PhD Candidate in Health Sciences
Utrecht University
Netherlands
Position Type: PhD Candidate (Full-time, 32–40 hrs/week)
Faculty: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Department: Department of Population Health Sciences, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS)
Location: Utrecht, Netherlands
Duration: 1 year initial, extendable to 4 years upon positive evaluation
Application Deadline: 3 March 2026
Project Overview
-
Investigate how nitrogen deposition and soil acidification affect microbial communities and the health of forest ecosystems.
-
Focus on weakly buffered soils where nitrogen-induced eutrophication and acidification interact with drought stress to impact tree growth, survival, and soil function.
-
Embedded in a larger nitrogen deposition project with spatial and temporal modelling of deposition and air concentrations.
Key Responsibilities
-
Study impacts of nitrogen deposition and soil acidification on soil microbial communities and forest vitality.
-
Conduct fieldwork along nitrogen deposition gradients in Dutch forests and abroad.
-
Collect soil and tree growth data using dendrometers.
-
Perform laboratory analyses, including PCR, PLFA, microbial biomass, soil carbon, respiration, and enzymatic activities.
-
Contribute to interdisciplinary research combining ecology, soil science, and forest biology.
Candidate Profile
Required Qualifications & Skills:
-
MSc in Ecology, preferably with soil microbial ecology focus.
-
Skills in field and lab work, including soil sampling and microbial analysis.
-
Experience with experimental design and (multivariate) statistical analysis.
-
Strong English communication and teamwork skills.
-
Independent, motivated, and eager to learn.
Advantageous:
-
Experience with tree growth measurements and forest ecology.
Offer / Benefits
-
Salary: €3,059 – €3,881 per month (gross, full-time, CAO NU scale P)
-
8% holiday pay + 8.3% year-end bonus
-
Pension scheme, partially paid parental leave, flexible employment terms
-
Professional development and participation in workshops
-
Working in a highly interdisciplinary and internationally connected environment
How to Apply
Required Documents:
-
CV
-
Letter of motivation
Application: Apply via Utrecht University portal (“Apply Now”)
Contacts:
-
dr. René Verburg – r.w.verburg@uu.nl
-
dr. Daniel Martins Figueiredo – d.m.figueiredo@uu.nl
-
Prof. Roel Vermeulen – r.c.h.vermeulen@uu.nl
Deadline: 3 March 2026
This position is ideal for candidates interested in forest ecology, soil-microbe interactions, and environmental stressors, combining fieldwork, lab experiments, and statistical modeling.
In your application, please refer to Professorpositions.com
