PhD Student: the impact of offshore windfarms on marine foodwebs

?€ 3.463,00 (starting salary)

⏱ 36 hours/week (full time), starting date preferably May 1st 2026

? One-year contract with 3-year extension after successful evaluation

? Master degree

Pursuing a PhD at Naturalis in Leiden (the Netherlands) means working on research with a truly global impact — contributing directly to biodiversity. And you'll be well supported every step of the way. With 3,200 m² of state-of-the-art lab facilities, housed in a museum with more than 40 million natural history objects, dedicated mentorship, and access to our broad international network, this position offers everything you need to thrive as a scientist.

As a PhD student …

• You will find yourself in a unique research environment, inspired by passionate scientists from a wide range of disciplines (e.g., taxonomy, evolution, ecology and geology).
• You will receive dedicated supervision from an experienced researcher and work closely with several international experts and collaborators with whom you’ll regularly exchange ideas about your research.This will help you to develop a strong academic profile.
• You will be part of the Marine Biodiversity team that is focussing on community ecology of (mostly) benthic marine ecosystems.

This is what you’ll be doing

Offshore wind energy is expanding rapidly in the North Sea. This expansion offers climate solutions but also results in unprecedented ecological challenges. There is a large gap in knowledge on the effects of offshore windfarms on the North Sea foodweb dynamics. Potential ecological consequences include changes in water currents which impact nutrient dynamics, turbidity, light levels, intensity and timing of primary production and larval transport, all of which will be reflected in foodweb dynamics.

To address this knowledge gap Naturalis offers a PhD position within the No Regrets project which aims to deliver science-based knowledge and tools that enable a sustainable transition to offshore energy. As a PhD candidate you will focus on reconstructing the North Sea foodweb with an emphasis on molecular tools such as DNA metabarcoding.

Learn more about the project here: No Regrets. If successful, you will obtain your PhD degree from the University of Amsterdam.

What we have to offer

• A gross monthly starting salary of € 3,463.00 for a full time contract (36 hours).
• End-of-year bonus of 3.4% of your gross annual salary and 8% holiday pay.
• 27 days of leave per year with full time employment. Plus 1 extra day that you can use for a holiday that is important to you.
• Commuting allowance depending on your means of transport.
• Pension scheme via PFZW, where Naturalis pays 60% of your premium.
• Plenty of development opportunities. We support your growth and give you unlimited access to the online training platform Goodhabitz.
• Fascinating knowledge events. These help you stay up to date on the latest developments in both your own field and outside it, such as our lectures and gatherings on various (scientific) topics. You can also attend – or take part in – the fascinating internal information session Naturalis Draait Door.
• Nice extras such as discounts on software and hardware for private use, collective health insurance plans, and a bicycle scheme. You’ll also enjoy discounts in our museum restaurant and unlimited free access to our award-winning museum for you and your family.
• Fun team outings. We also get together for drinks every month, organise an annual BBQ and a fantastic New Year's party. Not your scene? That's fine too, of course. All team activities are voluntary.
• A unique work environment in a state-of-the-art building where you will feel proud to work every single day – we guarantee it!

The world lies at your feet! Literally. Whatever your role may be, you contribute to the preservation of our planet on a daily basis. Naturalis Biodiversity Center…

• is the national research and knowledge institute and a key player in biodiversity data and infrastructures;
• houses one of the largest natural history collections in the world.
• welcomes 500,000 museum visitors per year.
• collaborates with universities, expertise centres and museums around the world.
• has a staff of diverse colleagues in various functions and with many different nationalities, with whom you will work together in an informal atmosphere.

This is your team

Within your research group Marine Biodiversity, you will work closely with Willem Renema, Elsa Girard and Jan Macher. This is a collaborative project with Reindert Nijland at the Marine Animal Ecology group at Wageningen University, where we expect you to spend some time as well.

You will also be part of our PhD community — a close-knit group of around 50 PhD candidates and postdocs with whom you can share experiences and participate in training sessions, workshops, and peer review meetings. And of course, for those interested, there are plenty of social activities outside of work as well.

What you bring to the table

You are capable of working independently while also proactively seeking collaboration — whether with your supervisor, fellow researchers, or external partners. You're known for your systematic and accurate approach, driven by strong perseverance. You are confident in asking critical questions to further your research and you identify opportunities, effectively engaging others with your ideas.

You are also eager to disseminate your research findings, whether through public lectures or publications. You excel at translating complex topics into engaging and accessible narratives, reaching not only the scientific community but also businesses and the general public.

In addition, you possess:

• A completed Master’s degree in a relevant field, such as marine biology.
• A strong interest in environmental impact of human activities in the marine environment
• Experience working with molecular techniques
• Strong proficiency in English.

Become our new PhD student

• Upload your CV and motivation letter, including the contact details of two referees in one PDF via the application button no later than March 10th.
• Want to know more about the position before you apply? Contact Willem Renema via email to willem.renema@naturalis.nl
• For more information about the application procedure, you can send an email to our colleagues in the HR department via sollicitaties@naturalis.nl.

We are managing the recruitment for this vacancy ourselves; unsolicited acquisition is therefore not desired.