PhD candidate SlimmeBurger (SmartCitizen)

What you will be doing

For the TKI funded project SlimmeBurger (aka “Smart citizen”) we are looking for an enthusiastic PhD candidate. The project SlimmeBurger, aims to investigate, in collaboration with citizen scientists, the extent to which smart monitoring methods can be used to investigate the ecological status of smaller -often unmonitored- water bodies. These water bodies make up one-third of the total number of water bodies in the Netherlands, but they are often not subject to standard monitoring, nor are they included in the mitigation plans for the EU Water Framework Directive, the most important regulation for surface waters.

Because small water bodies are often the first point of entry for sources of pollution such as manure runoff (rural areas) or sewage overflows (urban areas), they also offer a starting point for a direct, source-oriented approach. In the SlimmeBurger project, the prospective PhD student will be testing smart measurement methods for water quality (using scalable toolkits like the GUPPY from partner WaterInsight), ecological processes (primary productivity and decomposition rates), and greenhouse gases (3D-printed flux chambers), and investigating how we can use citizen science-driven data streams for model development.

The partners in the SlimmeBurger project contribute knowledge from nature development and multifunctional land use (Dekker Group and Leisurelands), citizen measurement campaigns and healthy water for citizens (RIVM, Natuur en Milieu), and smart measurement methods (NIOO and WaterInsight).

What you will be contributing

We are looking for applicants with a background in data-driven environmental science, which have affinity with stakeholder interactions. Applicants should hold an MSc degree in environmental science or ecology, with a proven expertise in data analysis, organizing and handling. Expertise in machine learning is a plus.  A sound command of the English language in written and spoken word is required. Knowledge of the Dutch language is recommended (B2 level).  Applicants should be team players, who enjoy working within a consortium of diverse backgrounds.

What we are offering

We offer an interesting full-time PhD position for 4 years (1.0 FTE), with ample opportunities to expand your network across different scientific domains and with non-science partners.  We offer a stimulating research environment that strives to employ team-science approaches in their research and allow members to benefit from each other’s strengths. You will be supervised by a team consisting of aquatic ecologist Prof. Dr. Lisette de Senerpont Domis (NIOO-KNAW and University of Twente), ecological modeler Dr. Sven Teurlincx (NIOO-KNAW) and data scientist Dr. Jeroen Klein Brinke (University of Twente).

Your workplace

You will be appointed at the Department of Aquatic Ecology of the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) located in Wageningen. For detailed information on the Aquatic Ecology Department, please visit our website: Aquatic Ecology | Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW).

For more information
Questions regarding this position can be directed to Prof. Dr. Lisette de Senerpont Domis, Department of Aquatic Ecology (NIOO-KNAW).

Application procedure
For the application, please provide a curriculum vitae and cover letter summarizing motivation and experience. The deadline for applications is September 13, 2025. Job interviews are scheduled on September 17, 2025.

About NIOO

The Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO) is a national research institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). At NIOO we perform ecological research on biodiversity, climate change and sustainable use of land and water. We stimulate ecological research in the Netherlands and share our ecological knowledge with society. Everyone in our organisation is passionate about contributing to a sustainable world from their own area of expertise.

Terms of employment

Depending on education and experience the minimum salary is €2.901 and the maximum salary is €3.707 gross per month for a full-time appointment (scale P cao Nederlandse Universiteiten/KNAW). This is exclusive of 8% vacation allowance, 8.3% year-end bonus, travel allowance, internet allowance, home working allowance and pension accrual with ABP.The KNAW offers its staff an excellent package of secondary benefits. A package that meets the different needs of employees depending on their stage of life, lifestyle or career ambitions. For example, by working an extra two hours a week, it is possible to increase the number of days off from 29 to 41 days a year (with full-time employment).  For a complete overview of the terms of employment, please refer to the web page: werken bij de KNAW.