Postdoc The value of citizen science for Ecology

What you will be doing

The Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) has a long-standing tradition of citizen science projects across departments, including bird ringing at ‘Vogeltrekstation’, volunteer-led research on smaller waters, and yearly soil biodiversity monitoring. You will contribute to developing a long-term vision on embedding citizen science across departments to create a citizen science hub within NIOO-KNAW. This includes investigating reliability, trustworthiness and validation of citizen science data in ecological research. The project enhances our understanding of how volunteer-generated biodiversity and environmental monitoring data can be reliably incorporated into scientific research and environmental policy and decision-making.

What you will be contributing

We are looking for an enthusiastic ecologist with shown expertise in working in citizen science projects. You have a background PhD in Ecology, Environmental Science or Biology related fields. You bring experience in working with environmental databases, environmental monitoring and community-based research. You have excellent communication skills and are capable of building bridges across sectoral and research domains. Proficiency in Dutch is considered an advantage.

What do we offer?

The candidate will work across NIOO departments and will have an advisory team consisting of both scientists and science communication specialists. The NIOO offers a vibrant research community with about 30 nationalities. The NIOO has 4 research departments and a central management and services department. Formally, you will be based at the Department of Aquatic Ecology of the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) located in Wageningen.

More information

Contact:   Lisette de Senerpont Domis (l.desenerpontdomis@nioo.knaw.nl, aquatic ecologist), Henk van der Jeugd (h.vanderjeugd@nioo.knaw.nl; animal ecologist), Froukje Rienks (f.rienks@nioo.knaw.nl, science communication expert). 

Application procedure

Please send a CV and a cover letter in which you indicate how your work could contribute to cross-departmental embedding and aligning citizen science within NIOO-KNAW and how your track record could help to deliver the work. 

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 € 3.546 and the maximum salary is € 5.538 gross per month for a full-time appointment (scale 10 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.

Applying for a Certificate of Good Conduct can be part of the employment procedure.

Diversity & Inclusion
The KNAW considers a working environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated of great importance. A working environment in which attention is paid to individual quality and where development opportunities are paramount. Together we strive for an inclusive culture in which we embrace differences. We would therefore like to invite candidates who want to contribute to this through their background and experience. In the event of equal suitability, preference will be given to the candidate who thus enhances diversity within the Academy.

We will not respond to any supplier enquiries based on this job advertisement.