Within the Marine Biodiversity research group at Naturalis, you will work closely with Jan Macher and Willem Renema. Given the highly collaborative nature of the project, you will also work directly with Thijs Bosker (CML, Leiden University) and Linda Harris (Nelson Mandela University, South Africa). You will also be part of our PhD- and postdoc community — a close-knit group of around 50 PhD candidates and postdocs with whom you can share experiences and participate in training sessions, workshops, and peer review meetings. And of course, for those interested, there are plenty of social activities outside of work as well.
As a Postdoctoral Fellow…
- You will conduct cutting-edge research at the intersection of biodiversity, ecology, and coastal conservation, driving global-scale research within a major international consortium.
- You will receive strong support, with access to our dedicated Research Coordination Office.
- You will build valuable professional connections by participating in both the academic and social activities of our PhD- and postdoc community. Furthermore, through our collaborations with diverse partners, you will strengthen your international profile.
This is what you’ll be doing:
As a postdoctoral fellow within the international Biodiversa+ project TIDELINES, you will investigate how coastal management and environmental contexts shape sandy beach biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics globally. Collaborating with a network of partners across Europe, Brazil, and South Africa, you will study the community assembly, spatial structure, and colonization dynamics of wrack-associated invertebrates across different biogeographic regions and management regimes.
Your work will combine field surveys, targeted experiments, and high-throughput molecular community analyses with spatial ecology to understand how beach management influences biodiversity patterns, thereby generating biodiversity baseline data that contributes to a better understanding of global beach diversity. Alongside shaping this high-impact research, you will actively share your discoveries through high-profile scientific publications and international presentations. Furthermore, you will have the opportunity to mentor students and contribute to teaching, fostering the next generation of biodiversity scientists.
What you bring to the table:
You have a passion for biodiversity and curiosity for understanding how it is shaped in dynamic coastal ecosystems. You are capable of conducting independent research, working in an organized manner, and structuring your approach effectively. At the same time, you know when to seek help when necessary. You enjoy collaborating with colleagues and external partners, and you actively maintain both your internal and external networks. You are skilled at identifying opportunities and engaging others with your ideas. Additionally, you can translate complex topics into compelling narratives, making them accessible even to those outside of the scientific community.
In addition, you have:
- A completed PhD degree with expertise in ecology, marine biology, environmental sciences, or a related discipline, ideally with a strong foundation in community or spatial ecology.
- Proven skills in designing and executing field surveys and targeted experiments, handling large ecological datasets, and performing advanced statistical modeling and data analysis.
- Experience in publishing and disseminating research findings via scientific publications, lectures, conference presentations, or teaching.
- Strong proficiency in English.
Application deadline: May 31, 2026
Salary range: € 3,768 to € 4,897 gross per month (based on a full-time contract of 36 hours/week), depending on relevant experience.
