: 12th of January 2026, or as per agreement. A probationary period of 6 months will be applicable.

The scope of the position: full time, 100%.

Contact person: Yann Clough, CEC and Edith Hammer, Department of Biology.

The position is announced at Centre for Environmental- and Climate Science within the Faculty of Science in 2025. As of January 1, 2026, the Department of Environmental and Earth Sciences will be established within the same faculty, where this position will be located.

Instructions on how to apply

Applications should include a cover letter stating the reasons why you are interested in the position and in what way the employment corresponds to your qualifications. The application should also contain a CV, proof of a doctoral degree or equivalent, a list of publications and a list of grants applied for and received, and other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.).

Within the Faculty of Science research and education is conducted within Biology, Astronomy, Physics, Geosciences, Chemistry, Mathematics and Environmental Sciences. The Faculty of Science is organized into eight departments, gathered in the northern campus area in Lund. The Faculty of Science has approximately 1500 students, 360 PhD students and 700 employees.

The Centre for Environmental and Climate Science, CEC (http://www.cec.lu.se) conducts research, education and communication on environmental science and climate research at Lund University.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Molecular Cardiology

About the position

We are currently seeking applicants for a 3-year Postdoctoral Fellow position (100%) in cardiac research. The successful candidate will examine sex differences and aging, with a focus on the female heart, fibrosis, hypertrophy, inflammation, estrogen receptor signaling and regulation, in cardiac tissue and cells from humans and animals. This position will be based at the Institute for Experimental Medical Research (IEMR) located at Oslo University Hospital and the University of Oslo.

The Institute for Experimental Medical Research (IEMR)

The Institute for Experimental Medical Research (IEMR) is an innovative and dynamic medical research environment that conducts research focused on understanding the molecular basis of cardiac disease and heart failure development. With approximately 60 employees and six research groups, our expertise spans molecular biology, physiology and cardiology. The project will be supervised by Senior Researcher Cathrine Rein Carlson, whose research team is involved in national and international collaborations and has access to cutting-edge research environments. The objective of the fellowship is to prepare researchers to assume higher academic roles within their respective fields. The funding for this position will be provided through a grant from the Research Council of Norway. For more about IEMR, please see the institute web site, www.iemr.no.

Requirements

We ask all applicants to respond to the qualification requirements. Applications lacking this information will not be considered.

Applicants must hold a PhD in life sciences, natural sciences or medicine, with a proven track record of cardiac research
Previous experience with molecular cardiology, viral transduction, cell transfections, animal models, immunoblotting, qPCR, cardiomyocyte isolation, microscopy, proteomics, single cell RNA-sequencing, bioinformatics, and/or human stem cells will be viewed as an asset
Willing to work with animal models
Fluent oral and written communication skills in English

We are looking for talented and highly motivated candidates of all nationalities who have a keen interest in cellular and cardiovascular research and sex-specific differences.

Value will be placed on compatibility of the applicant’s professional and personal disposition, with strengths in:

Systematic approach
Analysis and assessment
Implementation
Self-development
Initiative and accountability
Constructive cooperation

Personal skills

Willingness to contribute to long-term building of our academic environment
Enthusiastic, reliable and structured
Genuine interest in research
Dedicated and responsible
Have the ability to work independently and in an interdisciplinary environment
Personal disposition will be emphasized

We offer

Salary in position as Postdoctoral fellow, position code 1352, in salary range 590 000- 670 000, depending on qualifications
A stimulating, challenging and friendly international working environment with broad expertise
Technical assistance and training
Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement, in addition to Oslo’s family-friendly environment with its rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities.

Read more about the benefits of working in the public sector at Employer Portal.

Inclusive worklife and diversity at UiO

Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview.

We hope that you will apply for the position.

More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here.

Application

The application must include:

Cover letter (statement of motivation, summarizing scientific work and research interest)
CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activities)
Copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only)
A complete list of publications
List of reference persons: 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number)

The application with all attachments must be submitted via our electronic recruitment system. The attachments should be in the form of one or two pdf files that includes all of these requested items.
Foreign applicants should attach an explanation of their University’s grading system if needed. All documents should be in English or a Scandinavian language.
In accordance with the University of Oslo’s equal opportunities policy, we invite applications from all interested individuals regardless of gender or ethnicity.
In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on the documented, academic qualifications, as well as the candidate’s motivation and personal suitability. Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged. It is expected that the successful candidate will be able to complete the project in the course of the period of employment.

General information

The best qualified candidates will be invited for interviews.

Applicant lists can be published in accordance with Norwegian Freedom of Information Act § 25. When you apply for a position with us, your name will appear on the public applicant list. It is possible to request to be excluded from this list. You must justify why you want an exemption from publication and we will then decide whether we can grant your request. If we cannot, you will hear from us.

Please refer to Regulations for the Act on universities and colleges chapter 3 (Norwegian) and Guidelines concerning appointment to post doctoral and research posts at UiO (Norwegian).

The University of Oslo has a transfer agreement with all employees that is intended to secure the rights to all research results etc.

PhD Research Fellow in Human Geography

About the position

There is a vacant position at the Department of Sociology and Human Geography for a research fellow (SKO 1017) in human geography. The position is for a period of three years without compulsory work or four years with 25% compulsory work (primarily teaching).

The department is ranked as the premier academic research institute in human geography in Norway, conducting top international research while offering high quality education for students. The department is renowned both for the breadth of topics and methodologies employed and for its highly qualified researchers.

More about the position

We seek candidates with the potential to contribute to the development of human geography as a discipline at the department. The fellow is expected to pursue independent research under supervision, as outlined in their submitted project proposals. We value the contribution of young scholars to the academic environment and study programmes at the department and encourage candidates with a desire to participate actively in departmental life to apply.

Applicants should have research interests that resonate with ongoing research at the department. We currently have strong research communities in the fields of urban studies, sustainable transformations, work, organisations and politics, social inequality, migration, integration and diversity, cultural and political participation, population dynamics. Human geographers are also engaged in economic and political geography. The call is not thematically limited to these topics, but preference can be given to candidates with projects that align with the department’s supervisory capacity. Applicants are expected to demonstrate through their application letter and project proposal how they will contribute to the development of human geography at the department.

The position requires participation in the Faculty of Social Sciences’ organised research education programme (PhD programme) and the completion of a doctorate in human geography. The candidate who is hired will automatically be admitted to the PhD programme.

Residence in Norway is expected, but PhD fellows are also encouraged to spend time abroad during the fellowship period. The starting date will be negotiated with the successful candidate.

