PhD student North Sea POWER marine foodwebs

As a PhD student...

• You will find yourself in a unique research environment, inspired by passionate scientists from a wide range of disciplines (e.g., taxonomy, evolution, ecology, and geology).
• You will receive dedicated supervision from an experienced researcher and work closely with several international experts and collaborators with whom you'll regularly exchange ideas about your research. This will help you to develop a strong academic profile.
• You will be part of the Marine Biodiversity team that is focusing on community ecology of (mostly) benthic marine ecosystems.

This is what you'll be doing
As offshore wind farms rapidly expand in the North Sea, mitigating their ecological impact on marine ecosystems is critical. The North Sea POWER project addresses this challenge by filling vital knowledge gaps regarding underwater noise, biomass and water flows, and wildlife disturbance (such as seabirds and bats) to support a sustainable green energy transition. Led by Wageningen University & Research, North Sea POWER brings together a transdisciplinary consortium of leading academic institutions, societal stakeholders, conservation organisations, and energy sector partners.

Are you passionate about marine ecology, ecosystem modelling, and the sustainability of offshore renewable energy? Within North Sea POWER, Naturalis offers a PhD position to investigate how offshore wind farms alter local food web dynamics and ecosystem functioning in the North Sea. Working within a multidisciplinary consortium of leading research institutes and universities, you will use numerical ecosystem modelling to quantify the ecological effects of biofouling communities on primary and secondary production, carbon cycling, and blue carbon sequestration. You will explore how ecological changes around individual turbines scale up to whole wind farm ecosystems and contribute to improving the next generation of ecosystem models used for environmental policy and management. If successful, you will obtain your PhD degree from the University of Amsterdam.

Here's what we have to offer

• A one-year fixed-term contract, intended to be extended by three years after successful evaluation. The starting date is preferably February 1st, 2027.
• A gross monthly starting salary of € 3,463.00 for a full-time contract (36 hours).
• End-of-year bonus of 3.4% of your gross annual salary and 8% holiday pay.
• 27 days of leave per year with full-time employment. Plus 1 extra day that you can use for a holiday that is important to you.
• Commuting allowance depending on your means of transport.
• Pension scheme via PFZW, where Naturalis pays 60% of your premium.
• Plenty of development opportunities. We support your growth and give you unlimited access to the online training platform Goodhabitz.
• Fascinating knowledge events. These help you stay up to date on the latest developments in both your own field and outside it, such as our lectures and gatherings on various (scientific) topics. You can also attend – or take part in – the fascinating internal information session 'Naturalis Draait Door'.
• Nice extras such as discounts on software and hardware for private use, collective health insurance plans, and a bicycle scheme. You'll also enjoy discounts in our museum restaurant and unlimited free access to our award-winning museum for you and your family.
• Fun team outings. We also get together for drinks every month, organise an annual BBQ and a fantastic New Year's party. Not your scene? That's fine too, of course. All team activities are voluntary.
• A unique work environment in a state-of-the-art building where you will feel proud to work every single day – we guarantee it!

The world lies at your feet!
Literally. Whatever your role may be, you contribute to the preservation of our planet on a daily basis. Naturalis Biodiversity Center...

• is the national research and knowledge institute and a key player in biodiversity data and infrastructures
• houses one of the largest natural history collections in the world
• welcomes 500,000 museum visitors per year
• collaborates with universities, expertise centres, and museums around the world
• has a staff of diverse colleagues in various functions and with many different nationalities, with whom you will work together in an informal atmosphere.

This is your Team
You will be hosted at Naturalis in a shared position with Deltares. Your supervisory team will consist of prof. Willem Renema and dr. Lisa Schneider. This position is one of twelve PhD and postdoc positions across the consortium. You will be part of a team working on shared questions, with joint meetings, fieldwork, and training alongside your own project. North Sea Power is funded through the Dutch Research Agenda (NWA), developed in collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy.

What you bring to the table
You are capable of working independently while also proactively seeking collaboration — whether with your supervisor, fellow researchers, or external partners. You're known for your systematic, structured, and accurate approach, driven by strong perseverance. You are confident in asking critical questions to further your research and you identify opportunities, effectively engaging others with your ideas.

You are also eager to disseminate your research findings, whether through public lectures or publications. You excel at translating complex topics into engaging and accessible narratives, reaching not only the scientific community but also businesses and the general public. You show determination to acquire skills outside of your academic background.

In addition, you possess:

• A completed Master's degree in a relevant field such as ecology, oceanography, marine biology, or a related domain.
• A strong interest in the environmental impact of human activities in the marine environment.
• Hands-on experience with numerical (ecological) models is an advantage.
• Strong proficiency in English.

Become our new PhD student.

• Upload your CV and motivation letter, including the contact details of two referees in one PDF alongside your master thesis via the application button no later than September 28, 2026.
• Want to know more about the position before you apply? Contact Willem Renema via email to willem.renema@naturalis.nl or Lisa Schneider via lisa.schneider@deltares.nl.
• For more information about the application procedure, you can send an email to our colleagues in the HR department via sollicitaties@naturalis.nl.

We are managing the recruitment for this vacancy ourselves; unsolicited acquisition is therefore not desired.

Work Location(s)

• Number of offers available: 1
• Company/Institute: Naturalis Biodiversity Center
• Country: Netherlands
• City: Leiden
• Postal Code: 2333 CR
• Street: Darwinweg