PhD: climate feedbacks and methane cycling in arctic lakes

Faculty: 

Faculty of Geosciences

Department: 

Department of Physical Geography

Hours per week: 

36 to 40

Application deadline: 

2 May 2025

‘CLIMET’ is a multidisciplinary project targeting the interactions of climate change and the CH4 cycling in the Kangerlussuaq region. We focus on dissolved organic matter accumulating in lakes and whose quality/quantity is shifting with Arctic greening. The second is wind-blown inorganic sediment which originates from the Greenland Ice Sheet outwash.

Both are consequential for the microbial community interactions that drive CH4 cycling but are poorly understood. In the PhD project we will investigate terrestrial vegetation dynamics and lake properties including the aeolian deposits in lake sediments over the last ~1000 years, where the Little Ice Age and the Medieval Climate Anomaly are known to have affected climate. For this, you will study the mineralogy and quantify lanthanides in sediments to assess chemical weathering and apply high resolution, automated palynology for vegetation dynamics. Downcore sedDNA analysis will in parallel unravel the important responses of the microbial community structure to climate driven DOM and sediments.

To support academic and personal development, PhD candidates follow courses and assist in teaching Earth Sciences at Bachelor's and Master's level. Together these activities amount to twenty percent of the contracted time.

We look forward to your application if you have the following qualifications:

• an MSc in earth sciences, environmental science or a related field;
• affinity with (palaeo-)ecology, (palaeo-)limnology in arctic environments;
• prior experience in (paleolimnological) fieldwork, lake sediment analysis, palynology or geochemistry (REE);
• interested in interdisciplinary scientific challenges and interactions especially on the interface between biology and geosciences;
• enjoy working in the multidisciplinary team of PhD candidates, postdocs and senior staff from NIOO, Radboud University and Utrecht University that together contribute to the CLIMET project;
• excellent English language skills.

• A position for one year, with an extension to a total of four years upon a successful assessment in the first year, and with the specific intent that it results in a doctorate within this period;
• a working week of 38 hours and a gross monthly salary between €2,901 and €3,707 (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU)); 
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus; 
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU. 

In addition to the terms of employment
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 laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development
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, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities
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, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit the webpage Working at Utrecht University
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.

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University
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, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes
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. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow
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.

Utrecht University’s Faculty of Geosciences
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studies the Earth: from the Earth’s core to its surface, including man’s spatial and material utilisation of the Earth – always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organised in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development.

The team at the Department of Physical Geography
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excels in research and education on BSc, MSc and PhD level. We research processes, patterns and dynamics of Earth’s systems from the mountains to the sea, and the interaction in between. This knowledge is essential for the sustainable management of our planet and to guarantee the availability of resources for the next generations. We have access to world-class laboratories like Geolab
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and Earth Simulation Lab
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, and to excellent high-performance computing facilities. We are a lively department that hosts an active early career community (PhD candidates, researchers and lecturers). We organise a warm welcome for every new member.

The department and its facilities are located at Utrecht Science Park. Utrecht is the fourth largest city in the Netherlands with a population of nearly 360,000 and forms a hub in the middle of the country. Its historical city centre and its modern central station can easily be reached from the Science Park by public transport or by a 15-minute bicycle ride. Utrecht boasts beautiful canals with extraordinary wharf cellars housing cafés and terraces by the water, as well as a broad variety of shops and boutiques.

For more information, please contact Professor Friederike Wagner-Cremer
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 at f.wagner@uu.nl  or Professor Paul Mason
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 at p.mason@uu.nl .

Note that international candidates that need a visa/work permit for the Netherlands require at least four months processing time after selection and acceptance. This will be arranged with help of the International Service Desk
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(ISD) of our university. Finding appropriate housing in or near Utrecht is your own responsibility, but the ISD may be able to advise you therewith. Unfortunately, we must warn that it is a tight market at the moment. In case of general questions about working and living in The Netherlands, please consult the Dutch Mobility Portal
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.

Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home
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 for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.

To apply, please send your curriculum vitae, including a letter of motivation, via the ‘apply now’ button.

If you have an international (not-Dutch) Master's diploma you will be requested to send your BSc and MSc diplomas and grade lists (in English).

Also no reference letters need to be submitted in your initial application. If you are short-listed, we will contact you for referees.

The interviews will take place on 15 May 2025. The first round can be online via MS Teams. The preferred starting date is 1 September 2025.

The application deadline is 3 May 2025.