Qualification requirements and assessment criteria

Applicants will be assessed on the quality and relevance of the project proposal, their academic grades and their academic and personal prerequisites to carry out the project. The hiring process will include an interview.

Applicants must have prior education that corresponds to 5 years at the university level in Norway, with two years (120 ECTS) at the master’s level. If the scope of education at the master’s level is less than two years, an individual assessment may be made.
Applicants must have average grades of A or B in their master’s degree.
Applicants must have native or near-native competence in English or a Scandinavian language. Applicants who have completed their education outside of the EU/EEA-area and who do not have English as a native language, must document language skills as documented by:
- TOEFL – with a minimum result of 550 on the Paper-based Test (PBT), or 80 on the Internet-Based Test (iBT) OR
- IELTS – International English Language Testing Service, with the result 6.0.

How to apply

Application letter. Please state your motivation and research interests.
A tentative project proposal (5-10 pages). The proposal must include the topic, relevant theory and methods and timeline. The proposal should include an explicit account of how the project contributes to the development of human geography at the department. Applicants are expected to be able to complete the project during the appointment period. Guidelines to writing a project proposal: Guidelines for the project proposal when applying for admission – Faculty of Social Sciences
CV with full summary of education, practice and academic work (including any publications). The period of enrolment (admission-completion) in the master’s study programme must be specified.
Applicants with a one-year master’s degree must submit an appeal for an individual assessment (max 1 page) in which they demonstrate that they have completed research work equivalent to at least half a year’s relevant scientific workload.
Academic transcripts (university degrees only).
Copy of master’s degree diploma.
Applicants submitting transcripts from non-Norwegian institutions are advised to include an explanation of their university’s grading system. This may be uploaded as an “Attachment.”
TOEFL or IELTS scores, if applicable. These may be uploaded as an “Attachment.”
Documents should be uploaded in the order presented above. Please submit documents individually and name them accordingly, e.g. Letter of application, Project proposal, CV, etc. Do NOT submit supporting documents as a single, combined file.

Application with attachments must be submitted via our recruitment system Jobbnorge, click “Apply for the position”. Please note that all documents must be in English (or a Scandinavian language).

The final hiring decision is the responsibility of the department’s board and will be based on an evaluation of the overall qualifications of the shortlisted candidates and the department’s needs.

We offer

Exciting and meaningful tasks in an organization with an important societal mission, contributing to knowledge development, education, and enlightenment that promote sustainable, fair, and knowledge-based societal development.
An academically stimulating work environment
Good welfare schemes.
Opportunity of up to 1.5 hours a week of exercise during working hours.
Membership in the Statens Pensjonskasse, which is one of Norway’s best pension schemes with beneficial mortgages and good insurance schemes.
Salary in position as Doctoral Research Fellow, position code 1017 in salary range NOK from 551 000 to 594 000, depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund.

Inclusive worklife and diversity at UiO

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview.

We hope that you will apply for the position.

More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here.

General information

The best qualified candidates will invited for interviews.

Please refer to Regulations for the Act on universities and colleges chapter 3 (Norwegian), Guidelines concerning appointment to post doctoral and research posts at UiO and Regulations for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at the University of Oslo.

The University of Oslo has a transfer agreement with all employees that is intended to secure the rights to all research results etc.

Contact persons

Please refer to our Q&A web page before making personal enquiries. Requests to review proposals or supporting documents prior to the closing deadline will not be accommodated.

Administrative Head of Department, Inger-Lise Schwab

PhD Candidate in geography with a focus on coastal geomorphology and plastic pollution

About the position

The Department of Geography and Social Anthropology is seeking a candidate for a full-time, four-year Ph.D position studying the impacts of marine plastic pollution on coastal landscapes. The four-year contract includes a year of required duties. This year’s master’s graduates can apply with the requirement that the master’s degree is completed by August 2025. The desired start date is early autumn 2025.

As a PhD Candidate in the Department of Geography and Social Anthropology at NTNU, you will work to achieve your doctorate degree, and at the same time, gain valuable experiences that qualify you for a career in higher education and research, in and outside academia.

Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department.

About the project

Plastic pollution falls within one of the seven planetary boundaries that have been transgressed as of 2025 but exacerbates the impacts of all nine, including climate change and loss of biodiversity. Marine plastic pollution on the hundreds of thousands of islands that form the outer Norwegian coast is spatially heterogeneous, but also widespread and abundant, due the large, plastic-carrying currents that flow into this relatively remote area. In some bays and inlets, plastic pollution has been accumulating for decades, now embedded in the organic-rich coastal soils and sediments, changing the geomorphology and physical (and attendant ecological) properties of the coastal zone. As such, the primary objective of this PhD project is to improve our understanding of the long-term consequences of plastics pollution on coastal landscapes in Norway. Depending on the candidate’s background and interests, a secondary objective could be to investigate how political, economic, and/or social decisions have impacted coastal landscapes via plastic pollution.

Duties of the position

Complete the doctoral education until obtaining a PhD in geography
Carry out high-quality research within the framework described above
Academic (peer-reviewed articles) and popular science dissemination
Participate in the research groups, Earth Surface Science and the Plastic Research Cooperation Group and possibly Anthropologies of Sustainability
Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at educational institutions outside of Norway
Teaching
Mentoring

Note that there may be changes to these work duties following employment.

Required selection criteria

You must have a Master’s degree in Geography (especially Physical Geography), Earth Sciences, Environmental Science, or equivalent. Your course of study must correspond to a five-year Norwegian program, where 120 credits have been obtained at master’s level. Master’s students can apply, but the master’s degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position and no later than 31st August 2025.
You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and have an average grade from your Master’s degree study, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared to NTNU’s grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic foundation. If you have a weaker grade background, you may be considered if you can document that you are particularly suitable for a PhD education.
You must meet the requirements for admission to the PhD programme in Social Science – Specialization Geography
You have proficiency in English, both written and spoken.

PLEASE NOTE: For detailed information about what the application must contain, see paragraph “About the application”.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with Regulations for the Universities and Colleges Act (university and colleges regulations) and Regulations for the degrees philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) and philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) in artistic development work at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) for general criteria for the position.

Preferred selection criteria

Candidates who have proficiency in Norwegian (or another Scandinavian language), both written and spoken, in addition to English, will have a strong advantage.
Experience conducting fieldwork
GIS skills
Experience in teaching and/or mentoring
Courses or other experience in social anthropology
Good problem-solving skills
Driver’s license class B

If you cannot document skills in Norwegian, Swedish or Danish at level A2 upon employment NTNU will facilitate so that you can complete relevant Norwegian courses.

