Key Skills

Job Description

Breadcrumb Home Working at Job opportunities PhD Position: Ecology of Waterway Management PhD Position: Ecology of Waterway Management Employment 1.0 FTE Gross monthly salary € 3,204 - € 4,051 Required background Research University Degree Organizational unit Faculty of Science Application deadline 04 December 2026 Apply now We have five positions available on the new BALANS project in the Netherlands: three PhD positions (at Radboud University (RU), the University of Groningen (RUG) and FLORON/RAVON respectively), one 4-year postdoctoral position (RU) and one two-year position for a research assistant that will become available later in 2027 (RUG). These positions are part of a larger project funded by LVVN (Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature) dedicated to the management of waterways. Waterways, such as ditches, are maintained to ensure sufficient water flow capacity, but also harbour important biodiversity. BALANS will generate knowledge on best practices for future management of waterways, searching for a balance between their practical functionality and their biodiversity. The results will be used for the revision of the new code of conduct for waterway management in the Netherlands (2029) and will be obtained by a consortium including RU, RUG, FLORON, RAVON, and Wageningen Environmental Research (WEnR), with project management by STOWA (Foundation for Applied Water Research), and guided by a committee including representatives from the Dutch water boards and species conservation NGOs. Key topics that will be investigated are the timing, frequency and spatial scales of mowing activities, and the type of machinery applied. Methodological approaches will include the analysis of available data from water boards, field monitoring, field experiments that manipulate mowing and lab-based experiments for a mechanistic understanding. Research will be carried out across different types of landscapes and waterway dimensions, and will include impacts on different species groups (fish, plants, birds, macrofauna, amphibians, mammals) for which we will apply different monitoring techniques (e.g. camera trapping, tracking, surveys). As a PhD candidate, you will combine data analyses with setting up and running ecological experiments to examine the effects of various types of waterway management on aquatic and terrestrial plant and animal species. The focus will be on field monitoring, field experiments and targeted lab experiments to unravel general mechanisms in the response of species to mowing activity and other stressors. Work will include comparing the effectiveness of sampling techniques on a diverse range of species groups. You will work at the Department of Ecology at Radboud University, collaborating with the other two PhD candidates in this project. PhD candidates will receive varied, cutting-edge research training, with ample opportunities to attend advanced courses, workshops and conferences, complemented by training in transferable skills and teaching - as standard at Radboud University. As a PhD candidate at Radboud University, you will be expected to be committed to conducting independent and original scientific research, reporting it in international publications and presentations, and presenting the results in a PhD thesis to be completed within four years. PhD candidates will be expected to contribute 10% of their overall workload to teaching. Would you like to learn more about what it’s like to pursue a PhD at Radboud University? Visit the page about working as a PhD candidate. The other positions in the BALANS project can be found here: Postdoctoral Researcher at Radboud University PhD position at the University of Groningen PhD position at FLORON/RAVON (link is external) Does this sound like you? You have an MSc degree in biology or environmental sciences. You are highly motivated to work on ecosystem management/restoration. You have good field ecological, analytical (incl. R-Statistics) and writing skills. You have good social skills to communicate and collaborate with the (primarily Dutch) stakeholders and other team members. You have knowledge of aquatic ecology and key-species groups; experience with identification/monitoring of plants, birds, macrofauna, amphibians and/or fish is a plus. You have an affinity for applied science and if you speak Dutch (or are willing to learn) that would be a plus. What we offer you We will give you a temporary employment contract (1.0 FTE) of 1.5 years, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, your contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4-year contract). You will receive a starting salary of €3,204 gross per month based on a 38-hour working week, which will increase to €4,051 in the fourth year (salary scale P). You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus. You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20. Additional employment conditions Work and science require good employment practices. Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions reflect this. You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself. For example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports membership. In addition, you receive a 34% discount on the sports and cultural activities at Radboud University as an employee. And, of course, we offer a good pension plan. We also give you plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes. Where you will be working The Department of Ecology is a dynamic, collaborative and interdisciplinary team and is part of the Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES). We are a young and ambitious group of ecologists committed to preserving and promoting biodiversity and ecosystem health. Our department brings together aquatic and terrestrial ecologists who focus on plants, animals and microorganisms, and their interactions in a changing world. We are dedicated to conducting timely and innovative research that addresses both scientific and societal challenges. Your research will be integrated into ongoing studies in food web ecology, with opportunities to collaborate with colleagues across departments and with national and international partners. Dr Casper van Leeuwen will be the main supervisor for the project. Faculty of Science The Faculty of Science (FNWI), part of Radboud University, engages in groundbreaking research and excellent education. In doing so, we push the boundaries of scientific knowledge and pass that knowledge on to the next generation. We seek solutions to major societal challenges, such as cybercrime and climate change and work on major scientific challenges, such as those in the quantum world. At the same time, we prepare our students for careers both within and outside the scientific field. Currently, more than 1,300 colleagues contribute to research and education, some as researchers and lecturers, others as technical and administrative support officers. The faculty has a strong international character with staff from more than 70 countries. Together, we work in an informal, accessible and welcoming environment, with attention and space for personal and professional development for all. Radboud University At Radboud University, we aim to make an impact through our work. We achieve this by conducting groundbreaking research, providing high-quality education, offering excellent support, and fostering collaborations within and outside the university. In doing so, we contribute indispensably to a healthy, free world with equal opportunities for all. To accomplish this, we need even more colleagues who, based on their expertise, are willing to search for answers. We advocate for an inclusive community and welcome employees with diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives. If you want to learn more about working at Radboud University, follow our Instagram account (link is external) and read stories from our colleagues. Is this the job for you? You can apply only via the button below. Address your letter of application to Casper van Leeuwen. We look forward to receiving your application. We ask you to include the following documents with your application: Your CV, including details of your bachelor's and master's degrees, work experience, other relevant skills and experience, and a list of publications (if applicable). A cover letter explaining your educational background and your motivation for applying for this position. A detailed description of your previous research and/or field experience, such as that acquired through bachelor's or master's research projects (1-2 pages). Academic transcripts. The names and email addresses of two referees who may be contacted regarding your suitability for this position. The three PhD positions differ slightly in focus, but are highly comparable. In case you are interested in more than one position, please apply to every position separately for administrative reasons, but feel free to use the same letter while mentioning that you also applied for other positions. We will take this into account during the selection procedure in which we aim to match the best candidates to the best position. The first interviews will take place online on 9, 10 or 11 December. You will preferably start your employment as soon as possible. We can imagine you're curious about our application procedure. It describes what you can expect during the application procedure and how we handle your personal data and internal and external candidates. Apply now Application deadline 04 December 2026 We would like to recruit our new colleague ourselves. Acquisition in response to this vacancy will not be appreciated. Want to know more about this position? Dr C.H.A. van Leeuwen (Casper) [email protected] Last modified: 13 November 2026 Share this page

Core Responsibilities

Conduct data analyses, field monitoring, ecological field experiments, and targeted laboratory experiments to investigate how waterway management affects aquatic and terrestrial species. Compare sampling techniques across species groups, publish and present research findings, complete a PhD thesis, and contribute to teaching.

Requirements

Applicants must have an MSc in biology or environmental sciences and strong field ecology, analytical skills including R Statistics, and scientific writing skills. Motivation to work on ecosystem management or restoration, good communication and collaboration skills, and knowledge of aquatic ecology and key species groups are expected; species monitoring experience and Dutch language ability are advantageous.

Benefits

• Holiday Allowance
• End-of-Year Bonus
• Additional Annual Leave
• Flexible Working Hours
• Leave Arrangements
• Work-from-Home Options
• Sports Membership Reimbursement
• Discounts on Sports and Cultural Activities
• Pension Plan
• Training and Development Opportunities