PhD Position: Phytoplankton, nutrients and carbon fluxes in the Wadden Sea lagoon

Do you have a background in environmental science? Would you like to study the dynamics of phytoplankton and its interaction with nutrient and carbon cycles? Do you like to combine numerical modelling and data analysis methods to enhance ecosystem understanding? Apply for this vacancy and start your PhD research.  

What can you expect as PhD candidate Nutrient and carbon fluxes in the Wadden Sea? 

As PhD candidate you will study the interactions between phytoplankton dynamics and nutrient and carbon fluxes in the Wadden Sea lagoon. You will enhance the understanding of ecosystem functioning by integrating models with satellite data and in-situ observations, including data from citizen science. Improved understanding of the relative importance of different sources and pathways of nutrients and carbon will support better management of the Wadden Sea. It will also help to better understand the potential role of estuaries as carbon sink. This PhD position is part of the EU-project ‘LandSeaLot’ with project partners from 10 countries. The case study for the Wadden Sea is one out of eight case study areas.  

Your tasks 

As a PhD candidate you will: 

• Enhance understanding of processes at the land-sea interface based on combined use of in-situ data, satellite data and modeling;  
• Improve existing ecosystem models of the Wadden Sea by better integration with observation data; 
• Develop information products combining model data with observation data, for example through machine learning or data assimilation methods; 
• Discuss model results with stakeholders; 
• Participate in the relevant activities of the LandSeaLot consortium and your departments at Deltares and University of Amsterdam; 
• Contribute to the Deltares deliverables of the LandSeaLot project. 
• You will publish the results of your doctoral research in the form of conference papers, scientific journal articles, symposia and others. Eventually you complete your PhD thesis based on published scientific articles. 

Qualifications 

• MSc degree in oceanography, limnology, marine biology, data science or related field;  
• Experience in ecosystem modelling; 
• Enthusiasm for building ecosystem understanding based on models; 
• Proven technical skills to work with large datasets using scripts (R, Python, matlab etc.); 
• Excellent English communication skills, written and oral;  
• Enthusiasm for collaborating with a larger team of researchers and stakeholders with diverse backgrounds and disciplines. 

What we offer 

• Supervision by a multidisciplinary team, consisting of Dr Anouk Blauw (Deltares), Prof. Dr. Martin Verlaan (Deltares and Delft University), Prof. Dr Karline Soetaert (NIOZ and Ghent University) and Prof. Dr Jef Huisman (University of Amsterdam);  
• You will be employed at Deltares and based at Deltares and University of Amsterdam; 
• The PhD position is part of the PhD program of the University of Amsterdam, which offers excellent training and personal development opportunities. 
• The gross salary will be in line with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU);  
• Diverse and inclusive working environment.  

About the LandSealot project 

Land-Sea interfaces are areas which deliver many ecosystem services. Understanding processes at the land-sea interface is complicated by the limited collaboration by different scientific communities from the terrestrial, freshwater and oceanographic domains. The use of different information sources to answer societal questions requires collaboration between different communities: modelling, earth observation, in-situ observations and policies. The LandSeaLot project will develop approaches to strengthen the integrated analysis of ecosystems at the land-sea interface. These will be piloted in different case study areas. One of these areas is the Wadden Sea lagoon, focusing on the interaction of phytoplankton with nutrient and carbon cycles in the gradient from freshwater to coastal waters. This case study is executed jointly with German partners at Hereon. 

Apply 

Are you interested in this position and do you fit the qualifications? Then apply directly by uploading your CV and a letter outlining your motivation, by September 8.  The selection procedure contains 2 interviews. For the first round we ask candidates to prepare a short presentation.  Interviews will be held in the week of  September 16.

The position is based in the Netherlands. Working remotely from another country is not possible. If you have any questions about the vacancy you can contact Brian de Bruin (HR Recruitment Officer; sollicitatie@deltares.nl; +31615267686).