Publisher
source

Utrecht University

PhD in Reconstructing Zeeland’s Historic Landscape Developments at Utrecht University Utrecht University in Netherlands

Degree Level

PhD

Field of study

Geology

Funding

PhD position funded by the Delta Climate Centre in Vlissingen as part of the Re-Flex Zeeland project. The appointment is 1.0 FTE for 1 year initially, with extension to a total of 4 years after a successful first-year assessment. Salary is €3,204 to €4,051 gross per month on a 38-hour basis, plus 8% holiday pay, 8.3% year-end bonus, pension, partially paid parental leave, and other employment benefits.

Deadline

Nov 1, 2026

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Country

Netherlands

University

Utrecht University

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Keywords

Geology
Biology
Geography
Earth Science
Landscape Ecology
Pollen Analysis

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About this position

PhD opportunity at Utrecht University in Reconstructing Zeeland’s historic landscape developments, based in the Faculty of Geosciences, Department of Physical Geography, in the Netherlands.

This PhD is part of the larger Re-Flex Zeeland project, funded by the Delta Climate Centre (DCC) in Vlissingen, and carried out in collaboration with Utrecht University, Wageningen University & Research, NIOZ, Scalda, and UNESCO GeoPark Schelde Delta. The project focuses on the last 12,000 years of Zeeland’s landscape evolution, especially periods of rapid sea-level rise, peatland formation, and peat-to-intertidal transitions.

The successful candidate will work on the work package “Holocene peat deposits as natural archives of landscape developments”. The research combines physical geography, earth sciences, pollen analysis, botanical landscape reconstruction, and quantitative vegetation reconstruction. Tasks include designing and carrying out fieldwork, mapping peat deposit locations and ages along an east-west transect around Zeeland’s marine estuaries, integrating existing and new field data, and analyzing fossil plant remains preserved in peat and lake sediments.

The project aims to improve understanding of past landscape change, ecosystem dynamics, and shifting baselines, and will also contribute to computer simulations of coastal dynamics in a parallel PhD project at WUR and to historic landscape visualizations developed by a postdoc at NIOZ.

Eligibility highlights: MSc in Physical Geography, Earth Sciences, Landscape Ecology, or a related field; experience in paleogeographic and/or botanical landscape reconstructions; interest in interdisciplinary geoscience; willingness to engage with Zeeland; and English at C1 level or equivalent.

Funding and terms: 1.0 FTE PhD appointment for 1 year initially, extendable to 4 years after positive assessment. Salary ranges from €3,204 to €4,051 gross per month (38-hour week), plus holiday pay, year-end bonus, pension, and other benefits.

Application deadline: 1 November 2026. Apply online via Utrecht University only; include a motivation letter, CV, and at least two referees. Email applications are not accepted.

Contacts: Dr T.H. Donders and Dr W.Z. Hoek, both Associate Professors at Utrecht University, are listed as contact persons.

Funding details

PhD position funded by the Delta Climate Centre in Vlissingen as part of the Re-Flex Zeeland project. The appointment is 1.0 FTE for 1 year initially, with extension to a total of 4 years after a successful first-year assessment. Salary is €3,204 to €4,051 gross per month on a 38-hour basis, plus 8% holiday pay, 8.3% year-end bonus, pension, partially paid parental leave, and other employment benefits.

What's required

Applicants need an MSc degree in Physical Geography, Earth Sciences, Landscape Ecology, or a related field. The post seeks someone with demonstrated experience in paleogeographic and/or botanical landscape reconstructions, at least significant experience in one of the relevant methods (physical geographical fieldwork, pollen analysis, or quantitative vegetation reconstruction), and motivation to develop skills in the others. Candidates should be able to collaborate across geoscientific disciplines, be a team player, have curiosity-driven research interests, show affinity with Zeeland, be willing to spend time in the Zeeland landscape and community, and have English at C1 level or better or the willingness and aptitude to reach that level.

How to apply

Apply only through Utrecht University’s online application system using the Apply Now button. Submit a motivation letter, CV, and the names of at least two referees with email addresses and phone numbers. Email applications are not accepted.

More information can be found here

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