
Europe needs to restore biodiversity, adapt to climate change, and expand renewable energy infrastructure. Across the continent, powerline corridors form an extensive network of managed landscapes that could provide important opportunities for biodiversity restoration and ecological connectivity. This postdoctoral position is part of POWERNATURE, an international research project developing a pan-European framework to identify suitable powerline corridors for biodiversity restoration and improved landscape connectivity, while accounting for ecosystem services and socio-economic feasibility.
Building on the CLUMondo land-system change model, you will contribute to the development of a forward-looking spatial modelling framework that explores how future land-use change, climate change, and electricity-grid expansion affect biodiversity restoration opportunities across Europe. Through this approach, you will contribute to more robust, future-oriented strategies for biodiversity restoration that can inform European land-use and infrastructure planning.
Your duties
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 (fully) meet all the requirements.
A rewarding position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. In return for your efforts, we offer you:
We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and regulations. Some examples:
Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM)
IVM is a leading environmental research institute that is internationally recognized for its high quality research output in a range of environmental disciplines, as well as for its interdisciplinary work. The mission of the institute is to contribute to sustainable development and care for the environment through scientific research and teaching. IVM aims to do excellent problem-oriented research that is useful to a wide range of stakeholders in the Netherlands and internationally. A unique strength of our research is to understand sustainability problems in their social and economic context. IVM research community works within four departments: Environmental Economics; Environmental Policy Analysis; Environmental Geography; and Water and Climate Risk. IVM is part of the Faculty of Science at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (www.vu.nl /ivm ). This position is based within the Environmental Geography department. The Environmental Geography department conducts interdisciplinary research on the spatial aspects of environmental and social challenges and the solutions sustainable land use can provide to these.
Faculty of Science
Working at the Faculty of Science means collaborating with students, lecturers and researchers who are focused on their field, yet have a broad view of the world. We are proud of a positive and inclusive workplace culture within the faculty, where we work together with great energy and a pragmatic attitude to tackle social challenges. At the Faculty of Science, scientists and students work on fundamental and complex societal issues for a sustainable, healthy and just future.
From forest fires to big data, from obesity to malnutrition, from helium to the universe and from genetics to medicine: our education and research cover the full breadth of science, from molecules to mankind. Our academic education and research are highly experimental, technical and interdisciplinary in nature. That is why we collaborate extensively with leading scientific institutes and industry. The faculty has more than 8,000 students studying in one of the 39 programms and employs more than 1,400 staff across 10 scientific departments, making us one of the largest science faculties in the Netherlands.
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.
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, we encourage you to submit your application.
In your application please submit a motivation letter indicating why your are specifically interested in this position and a CV. In case publications are not yet available online please send these to us as well to get an impression of your work. Please also provide the contact details of two potential references. Submitting diplomas is only part of the following steps in the application process and do not need to be submitted at this stage.
Applications received by e-mail will not be considered.
Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated.

Europe needs to restore biodiversity, adapt to climate change, and expand renewable energy infrastructure. Across the continent, powerline corridors form an extensive network of managed landscapes that could provide important opportunities for biodiversity restoration and ecological connectivity. This postdoctoral position is part of POWERNATURE, an international research project developing a pan-European framework to identify suitable powerline corridors for biodiversity restoration and improved landscape connectivity, while accounting for ecosystem services and socio-economic feasibility.
Building on the CLUMondo land-system change model, you will contribute to the development of a forward-looking spatial modelling framework that explores how future land-use change, climate change, and electricity-grid expansion affect biodiversity restoration opportunities across Europe. Through this approach, you will contribute to more robust, future-oriented strategies for biodiversity restoration that can inform European land-use and infrastructure planning.
Your duties
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 (fully) meet all the requirements.
A rewarding position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. In return for your efforts, we offer you:
We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and regulations. Some examples:
Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM)
IVM is a leading environmental research institute that is internationally recognized for its high quality research output in a range of environmental disciplines, as well as for its interdisciplinary work. The mission of the institute is to contribute to sustainable development and care for the environment through scientific research and teaching. IVM aims to do excellent problem-oriented research that is useful to a wide range of stakeholders in the Netherlands and internationally. A unique strength of our research is to understand sustainability problems in their social and economic context. IVM research community works within four departments: Environmental Economics; Environmental Policy Analysis; Environmental Geography; and Water and Climate Risk. IVM is part of the Faculty of Science at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (www.vu.nl /ivm ). This position is based within the Environmental Geography department. The Environmental Geography department conducts interdisciplinary research on the spatial aspects of environmental and social challenges and the solutions sustainable land use can provide to these.
Faculty of Science
Working at the Faculty of Science means collaborating with students, lecturers and researchers who are focused on their field, yet have a broad view of the world. We are proud of a positive and inclusive workplace culture within the faculty, where we work together with great energy and a pragmatic attitude to tackle social challenges. At the Faculty of Science, scientists and students work on fundamental and complex societal issues for a sustainable, healthy and just future.
From forest fires to big data, from obesity to malnutrition, from helium to the universe and from genetics to medicine: our education and research cover the full breadth of science, from molecules to mankind. Our academic education and research are highly experimental, technical and interdisciplinary in nature. That is why we collaborate extensively with leading scientific institutes and industry. The faculty has more than 8,000 students studying in one of the 39 programms and employs more than 1,400 staff across 10 scientific departments, making us one of the largest science faculties in the Netherlands.
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.
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, we encourage you to submit your application.
In your application please submit a motivation letter indicating why your are specifically interested in this position and a CV. In case publications are not yet available online please send these to us as well to get an impression of your work. Please also provide the contact details of two potential references. Submitting diplomas is only part of the following steps in the application process and do not need to be submitted at this stage.
Applications received by e-mail will not be considered.
Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated.
Application received
We have received your application successfully. We aim to give you an initial response as soon as possible. This is generally two weeks after the deadline.
Screening CV
A selection committee will assess whether you meet the requirements for the vacancy. If your assessment is positive, we will invite you for a first (hybrid) job interview.
1st Interview
Job interviews usually take place at a VU Campus, but sometimes you will be invited for a video interview first. The VU uses MS teams for this purpose.
2nd Interview
For the second interview, we usually ask you to come to our VU campus.
Assessment
Depending on the position, the submission of a Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) and/or an assessment may be part of the application procedure. The submission of a diploma is always requested at the time of onboarding.
Onboarding
Welcome you are employed by VU Amsterdam!!!






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