PD-Position: Mitigating Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Peatlands in Agriculture

Do you have experience measuring and analyzing GHG fluxes? Want to research land management to reduce emissions from agricultural peatlands? Can you optimize GHG flux data collection and processing with chambers? Join us!

Your function

Drained Dutch peatlands currently emit large quantities of greenhouse gasses due to peat degradation. Current emission reduction measures include raising the water table, passive and active water infiltration and paludiculture. You will further develop our understanding of GHG emissions of these peatlands and moreover study alternative land-management measures, specifically clay additions, on GHG emissions

We offer an exciting 3-year Postdoc position at the Vrije Universiteit in an interdisciplinary peatland focused research team (4 Postdocs, 4 PhD students and 4 senior researchers). This team directly links to the National Research Program on Greenhouse Gases from Peatlands (NOBV). The NOBV program already established a national monitoring network to quantify emissions and evaluate mitigation measures. We are using flux chamber and Eddy Covariance techniques to continuously track greenhouse gas fluxes (CO2, nitrous oxide, and methane) from Dutch peat soils with up to 5 years of high quality data. This monitoring network and its datasets form a unique starting point and the research infrastructure for the whole research team.

Your duties

  • quantify emissions of CO2, Methane, and N2O from agricultural peatlands (natural and paludiculture)
  • work on model improvements for upscaling emissions through clay additions
  • work closely together with a PhD student on the effects of clay additions on GHG emissions
  • publish results in scientific journals and present on scientific conferences
  • contribute to maintaining and setting up field-sites
  • closely collaborate and co-supervise the field-team
  • participate in education of Earth Sciences and A-LIFE departments
  • participate in outreach activities

Your profile

  • PhD in Biogeochemistry, hydrology or soil ecology, preferably towards GHG emissions of organic soils 
  • experience with (chamber) GHG measurements and data processing
  • experience with field observation setups
  • experience with large data sets
  • proficiency with programming approaches and use of R/Python
  • ability work in an interdisciplinary research team
  • experience or affinity to teach and supervise student projects
  • English language proficiency both in speech and in writing
  • driving license

As a university, we strive for equal opportunities for all, recognising that diversity takes many forms. We believe that diversity in all its complexity is invaluable for the quality of our teaching, research and service. We are always looking for talent with diverse backgrounds and experiences. This also means that we are committed to creating an inclusive community so that we can use diversity as an asset.

We realise that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. Therefore we are happy to invite anyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements.

What do we offer?

A challenging and exciting position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:

  • a salary of minimum € 3.378,00 (Scale 10) and maximum € 6.209,00 (Scale 11) gross per month, on a full-time basis. This is based on UFO profile Researcher. The exact salary depends on your education and experience.
  • a position for at least 0.8 FTE. Your employment contract will initially last 1 year. After a satisfactory evaluation of the initial appointment, the contract will be extended for another 2 years.

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and regulations. Some examples:

  • A full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata.
  • 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
  • contribution to commuting expenses
  • solid pension scheme (ABP)
  • discounts on collective insurances (healthcare- and car insurance)

About us

About the institutes

The sub-department A-LIFE / Systems Ecology offers a stimulating international research environment with world-class academic reputation, and excellent state-of-the-art facilities. Research in the department covers a wide range of fundamental and applied research topics, including stress ecology, species interactions, evolutionary adaptation, symbiotic interactions, climate change and ecosystem functioning. Our strength lies in the ability to integrate studies of ad adaptive changes across the entire range of biological organizational levels.

The Department of Earth Sciences studies and teaches the dynamics of the Earth with state-of-the-art integrated approaches that quantify the interplay and feedbacks between the interior, surface, and atmosphere of the Earth. We study how these processes lead to risks and opportunities for society, the economy, and the environment. The advertised position will be in the Water & Peat Group within the Earth Sciences department

Faculty of Science
Researchers and students at VU Amsterdam’s Faculty of Science tackle fundamental and complex scientific problems to help pave the way for a sustainable and healthy future. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to malnutrition, and from molecules to the moon: we cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. Our teaching and research have a strong experimentally technical, computational and interdisciplinary nature.

We work on new solutions guided by value-driven, interdisciplinary methodologies. We are committed to research, valorisation and training socially engaged citizens of the world who will make valuable contributions to a sustainable, healthy future.

Are you interested in joining the Faculty of Science? You will join undergraduate students, PhD candidates and researchers at the biggest sciences faculty in the Netherlands. You will combine a professional focus with a broad view of the world. We are proud of our collegial working climate, characterised by committed staff, a pragmatic attitude and engagement in the larger whole. The faculty is home to over 11,000 students enrolled in 40 study programmes. It employs over 1,600 professionals spread across 10 academic departments.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research. Learn more about our codes of conduct

We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility.  Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.

Diversity
Diversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding.

We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services.

Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community.

Interested

Are you interested in this position and do you believe that your experience will contribute to the further development of our university? In that case, please apply via the application button and upload your curriculum vitae and a cover letter until 14 Februrary 2025. The job interviews are planned for late February, early March, when possible, please take these dates into account when applying for the position.

Submitting a diploma and a reference check are part of the application process.

Applications received by e-mail will not be considered.

Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated.

Your function

Drained Dutch peatlands currently emit large quantities of greenhouse gasses due to peat degradation. Current emission reduction measures include raising the water table, passive and active water infiltration and paludiculture. You will further develop our understanding of GHG emissions of these peatlands and moreover study alternative land-management measures, specifically clay additions, on GHG emissions

We offer an exciting 3-year Postdoc position at the Vrije Universiteit in an interdisciplinary peatland focused research team (4 Postdocs, 4 PhD students and 4 senior researchers). This team directly links to the National Research Program on Greenhouse Gases from Peatlands (NOBV). The NOBV program already established a national monitoring network to quantify emissions and evaluate mitigation measures. We are using flux chamber and Eddy Covariance techniques to continuously track greenhouse gas fluxes (CO2, nitrous oxide, and methane) from Dutch peat soils with up to 5 years of high quality data. This monitoring network and its datasets form a unique starting point and the research infrastructure for the whole research team.

Your duties

  • quantify emissions of CO2, Methane, and N2O from agricultural peatlands (natural and paludiculture)
  • work on model improvements for upscaling emissions through clay additions
  • work closely together with a PhD student on the effects of clay additions on GHG emissions
  • publish results in scientific journals and present on scientific conferences
  • contribute to maintaining and setting up field-sites
  • closely collaborate and co-supervise the field-team
  • participate in education of Earth Sciences and A-LIFE departments
  • participate in outreach activities

Your profile

  • PhD in Biogeochemistry, hydrology or soil ecology, preferably towards GHG emissions of organic soils 
  • experience with (chamber) GHG measurements and data processing
  • experience with field observation setups
  • experience with large data sets
  • proficiency with programming approaches and use of R/Python
  • ability work in an interdisciplinary research team
  • experience or affinity to teach and supervise student projects
  • English language proficiency both in speech and in writing
  • driving license

As a university, we strive for equal opportunities for all, recognising that diversity takes many forms. We believe that diversity in all its complexity is invaluable for the quality of our teaching, research and service. We are always looking for talent with diverse backgrounds and experiences. This also means that we are committed to creating an inclusive community so that we can use diversity as an asset.

We realise that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. Therefore we are happy to invite anyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements.

What do we offer?

A challenging and exciting position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:

  • a salary of minimum € 3.378,00 (Scale 10) and maximum € 6.209,00 (Scale 11) gross per month, on a full-time basis. This is based on UFO profile Researcher. The exact salary depends on your education and experience.
  • a position for at least 0.8 FTE. Your employment contract will initially last 1 year. After a satisfactory evaluation of the initial appointment, the contract will be extended for another 2 years.

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and regulations. Some examples:

  • A full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata.
  • 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
  • contribution to commuting expenses
  • solid pension scheme (ABP)
  • discounts on collective insurances (healthcare- and car insurance)

About us

About the institutes

The sub-department A-LIFE / Systems Ecology offers a stimulating international research environment with world-class academic reputation, and excellent state-of-the-art facilities. Research in the department covers a wide range of fundamental and applied research topics, including stress ecology, species interactions, evolutionary adaptation, symbiotic interactions, climate change and ecosystem functioning. Our strength lies in the ability to integrate studies of ad adaptive changes across the entire range of biological organizational levels.

The Department of Earth Sciences studies and teaches the dynamics of the Earth with state-of-the-art integrated approaches that quantify the interplay and feedbacks between the interior, surface, and atmosphere of the Earth. We study how these processes lead to risks and opportunities for society, the economy, and the environment. The advertised position will be in the Water & Peat Group within the Earth Sciences department

Faculty of Science
Researchers and students at VU Amsterdam’s Faculty of Science tackle fundamental and complex scientific problems to help pave the way for a sustainable and healthy future. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to malnutrition, and from molecules to the moon: we cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. Our teaching and research have a strong experimentally technical, computational and interdisciplinary nature.

We work on new solutions guided by value-driven, interdisciplinary methodologies. We are committed to research, valorisation and training socially engaged citizens of the world who will make valuable contributions to a sustainable, healthy future.

Are you interested in joining the Faculty of Science? You will join undergraduate students, PhD candidates and researchers at the biggest sciences faculty in the Netherlands. You will combine a professional focus with a broad view of the world. We are proud of our collegial working climate, characterised by committed staff, a pragmatic attitude and engagement in the larger whole. The faculty is home to over 11,000 students enrolled in 40 study programmes. It employs over 1,600 professionals spread across 10 academic departments.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research. Learn more about our codes of conduct

We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility.  Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.

Diversity
Diversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding.

We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services.

Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community.

Questions about the vacancy?

Please contact

Dr. ir. M.M. Hefting

Associate Professor

Interested

Are you interested in this position and do you believe that your experience will contribute to the further development of our university? In that case, please apply via the application button and upload your curriculum vitae and a cover letter until 14 Februrary 2025. The job interviews are planned for late February, early March, when possible, please take these dates into account when applying for the position.

Submitting a diploma and a reference check are part of the application process.

Applications received by e-mail will not be considered.

Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated.

Questions about the vacancy?

Please contact

Dr. ir. M.M. Hefting

Associate Professor

Application procedure

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