Personal characteristics

To complete a doctoral degree (PhD), it is important that you have an overall positive, professional, and flexible attitude and be able to:

Work independently and take initiative
Work carefully and safely, sometimes as a part of a team, in field and lab environments
Present and discuss research (including yours) with other professionals
Receive constructive criticism of your work
Be flexible and open to adjusting the plan for the project as needed
Work constructively under pressure or in the face of setbacks

Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.

We offer

An exciting job with an important mission in society
Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment
Career guidance and follow-up during the PhD period
Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues
Working capital that can be used to implement the project
Mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU
As a public employee, you have favourable benefits as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK)

You will be employed as a PhD Candidate at NTNU and will have access to employee benefits and discounts.

Diversity

Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population’s collective skills. Our vision is Knowledge for a better world and our values are creative, critical, constructive and respectful. We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals.

We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education.

If you think this position is relevant and interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, functional ability and cultural background, or whether you have been out of work for a period of time.

At NTNU we want to increase the proportion of women in scientific positions. We have a number of measures to promote equality.

Salary and conditions

In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK 550 800,- per annum depending on qualifications and seniority. A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary.

The employment period is 3 years for the doctoral work in addition to 1 year of career promotion work.

For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme in Social Science – Specialization Geography within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme throughout the period of employment.

As an employee at NTNU, it is important that you keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and adapt to them.

For the necessary academic and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.

The appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles of the State Employees Act, and Export control (legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technology and services). Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, are considered to be in conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed.

About the application

The attachments (including a description of your scientific work) must accompany the application as these documents form the basis of the application assessment. The documents must be in Norwegian/a Scandinavian language or English.

Please note: the application will only be assessed on the basis of the information we have received by the application deadline. Therefore, make sure that your application clearly shows how your skills and experience meet the criteria described above. If you have used AI when applying for this position: You must specify in the application in what way AI has been used when writing your application.

The application and all attachments must be sent electronically via Jobbnorge.no. If you are invited to an interview, you must bring certified copies of certificates and diplomas upon request.

The application must include:

Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees
CV
Copy of Master’s thesis. If you have recently submitted your Master’s thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed Master’s degree must be presented before taking up the position.
A short application letter that specifies your motivation for the position and relevant experience/skills/knowledge to date (400 words/1 page)
An original PhD project description for a study that documents the impacts of plastic pollution accumulation in the Norwegian coastal environment. (Maximum 5 pages. A budget is not required but do include an introduction, brief description of the study area(s), methods, and a reference list).
Names and contact information of three relevant referees

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education, both Bachelor’s and Master’s education, in addition to other higher education. If your institution uses “diploma supplement” (normal for most European institutions), you must attach this. A description of the documentation required can also be found here. If you already have a statement from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), please attach this as well.

Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint work, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

When assessing the best qualified, we emphasize necessary qualifications such as education, experience and personal suitability. Motivation for the position, ambitions and potential for research will also count when assessing the candidates.

NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and has committed itself to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment and CoARA (responsible assessment of research and recognition of a greater breadth of academic contributions in accordance with NTNU’s social mission).

General information

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you wish to be exempt from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the exemption is not granted.

If you think this position looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, you are welcome to apply.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Associate professor Chantel Nixon e-mail: chantel.nixon@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Advisor Renate Lillian Johansen e-mail: renate.johansen@ntnu.no

Application deadline: 03.09.2025

Postdoctoral fellow position in the borealization of terrestrial ecosystems

About the position

Are you ready to take your research career to the next level?

We offer an exciting 3-year postdoctoral position that gives you the opportunity to develop a strong profile as researcher. You will also gain valuable experience that might be relevant for your further career. The purpose of a postdoctoral position is for the employee to build up a researcher profile and competence that qualifies the person to apply for a position as associate professor. The position may also provide other competence with relevance for the postdoctoral fellow’s further career. Become part of our research environment and take the next step in your career with us.

Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department.

This postdoctoral position will position you at the core of an international network driving research into ecological change in the world’s northernmost ecosystems, allowing you to develop research, coordination, and leadership skills. You will benefit from close interaction with a broad group of researchers across the network.

About the project

The postdoctoral fellowship position is a three-year temporary position where the main goal is to qualify for work in senior academic positions.

The NTNU University Museum is looking for an energetic and ambitious ecologist with excellent organizational and communication skills. The postdoctoral position is part of the Nordic Borealization Network, a NordForsk funded University Cooperation Network.

The Nordic Borealization Network strives to understand the implications of ongoing shifts in the forest-tundra biome boundary, that is, the borealization of Nordic terrestrial ecosystems. These shifts include the encroachment of woody species (treeline advance and shrub expansion), spread of non-native species, and changes in the biotic community composition and ecosystem structure and processes.

The postdoc will have a leading role in coordinating the network and will lead research and synthesis efforts in quantifying past and ongoing rates of borealization and possibly predicting future rates of borealization.

The successful candidate will build leadership expertise by being part of the management board of a large Nordic cooperation project. The position will provide a unique opportunity to be part of a large, active and multidisciplinary international team, participation in project meetings in different countries over the course of the project and opportunities for research visits with other partners and for student supervision.

The position is based at the NTNU University Museum in Trondheim with Prof. James D. M. Speed and will interact with partners across the network.

Duties of the position

Coordinate the Nordic Borealization Network, using platforms and procedures already developed by a previous position.
Take the leading role in collaborative efforts to quantify borealization across the terrestrial Arctic and lead the writing of relevant scientific articles.
Identify additional opportunities for funding of joint Nordic Borealization Network projects, assist in the preparation of grant applications and coordinate efforts across the consortium
Carry out own research activities under the theme of borealization
Communicate and interact with various stakeholder groups to ensure relevance of network activities

Required selection criteria

A relevant PhD degree in ecology or similar subjects
Relevant background in research in ecology or related fields of research
Excellent communication skills both written and oral English
The appointment is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants and Regulations concerning the degrees of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) and Philosodophiae Doctor (PhD) in artistic research national guidelines for appointment as PhD, post doctor and research assistant

If you are in the final phase of your doctorate and can document that the thesis has been submitted or that the defense date has been confirmed, your application can be considered even if you have not defended. NOTE: Documentation of the obtained doctorate must be presented before you can take up the position.

