Postdoc position: “How biota-sediment feedbacks drive landscape-scale sediment dynamics in the Wadden Sea”

The department of Coastal Systems (COS) at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research and Department of Physical Geography of the Utrecht University are looking for a motived Postdoc to fulfil a joint position. We offer a 3.5-year position funded as part of two larger NWO-funded projects: WADSED and SEDWAY. The aim of the research position is to advance understanding of how sediment-biota interactions affect sediment composition and dynamics in the Wadden Sea. The position is in the groups of Prof. T. van der Heide (NIOZ) and Dr. Valerie Reijers (UU).

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 DEPARTMENT

You will be based at both NIOZ and Utrecht University. At NIOZ, the Department of COS integrates state-of-the art laboratory, field and numerical modelling studies in frontier explorations of the drivers of the dynamics of marine habitats and food webs. COS examines how physical, chemical and biological processes interact to determine the distribution, composition and productivity of marine species - from primary producers to top predators - and marine habitats - from the coast to inter/sub-tidal and pelagic environments. Research is applied at both the regional and global scales to provide knowledge needed for climate adaptation and mitigation and for biodiversity protection and restoration.

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 Physical Geography excels in research and education on BSc, MSc and PhD level. Our research focuses on processes, patterns and dynamics of Earth’s continental and coastal systems, and on the interaction between these processes. This knowledge is essential for the sustainable management of our planet and to guarantee the availability of resources for the next generations.

THE PROJECT

Tidal basins and estuaries are typified by strong environment gradients that drive sedimentation processes on multiple spatial scales. At the scale of tidal basins and estuaries, flow and current dynamics drive gradients of increasing mud concentrations from the tidal inlets and channels towards the more sheltered tidal mudflats. Superimposed upon these large-scale geomorphological gradients, ecosystem engineering species, can profoundly alter sediment conditions and create their own habitats. Because these habitats such as seagrass meadows, bivalve reefs do not only depend on certain hydrodynamic and sediment conditions, but also affect them, we hypothesize that (1) ecosystem engineering biota may affect sediment composition at the tidal basin scale, and (2) that human impact on these habitats may thus alter sediment dynamics at scale that far exceed these habitats. In this project, you will explore these ideas by integrating and analysing existing datasets on the distribution of key sediment-mediating habitats and species, spatial data on sediment characteristics and hydrology, and data on environmental management. You will be welcomed in our team of experts of both the WadSED and SEDWAY project, and you will present your work at project meetings, for the societal partners, and at international scientific conferences.

THE CANDIDATE

You must have completed your PhD degree in ecology, biology, geomorphology, marine (or environmental) science or related discipline. Preferably, you will also have:

• Broad interest and knowledge on the coastal ecology and/or geomorphology of the Wadden Sea and/or other intertidal systems;
• Strong analytical and computational skills for the analysis of large datasets using complex (spatial) statistical analyses;
• A passion and capacity to work with scientists, policymakers, and NGOs across two large research projects;
• Good collaborative and networking skills, excellent written and oral communication in English
• A keen interest in performing multi-disciplinary work in an international setting.

CONDITIONS

• Employment of this full-time position at Royal NIOZ is by NWO-I for a duration of 42 months.
• Salary compliant with CAO-WVOI  (Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Research Institutes) scale 10 or 11 depending on relevant experience.
• The freedom to fulfill your role and space and opportunities for your personal (talent) development with the help of the NIOZ Academy.
• 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.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about this vacancy, please contact Prof. Dr. Ir. Tjisse van der Heide. For additional information about the procedure, please send an e-mail to working@nioz.nl

Closing date for this vacancy is 8 October 2024