Deltares

We are Deltares. A not-for-profit, world-leading, and mission-driven Dutch knowledge institute for water and the subsurface. We work throughout the world and we are guided by the major societal issues, for which Deltares’ knowledge is indispensable. This is what drives our highly qualified workforce of over 900 colleagues, which is comprised of over forty different nationalities.

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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. You will enhance the understanding of ecosystem functioning by integrating models with satellite data and in-situ observations. Improved understanding of the relative importance of different sources and pathways of nutrients and carbon will support better management of the Wadden Sea. 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:
- 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 AI or data assimilation methods;
- Enhance understanding of processes at the land-sea interface based on combined use of in-situ data, satellite data and modeling;
- 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;
- Excellent training and personal development opportunities, in collaboration with University of Amsterdam;
- 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 of the interaction between phytoplankton and nutrient and carbon cycles. 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 April 7. via this link: https://careers.deltares.nl/nl/ad/phd-position-modelling-nutrient-and-carbon-fluxes-in-the-wadden-sea/n3ha2v
The selection procedure contains 2 interviews. First round takes place on May 6. For this round we ask candidates to prepare a short presentation.

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).