PhD position “WildMarsh – Enhancing coastal resilience through trophic rewilding”

Are you passionate about coastal ecology and eager to explore innovative solutions for enhancing coastal resilience? The Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems (EDS) at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) is seeking an enthusiastic and motivated PhD candidate to join our multidisciplinary research team working on trophic rewilding in salt marshes.

As part of the NWO-funded WildMarsh Project team you will investigate how trophic rewilding impacts ecosystem functioning and resilience against climate-change-induced challenges such as sea level rise, storminess, and heatwaves. You will develop and refine computational models of tidal marsh dynamics, assist with fieldwork and mesocosm experiments, and work closely with an experimentally focused PhD candidate from Wageningen University (Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management). This 4-year PhD position is starting no later than 1 February 2025. If you are driven by a commitment to combating biodiversity loss and climate change and are eager to contribute to cutting-edge research on coastal resilience, this position is for you!

ROYAL NIOZ

NWO-NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research is the Dutch national oceanographic institute and principally performs academically excellent multidisciplinary, fundamental, and frontier applied marine research addressing important scientific and societal questions pertinent to the functioning of the ocean and seas. NIOZ includes the National Marine research Facilities (NMF) department that operates a fleet of research vessels and the national pool of large seagoing equipment, and supports excellence in multidisciplinary marine research, education, and policy development.

THE DEPARTEMENT
The department of Estuarine and Delta Systems (EDS, NIOZ-Yerseke) studies how the interplay between biota, hydrodynamics, sediment dynamics and biochemistry shape the estuarine, deltaic and coastal environments within the context of natural and human-induced environmental changes. Our department assigns central importance to a multidisciplinary approach that combines state-of-the-art biophysical, biochemical, ecological and physiological measurements and experiments with remote sensing and numerical modelling to create in-depth understanding of the processes that control estuarine and delta systems. One important focus for the department is how our research can create value for society.

THE PROJECT

With 38% of global salt marshes lost or severely degraded, their critical role in coastal protection and carbon sequestration is under threat. Trophic rewilding, a restoration approach involving the reintroduction or management of large animals, is gaining attention and shows promise in reversing biodiversity decline and enhancing coastal climate resilience. However, the mechanisms and impacts of Trophic rewilding, especially under climate change scenarios, remain unclear due to limited studies.

The WildMarsh Project, funded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), aims to establish a scientific foundation for trophic rewilding in temperate salt marshes, helping these ecosystems recover and adapt to climate change. This ambitious project involves two closely collaborating PhD positions, each with a unique focus yet interconnected in their goals.

PhD 1 at Wageningen University (WUR) will focus on experimentally investigating the impacts of trophic rewilding on salt marsh biodiversity and resilience. This position will involve extensive field surveys, mesocosm and field experiments, and the use of innovative tools like animal-borne cameras. The candidate will work directly with large animal species to assess how their presence influences plant growth, nutrient cycling, and overall ecosystem stability.

PhD 2 at NIOZ (this position) will concentrate on developing and refining computational models of tidal marsh dynamics and spatial indicators of ecosystem resilience. This PhD will address how trophic rewilding can mitigate climate-change-induced challenges, such as sea-level rise, increased storminess, and heatwaves. The candidate will work closely with the WUR PhD, integrating insights from experimental data into models to better understand the mechanisms and impacts of rewilding under various climate change scenarios.

Through this multidisciplinary approach, both PhD candidates will contribute to assessing the effects of reintroducing large animals on biodiversity and coastal resilience. The project will also involve the development of innovative restoration tools and actively engage the public in conservation efforts. Methods include building salt marsh mesocosms, using animal-borne cameras, modeling, spatial data analysis, and collaborating with artists and citizen scientists.

You (PhD2) will be part of the Department of Estuarine and Delta Systems at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) in Yerseke, within the Coastal Resilience Lab led by Dr. Jim van Belzen (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-van-belzen-72396670/). You will also engage with the Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management Chair Group at Wageningen University as a guest member of the Marine Ecology team led by Associate Professor Marjolijn Christianen (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marjolijn-j-a-christianen-3a9a41b/). The WUR PhD position is advertised through the WUR website.

THE CANDIDATE

You must have completed an MSc degree in Ecology, Biology, Environmental sciences, Physical geography, Earth surface processes or a closely related discipline, with demonstrated experience in modelling and/or quantitative data analysis. Experience with field work is preferable. Furthermore, you meet the following criteria:

• Strong interest in coastal ecology, trophic rewilding, multidisciplinary research, including public engagement (e.g, science communication, art, joint monitoring).

• Proficiency in programming languages (e.g., R, Python, etc.) is advantageous.
• A good communicator with interest to share your knowledge outside academia.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
• Drivers licence
• Enthusiasm for multi-disciplinary teamwork and problem-solving.

NIOZ wants to be a transparent institute with a healthy working climate and an inclusive culture, where people from diverse backgrounds and gender bring their talents and further develop these talents. We aim for inclusive decision-making processes and expect our leadership to show visible commitment, awareness of bias, and cultural intelligence.

CONDITIONS

• Employment of this full-time position at Royal NIOZ is by NWO-I, for a total duration of 4 years.
• Salary compliant with scales for PhD candidate (OIOs) CAO-WVOI (Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Research Institutes).
• An appointment at NIOZ as a PhD candidate means working and learning simultaneously conform the NIOZ PhD policy.
• 338 annualized holiday hours for a full-time 40-hour work week.
• Pension scheme via ABP, 8% holiday allowance and a year-end bonus of 8.33%.
• 2nd class public transportation travel is reimbursed 100%.
• Employment benefits plan to exchange a portion of your salary for days off or vice versa, or can be used to purchase a bicycle with tax benefits.
• We offer relocation expenses for employees coming from abroad and support with finding accommodation. Yerseke is located on commuting distance from major cities such as Antwerpen, Breda, Bergen op Zoom and Middelburg.

MORE INFORMATION
For additional information about this vacancy, please contact Dr. Jim van Belzen. For additional information about the procedure, please send an e-mail to working@nioz.nl

This vacancy will be listed up to and including 29 September 2024. The first job interviews are expected to take place 16 October 2024. This 4-year PhD position is starting no later than 1 February 2025.

Additional information form
For this position, you must fill in a mandatory form which will allow us to have a comprehensive view of your qualifications and better assess your fit for it. You can access the form using the link below:

https://forms.office.com/e/hEuiTRCbBN

Your prompt response will ensure that your application continues to move forward in the evaluation process. We assure you that the information provided will be kept confidential and used solely for this application process.