PLEASE NOTE: For detailed information about what the application must contain, see paragraph “About the application”.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions and Regulations for the Universities and Colleges Act (university and colleges regulations) and Regulations for the degrees philosophiaedoctor (ph.d.) and philosophiaedoctor (ph.d.) in artistic development work at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) for general criteria for the position.

Preferred selection criteria

Experience in project management and coordination
Publications of research in recognized international journals within the field
Experience from research in topics within Arctic or boreal ecology, or similar
Experience in working in an international research environment
Previous success in securing research funding
Competence in Norwegian or another of the Nordic languages

Personal characteristics

Working as a Postdoctoral fellow requires that you

Excellent organization skills
Academic team player
Effective communicator
Work independently
Work structured, set goals and make plans to achieve them
Present and discuss your research with other professionals
Engage and contribute constructively with feedback
Show curiosity and a strong motivation for the subject
Analyze data, assess different perspectives and draw well-founded conclusions
Are flexible and open to adjusting the plan for the project as needed

Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities.

We offer

An exciting job with an important social mission
Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment
Career guidance throughout the postdoctoral program and together with you we will prepare a career plan, which contains the skills and knowledge you will acquire
Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues
Mentor programme as a new employee at NTNU
Favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2)

As a Postdoctoral Fellow at NTNU, you will have access to employee benefits.

Diversity

We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education.

At NTNU we want to increase the proportion of women in scientific positions. We have a number of measures to promote equality.

Salary and conditions

As a Postdoctoral Fellow (code 1352) you are normally paid from gross NOK 604 900 per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The period of employment is 3 years.

The position is conditional on external funding

As an employee at NTNU, it is important to keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and to adapt to them.

For the necessary professional and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.

About the application

The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English. Publications and other scientific work must follow the application. Please note that applications are only evaluated based on the information available on the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above.

The application must include:

CV, certificates and diplomas
A cover letter setting out your motivation for the postdoctoral position and briefly outlining how your previous experience fits within the network (max. 1 page)
Transcripts and diplomas for PhD degree
A copy of the PhD thesis and of relevant manuscripts, publications or other relevant research work
Name and contact details of two to three references

If all or parts of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education. Description of the documentation required can be found here. If you already have a statement from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), please attach this as well.

Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint works, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal qualities. Motivation, ambitions and potential for research will also be emphasized in the assessment of the candidates.

NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and is committed to follow evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment DORA and the obligations in CoARA (responsible assessment of research and recognition of a greater breadth of academic contributions in accordance with NTNU’s social mission).

General information

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you wish to be exempt from entry on the public list of applicants, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the exemption is not granted.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Professor James D. M. Speed, phone: +47 73592251, email: james.speed@ntnu.no .

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Anne Karin Henning, Senior HR, Phone +47 95881805, email: anne.karin.henning@ntnu.no

Please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Diploma Supplement is required to attach for European Master Diplomas outside Norway. Chinese applicants are required to provide confirmation of Master Diploma from China Credentials Verification (CHSI).

Application deadline: 31.08.2025

PhD Position on Sea Ice in the Arctic Climate System

Your job

As a PhD candidate, you will investigate how Arctic sea ice is changing and what role ocean warming – also known as Arctic Atlantification – plays in this process. You will use satellite observations, climate reanalysis data, and numerical models to better understand how sea ice is transported out of the Arctic and how heat is exchanged between the ocean, ice, and atmosphere.

Your work will include:

analysing satellite data and Lagrangian tracking to estimate how much sea ice has been exported from the Arctic over the past decades;
studying how heat from the ocean contributes to sea ice melting along these paths;
performing numerical model simulations to explore how changes in winds, ocean temperatures, and other factors affect sea ice in the present and future.

You will be part of a collaborative research team with partners from the Norwegian Polar Institute and Alfred Wegener Institute. This position offers opportunities to develop skills in satellite data analysis, climate modelling, and polar climate research. Your work will help increase understanding of key processes in the Arctic climate system, such as the linkage between Arctic sea ice and the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). This position is part of the NWO-Summit project EMBRACER. You will therefore collaborate intensively with Dutch partners for support.

Your qualities

You are enthusiastic and collaborative and meet at least several of the following criteria:

You have a strong interest in contributing to the study of Arctic sea ice changes.
You have a Master’s degree in (climate) physics, geosciences, meteorology, oceanography, or similar.
You have strong programming skills (Python or similar).
You have affinity with spatiotemporal data analyses, remote sensing and numerical modelling.
You are capable of independently planing and organising the research, and to take a leading role in its direction.
You have strong written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
You have a good command of English (reading, writing, speaking).

Our offer

A position for 18 months, with an extension to a total of four years upon successful assessment in the first 18 months;
a working week of 38 hours and a gross monthly salary between € 3.059 and € 3.881 (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment

laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development

, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities

, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University

About us

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University

, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes

. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow

Working at the Faculty of Science

means bringing together inspiring people across disciplines and with a variety of perspectives and backgrounds. The Faculty

has six departments: Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Information & Computing Sciences, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Together, we

work on excellent research and inspiring education. We do so, driven by curiosity and supported by outstanding infrastructure. Visit us on LinkedIn

and discover how you can become part of our community.

The Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research Utrecht

(IMAU) is part of the department of Physics. It offers a unique research and teaching environment, in which the fundamentals of the climate system are studied. Research is organised in five themes: Ice and Climate, Oceans and Climate, Atmospheric Physics and Chemistry, Coastal and Shelf Sea Dynamics and Earth System modelling. In 2022, IMAU research quality and impact were qualified as ‘excellent’ by an international visitation committee. Currently, IMAU employs 18 faculty members and 11 support staff and about 21 Postdocs and 24 PhD candidates.

The Ice and Climate group at IMAU is an inspiring, high-quality and versatile research group focusing on ice sheets, sea level, and climate. The group is world-leading in modelling of the ice sheet surface as well as remote sensing of the cryosphere. Currently, our research group has 6 staff members, 8 postdocs and 5 PhD candidates. This position is fully funded, and we encourage and provide financial support for participation in conferences, workshops, summer schools, and international exchange.

At EMBRACER we work at the very frontiers of knowledge on climate change, Earth’s climate system and climate feedbacks. Within its 10-year research programme, funded by NWO

, EMBRACER brings together a wide range of world-leading climate experts with the aim to address existing uncertainties about climate feedbacks at the boundaries between oceans, land, ice, and atmosphere. Our interdisciplinary approach and state-of-the-art infrastructure will bring us forward in our understanding of the impact of climate feedbacks emerging over the next decades to centuries.

