Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
4 days ago
PhD Position in Integrating Trait Diversity into Ecosystem Models Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences in Netherlands
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Computer Science
Funding
Full funding availableDeadline
Sep 20, 2026
Country
Netherlands
University
Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences

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About this position
PhD position in Integrating Trait Diversity into Ecosystem Models at the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Netherlands.
This PhD project focuses on plankton trait-based ecology, phytoplankton, lake ecosystem functioning, and ecosystem modelling. The successful candidate will investigate how inter- and intraspecific trait diversity affects biomass, productivity, and functional diversity in plankton communities, and how environmental change alters these processes. The work includes sensitivity analysis in PCLake+, traditional and emergent community modelling approaches, meta-analyses of resource acquisition trait parameter space, and scenario analyses for a set of Swiss lakes.
The position involves close collaboration with other PhD candidates and postdocs in the broader BILMo team, participation in annual project meetings, supervision of MSc interns working on modelling phytoplankton trait diversity, and contribution to outreach activities. Research will be carried out at NIOO-KNAW and Wageningen University under the daily supervision of Dedmer van de Waal and Mandy Velthuis.
Eligibility highlights: MSc in environmental sciences, computational ecology, quantitative biology, or a related field; interest in plankton trait-based ecology and ecosystem modelling; experience with modelling, ecological forecasting, phytoplankton ecophysiology, or trait-based ecology is an advantage; strong data-handling and programming skills in R, Python, or Matlab; professional English proficiency.
Funding/appointment: Four-year PhD appointment with training and courses provided by NIOO-KNAW, Wageningen University, and PE&RC.
Deadline: 20 September 2026.
Apply: Submit your application through AcademicTransfer using the vacancy link.
Funding details
Full funding including tuition fees and living expenses is available for this position. The scholarship covers all educational costs and provides a monthly stipend.
How to apply
Please submit your application including a cover letter, CV, academic transcripts, and contact information for two references. Applications should be sent via the online portal before the deadline.
More information can be found here
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