More information

For more information, please contact Lu Zhou

at l.zhou@uu.nl.

Do you have a question about the application procedure? Please send an email to science.recruitment@uu.nl.

Apply now

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home

for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.

If you are enthusiastic about this position, just apply via the ‘apply now’ button. Please enclose:

your motivation letter;
your curriculum vitae;
the names, telephone numbers, and email addresses of at least two referees.

If this specific opportunity isn’t for you, but you know someone else who may be interested, please forward this vacancy to them.

The intended start date of position is flexible, but preferably before 1 October 2025.

The application deadline is 28 August 2025.

PhD position on past, present and future global inland-water methane budget

Your job

Inland waters function as active biogeochemical reactors for the production, consumption, transport and emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. Methane is the second most important anthropogenic greenhouse gas contributing to global warming today. However, current estimates of methane emissions from inland waters to the atmosphere are highly uncertain because of limitations in long-term observational data and modelling methodology.

In this four-year study, you will develop a model for the dynamic methane cycling in global inland waters. This model will build on our pioneering model framework and simulate the changes in cycling fluxes of major carbon forms from land via inland waters to sea. You will synthesise, test, and use the reported methane kinetics from labs and culture experiments to construct the model using Python programming language. You will also compile field methane measurement data from published literature and datasets for analysis and model validation. On this basis, we will quantify the spatiotemporal changes in global inland-water methane dynamics from the pre-industrial era till the present and assess the influences of hydro-climate change and a variety of human activities (such as land-use change, eutrophication, and river damming). Moreover, the role of different waterbodies and the mutual interplay between inland-water methane dynamics and climate change will be the research focus. We invite you to share your ideas and suggestions for this innovative project in your motivation letter.

This project is part of the 10-year EMBRACER research programme

funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). At EMBRACER, we work at the very frontiers of knowledge on climate change, Earth’s climate system and climate feedbacks. The programme brings together a wide range of world-leading climate experts with the aim to address existing uncertainties about climate feedbacks at the boundaries between oceans, land, ice, and atmosphere. Our interdisciplinary approach and state-of-the-art infrastructure will bring us forward in our understanding of the impact of climate feedbacks emerging over the next decades to centuries.

A personalised training programme will be set up, reflecting your training needs and career objectives. About 20% of your time will be dedicated to this training component, which includes following courses/workshops as well as training on the job in assisting in the Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes of the department at Utrecht University.

Your qualities

You are a motivated team player, have experience in modelling using programming language(s), and have completed your MSc degree in Earth Sciences, Environmental Science, Climate Science or a related discipline by the time the position starts. Furthermore, you have:

strong and demonstrable skills in running cycling, transport, or budget models or Earth System Model(s) (shown by a relevant master research project experience or course study);
a theoretical background and an interest in inland-water carbon cycling especially methane processes, biogeochemistry, redox reactions, water-air and/or water-sediment interactions, human perturbations, hydrology/limnology, and climate change (shown by a relevant master research project experience or courses);
strong analytical skills;
willingness to experiment with new data collection and model methodology development;
motivation to cooperate in a diverse and multidisciplinary research team;
excellent communication skills.

Being fluent in the use of Python or a similar programming language is essential. Due to the international character of our research, good command of spoken and written English is also essential.

We highly encourage applicants from all members of our community and of diverse backgrounds to join us.

Our offer

A position for one year, with an extension to a total of four years upon a successful assessment in the first year, and with the specific intent that it results in a doctorate within this period;
a working week of 38 hours and a gross monthly salary between €2,901 and €3,707 (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment

laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development

, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities

About us

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University

, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes

. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow

Utrecht University’s Faculty of Geosciences

studies the Earth: from the Earth’s core to its surface, including man’s spatial and material utilisation of the Earth – always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organised in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development.

The Department of Earth Sciences

conducts teaching and research across the full range of the solid Earth and environmental Earth sciences, with activities in almost all areas of geology, geochemistry, geophysics, biogeology and hydrogeology. Our key research themes are Earth & Planetary Processes, Sustainable Use of the Subsurface, Planetary Health & Environment, and Climate & Life. The department hosts a highly international tenured staff of over 50 scientists and more than 110 PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers. We house or have access to a wide variety of world-class laboratories, among which are Utrecht University’s Electron Microscopy Centre

, the Geolab

, and the Earth Simulation Laboratory

. Moreover, the department has excellent High-Performance Computing facilities.

The department is located at the Utrecht Science Park. Utrecht is the fourth largest city in the Netherlands with a population of nearly 360,000 and forms a hub in the middle of the country. Its historical city centre and its modern central station can easily be reached from the Science Park by public transport or by a 15-minute bicycle ride. Utrecht boasts beautiful canals with extraordinary wharf cellars housing cafés and terraces by the water, as well as a broad variety of shops and boutiques.

More information

For more information, please contact Dr Junjie Wang

at j.wang3@uu.nl or Prof. Jack Middelburg

at j.b.m.middelburg@uu.nl.

(ISD) of our university. Finding appropriate housing in or near Utrecht is your own responsibility, but the ISD may be able to advise you therewith. Unfortunately, we must warn that it is a tight market at the moment. In case of general questions about working and living in The Netherlands, please consult the Dutch Mobility Portal

Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University. Commercial response to this ad is not appreciated.

Apply now

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home

To apply, please send the following documents via the ‘apply now’ button:

your curriculum vitae, including any courses taken that are relevant for the position;
your motivation letter;
academic credentials (mark sheets and degree statements).

No reference letters need to be submitted in your initial application. If you are shortlisted, we will contact you for referees. We aim for a quick selection procedure after the application deadline. The preferred starting date is late autumn 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The application deadline is 30 August 2025.

PhD position on reconstructing early to middle Eocene climate variability

Your job

Changes in regional temperature and hydrology are among the greatest threats associated with modern global warming. Temperature is an important control on hydrology. The latter will determine water supply, food security and sanitation to human communities. The paradigm is that wet regions become wetter and dry regions become drier with global warming. However, particularly in the vulnerable subtropical and mid-latitude regions, the state-of-the-art climate models produce simulations that differ not only in the magnitude, but even in the sign of change. Moreover, some hydrological reconstructions from past warm climates suggest that dry regions may have been wetter and there are plausible physical explanations for these observations. Moreover, these past warm time intervals have wet mid-to high latitude belts that extend to much higher latitudes than most climate models suggest. Important questions also remain regarding the seasonality of that precipitation.

Past warm climates such as the Eocene provide natural experiments to test model performance in projecting non-analogue future global and regional hydrology and dependence on global and regional temperature. However, so far, such model-data comparisons chronically suffer from a lack of field data describing regional and seasonal hydrological regimes under past warm climates. Time series of hydrological change on orbital time scales, which includes long-term variability in the geographical range of monsoons – a crucial component of hydrology in the subtropics – and extreme events are notoriously missing. Particularly for very warm climates such those of the Eocene, we urgently need such records to unlock the promise of paleoclimate as a useful analogue of future hydrology.

To address this important issue, this project aims to generate orbital-scale resolution (~4 kyr) temperature, oceanographic and hydrological reconstructions for specific time intervals across the early and middle Eocene (~51 – 47 Ma). This time interval covers the transition from the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum to the presumably somewhat cooler early Middle Eocene. One aspect of the research is to assess the timing and global nature of this cooling. Subsequently, we look to constrain:

hydrology and its potential monsoon and extreme event forcing during the early and middle Eocene at both subtropical and higher latitudes;
the dependency of hydrological regime on regional and global average temperature change in warm climates;
the dependency of hydrological regime on the meridional temperature gradient that determines atmospheric water transport to extra-tropical regions.

To this end, you will generate proxy data to assess temperature, hydrology and carbon cycle information. Methods might include palynology and organic biomarker and biogenic calcite geochemistry at several sediment sequences. You will collaborate with fellow PhD candidates or postdocs carrying out climate model experiments that complement your work.

The project leader and daily supervisor will be Professor Appy Sluijs, and close collaboration in this project will be with Dr. Peter Bijl. Multiple others will be involved for specific aspects of the project, including several scientists involved in the national programme EMBRACER

, such as Dr Francien Peterse (biomarker geochemistry), Dr Martin Ziegler (biogenic carbonate biogeochemist), Dr Anna von der Heydt, Dr Michiel Baatsen and Dr Marlow Cramwinckel (climate modelling), and international partners.

Your qualities

You are a motivated team player with a strong interest in paleoclimate and have completed your MSc degree in Earth Sciences, or another relevant field. Furthermore, you have:

a true passion for research;
experience in generating proxy records with affinity for micropaleontology and geochemistry;
experience with working in a (wet chemistry) laboratory;
statistical skills for proper data treatment ;
experience with programming (R or Python) for data handling and visualisation;
strong analytical skills;
excellent communication skills;
good command of spoken and written English;
motivation to cooperate in a diverse and multidisciplinary research team;
a basic theoretical background of climate, notably greenhouse forcing and hydrology.

We highly encourage applicants from all members of our community and of diverse backgrounds to join us.

Our offer

A position for one year, with an extension to a total of four years upon a successful assessment in the first year, and with the specific intent that it results in a doctorate within this period;
a working week of 38 hours and a gross monthly salary between €2,901 and €3,707 (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment

laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development

, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities

About us

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University

, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes

. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow

Utrecht University’s Faculty of Geosciences

The Department of Earth Sciences

, the Geolab

, and the Earth Simulation Laboratory

. Moreover, the department has excellent High-Performance Computing facilities.

This project is part of EMBRACER research programme

funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). At EMBRACER, we work at the very frontiers of knowledge on climate change, Earth’s climate system and climate feedbacks. Within its 10-year programme (2025-2035), EMBRACER brings together a wide range of world-leading climate experts with the aim to address existing uncertainties about climate feedbacks at the boundaries between oceans, land, ice, and atmosphere. Our interdisciplinary approach and state-of-the-art infrastructure will bring us forward in our understanding of the impact of climate feedbacks emerging over the next decades to centuries.

More information

For informal information (not for application) about this position, please contact Professor Appy Sluijs

at a.sluijs@uu.nl. Please do not send your application to this email address.

Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University. Commercial response to this ad is not appreciated.

Apply now

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home

To apply, please send the following documents via the ‘apply now’ button:

your curriculum vitae, including any courses taken that are relevant for the position;
your motivation letter;
academic credentials (mark sheets and degree statements).

The application deadline is 30 August 2025.

PhD position on Modelling of Ocean Alkalinity Dynamics

Your job

Ocean alkalinity plays a major role in ocean’s carbon uptake, in buffering, and in calcium carbonate production and dissolution, and it impacts and is affected by various biogeochemical processes. The processes governing ocean alkalinity act over multiple timescales (from instantaneous chemical equilibration to hundred thousand of years) and involve physical, chemical and biological processes. Alkalinity dynamics is poorly understood and represented in present-day generation of earth system models.

In this four-year study under guidance of Profs. Jack Middelburg and Henk Dijkstra, you will elucidate ocean alkalinity dynamics and develop new and improve existing models for ocean carbon cycling. The initial focus is on the alkalinity generation and consumption processes at the annual to decadal timescale and their importance for future ocean carbon update, but we invite you to share your ideas and suggestions for this innovative project in your motivation letter.

This project is part of the 10-year EMBRACER research programme funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). At EMBRACER, we work at the very frontiers of knowledge on climate change, Earth’s climate system and climate feedbacks. The programme brings together a wide range of world-leading climate experts with the aim to address existing uncertainties about climate feedbacks at the boundaries between oceans, land, ice, and atmosphere. Our interdisciplinary approach and state-of-the-art infrastructure will bring us forward in our understanding of the impact of climate feedbacks emerging over the next decades to centuries.

Your qualities

You are an independent, highly motivated team player, having experience in numerical modelling, and have completed your MSc degree in Earth Sciences, Oceanography, Climate Sciences or a related discipline by the time the position starts. Furthermore, you have:

strong and demonstrable skills in transport-reaction, ocean circulation or Earth System model(s) (shown by a relevant master research project experience or course study);
a theoretical background and an interest in ocean biogeochemistry;
strong analytical skills;
excitement to explore a new research area;
motivation to cooperate in a diverse and multidisciplinary research team;
excellent communication skills.

Good command of Python or a similar programming language is essential. Due to the international character of our research, proficiency in spoken and written English is also essential.

We highly encourage applicants from all members of our community and of diverse backgrounds to join us.

Our offer

We offer:

a fulltime position for 1 year, with an extension to a total of four years upon a successful assessment in the first year, and with the specific intent that it results in a doctorate within this period;
a working week of 36 hours and a gross monthly salary between €2.901 and €3.707 (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment

laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development

, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities

About us

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University

, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes

. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow

Utrecht University’s Faculty of Geosciences

The Department of Earth Sciences conducts teaching and research across the full range of the solid Earth and environmental Earth sciences, with activities in almost all areas of geology, geochemistry, geophysics, biogeology and hydrogeology. Our key research themes are Earth & Planetary Processes, Sustainable Use of the Subsurface, Planetary Health & Environment, and Climate & Life. The department hosts a highly international tenured staff of over 50 scientists and more than 110 PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. We house or have access to a wide variety of world-class laboratories, among which are UU’s Electron Microscopy Centre, the Geolab, and the Earth Simulation Lab. We also have excellent High- Performance Computing facilities.

About Utrecht

The department and its facilities are located at Utrecht Science Park. Utrecht is the fourth largest city in the Netherlands with a population of nearly 360,000 and forms a hub in the middle of the country. Its historical city centre and its modern central station can easily be reached from the Science Park by public transport or by a 15-minute bicycle ride. Utrecht boasts beautiful canals with extraordinary wharf cellars housing cafés and terraces by the water, as well as a broad variety of shops and boutiques.

More information

For informal information (not for application) about this position, please contact Prof. Jack Middelburg at j.b.m.middelburg@uu.nl.

Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.

Apply now

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home

You can only apply via our online procedure using the ‘apply now’ button. E-mail applications cannot be accepted. Include the following information in your application:

your curriculum vitae, including (1) any courses taken that are relevant for the position, and (2) model(s) and programming language(s) you used during your study;
academic credentials (mark sheets and degree statements);
a letter of motivation.

No reference letters need to be submitted in your initial application. If you are short-listed, we will contact you for referees. We aim for a quick selection procedure after the application deadline of August 30th. The preferred starting date is late autumn 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Note that international candidates that need a visa/work permit for the Netherlands require at least four months processing time after selection and acceptance. This will be arranged with help of the International Service Desk (ISD) of our university. Finding appropriate housing in or near Utrecht is your own responsibility, but the ISD may be able to advise you therewith. In case of general questions about working and living in The Netherlands, please consult the Dutch Mobility Portal.

Online screening may be part of the selection. Commercial response to this ad is not appreciated.

The application deadline is 30 August 2025.

PhD: Coupling the biological pump to past changes in the AMOC

Your job

The AMOC transports warm saline waters from the tropics to the high northern latitudes of the North Atlantic where they cool and sink. This part of the density-driven global “conveyor belt” may be losing its strength due to ongoing global warming, with potential large-scale climate repercussions. Even more so since the AMOC brings CO₂ from the surface to the deep ocean during deepwater formation (physical pump), and variations in the AMOC strength will change the ability of the ocean to absorb CO₂. The magnitude of this impact and the processes involved remain however difficult to predict. Also in the past, the strength of the AMOC varied and abrupt shifts between cold and warm periods have been recorded in marine sediments on geological timescales. The North Atlantic Ocean is also a key region for carbon sequestration by the biological carbon pump. Hence, the transfer of both organic carbon and inorganic carbon from the surface to the deep ocean is locally promoted. The aim of the project is to investigate interaction between changes in the AMOC and the physical and biological pumps during rapid climate transitions (e.g., the last glacial period and Holocene) using sediment records. Our data will be used in marine carbon cycle models to predict (future) carbon sequestration upon changes in the AMOC strength.

During this four-year PhD project, you will apply a multiproxy (biogeochemical and micropaleontological/palynological) approach to sediment records from selected locations in the North Atlantic collected along a present-day temperature and salinity latitudinal transect. You will reconstruct surface and deep-water temperatures and salinity, and the (efficiency) of the organic and inorganic biological carbon pump via proxies indicative of primary productivity, CO₂/pH in a surface deep-water gradient at times of known major past climate shifts and AMOC changes at decadal to millennial timescales. This project may include participation in seagoing expeditions.

This project is part of the 10-year EMBRACER research programme funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). At EMBRACER, we work at the very frontiers of knowledge on climate change, earth’s climate system and climate feedbacks. The programme brings together a wide range of world-leading climate experts with the aim to address existing uncertainties about climate feedbacks at the boundaries between oceans, land, ice, and atmosphere. Our interdisciplinary approach and state-of-the-art infrastructure will bring us forward in our understanding of the impact of climate feedbacks emerging over the next decades to centuries.

The project leader and daily supervisor will be Dr Francesca Sangiorgi and close collaboration in the project will be with Prof. Gert-Jan Reichart Dr Martin Ziegler, and Dr Lennart de Nooijer. Multiple others will be involved for specific aspects of the project. Foreseeable international collaborators include Profs. Stijn de Schepper and Ulysses Ninnemann (University of Bergen, Norway).

Your qualities

We seek an independent, enthusiastic and highly motivated team player who has a keen interest in marine biogeochemistry, micropaleontology/palynology, and paleoceanography and who is eager to perform multiproxy research in a collaborative (international) group. You have completed your MSc degree in Earth Sciences, Marine Sciences or a related discipline by the time the position starts. Furthermore, you have:

experience and affinity with paleoceanography and/or marine palynology/micropaleontology, and/or biogeochemistry, and marine research
passion for chemical laboratory work and data analysis
an open, communicative and collaborative attitude
willingness and ability to join sea-going expeditions should occasions arise and to spend short visits to other universities and research institutes in the Netherlands and abroad.
excellent communication skills

Due to the international character of our research, proficiency in spoken and written English is essential. We highly encourage applicants from all members of our community and of diverse backgrounds to join us.

Our offer

A position for 1 year, with an extension to a total of four years upon a successful assessment in the first year, and with the specific intent that it results in a doctorate within this period;
a working week of 36-40 hours and a gross monthly salary between €2.901 and €3.707 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment

laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development

, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities

About us

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University

, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes

. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow

Utrecht University’s Faculty of Geosciences

About Utrecht

More information

For informal information (not for application) about this position, please contact Dr Francesca Sangiorgi at f.sangiorgi@uu.nl, Dr Martin Ziegler at m.ziegler@uu.nl, or Prof. Gert-Jan Reichart at Gert-Jan.Reichchart@nioz.nl.

Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.

Apply now

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home

You can only apply via our online procedure using the ‘apply now’ button. E-mail applications cannot be accepted. Include the following information in your application:

your curriculum vitae, including (1) any courses taken that are relevant for the position, and (2) model(s) and programming language(s) you used during your study;
academic credentials (mark sheets and degree statements);
a letter of motivation.

No reference letters need to be submitted in your initial application. If you are short-listed, we will contact you for referees and eventual other documentation. We aim for a quick selection procedure after the application deadline of August 30^th,with interviews taking place in early or mid-October. The preferred starting date is December 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Online screening may be part of the selection. Commercial response to this ad is not appreciated.

The application deadline is 30 August 2025.

PhD position in the field of ocean and ice dynamics

Your job

The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) and the polar ice sheets (Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets) play important roles in the climate system and have all been identified as large scale tipping elements, albeit on very different time scales. While for each of these tipping elements critical thresholds remain matter of active research, they also interact with each other. In fact, the AMOC and polar ice sheets form an intricate network of multiscale systems, with interactions that can be stabilizing or destabilizing, the latter opening the possibility of cascading tipping events.

Moreover, the interaction between these large scale systems happens via other possibly nonlinearly acting subsystems such as the North Atlantic subpolar gyre (SPG) and Arctic and Antarctic sea ice cover, involving processes on smaller scales, which are often not well represented in modelling efforts focusing on the large scale tipping elements.

For this PhD position you will work on modelling the processes and feedbacks that couple the AMOC and polar ice sheets, with particular focus on sea ice and (North Atlantic) deep-water formation regions such as in the SPG. We will make use of models of different complexity up to complex Earth System models, and modelling efforts for different past periods.

Your qualities

We are looking for an ambitious and driven candidate who has:

a MSc in physics, applied mathematics, meteorology, geosciences or a related field;
experience in climate modeling (considered an advantage);
basic knowledge of (geophysical) fluid dynamics (considered an advantage);
excellent skills in scientific programming and numerical / statistical analysis of simulated and observed data.

Candidates should be able to demonstrate motivation and a strong eagerness to learn, and have the ability to both work independently and as part of a team. Previous research experience will be a distinct advantage.

Our offer

A job with national and international collaboration;
a position for 4 years. After 18 months there will be a review. If positive, it will be 4 years;
a fulltime working week and a gross monthly salary between € 3.059 and € 3.881 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment

laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development

, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities

. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University

About us

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University

, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes

. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow

Working at the Faculty of Science means bringing together inspiring people across disciplines and with a variety of perspectives and backgrounds. The Faculty has six departments: Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Information & Computing Sciences, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Together, we work on excellent research and inspiring education. We do so, driven by curiosity and supported by outstanding infrastructure. Visit us on LinkedIn and discover how you can become part of our community.

The Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research Utrecht (IMAU) is part of the department of Physics. It offers a unique research and teaching environment, in which the fundamentals of the climate system are studied. Research is organised in five themes: Ice and Climate, Oceans and Climate, Atmospheric Physics and Chemistry, Coastal and Shelf Sea Dynamics and Earth System modelling. In 2022, IMAU research quality and impact were qualified as ‘excellent’ by an international visitation committee. Currently, IMAU employs 18 faculty members and 11 support staff and about 21 Postdocs and 24 PhD candidates.

More information

For more information, please contact Anna von der Heydt A.S.vonderHeydt@uu.nl.

Do you have a question about the application procedure? Please send an email to science.recruitment@uu.nl.

Apply now

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home

If you are enthusiastic about this position, just apply via the “Apply now” button! Please enclose:

your letter of motivation;
your curriculum vitae;
Optional: the names, telephone numbers, and email addresses of at least two references;
Optional: a copy of your PhD certificate, or a letter from your university stating when your defence will take place.

If this specific opportunity isn’t for you, but you know someone else who may be interested, please forward this vacancy to them.

The application deadline is 30 August 2025.

PhD in innovative stable isotope measurements of methane and its precursors

Your job

This work will enhance our understanding of methane dynamics in rapidly changing ecosystems and contribute to improving predictive models of future methane emissions. Field sampling will focus on regions where methane cycling is still poorly constrained, particularly Arctic permafrost coasts.

As a PhD candidate, you will become an expert in isotope ratio mass spectrometry, methane microbiology and methane cycling in the environment.

1) You will develop innovative methods to measure diverse isotope dimensions for methane, as well as organic precursors, in order to trace carbon flow in methane-related ecosystems;
2) You will conduct culture experiments in controlled conditions aiming at simulating natural environments;
3) You will participate in arctic campaigns and use the methods developed to shed light on methane cycling in permafrost regions.

Your qualities

You have completed a Master degree physics, chemistry or another area related to environmental sciences with a strong quantitative mathematical background and practical technical skills. You already have good background knowledge on atmospheric composition and greenhouse gas cycles and experience with isotope measurements. Next to this you find yourself in one or multiple of the following characteristics:

You like working hands-on with scientific instruments in a laboratory, as well as with wet chemistry and microbial culture experiments;
You are interested in participating in measurement campaigns with diverse teams;
You have a keen interest in microbes-environment interactions and their evolution in space and time;
You are interested in environmental processes and climate change, and want your work to contribute to deepening our understanding of the present and future carbon cycle;
You are a good team player and can find your position in a larger consortium, but are also self-motivated to take over increasing levels of responsibility for your project;
You enjoy interdisciplinary projects, have an open mind, enthusiasm, curiosity and creative thinking.

Our offer

A PhD position for 4 years. After 18 months there will be a review, if positive, the contract will be extended for the full 4 years;
a fulltime working week and a gross monthly salary between € 3.059 and € 3.881 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment

laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development

, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities

About us

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University

, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes

. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow

The Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research Utrecht (IMAU) offers a unique research and teaching environment, in which the fundamentals of the climate system are studied. Research is organized in five themes: Atmospheric Physics and Chemistry, Coastal and Shelf Sea Dynamics, Earth System Modelling, Ice and Climate and Oceans and Climate. In 2022, IMAU research quality and impact were qualified as ‘world leading’ by an international visitation committee. Currently, IMAU employs 18 faculty members and 11 support staff and about 21 Postdocs and 24 PhD candidates, and offers a friendly, open and international atmosphere.

More information

If you have any questions that you’d like us to answer, please contact Thomas Röckmann (t.roeckmann@uu.nl).

Do you have a question about the application procedure? Please send an email to science.recruitment@uu.nl.

Apply now

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home

To apply, please send your curriculum vitae, including a letter of motivation, via the ‘apply now’ button.

Please enclose:

your letter of motivation;
your Curriculum vitae;
the names, telephone numbers, and email addresses of at least two references.

If this specific opportunity isn’t for you, but you know someone else who may be interested, please forward this vacancy to them.

The application deadline is 15 September 2025.