There is an opening for a PhD position at the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (Wageninen, the Netherlands) on the role of soil ecological drivers in sustainable intensification of agriculture.

Project description

The PhD student will work in the NWO-Green project: “Vital soils for sustainable intensification of agriculture”. A key challenge for sustainable intensification of agriculture is to produce increasing amounts of food, feed and bioenergy, with minimal loss of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Organic farming is supposed to have less negative impacts on soil biotic and abiotic properties resulting in more stable ecosystem functioning than conventional agricultural practices. However, conversion of conventional into more sustainable organic systems takes time and is often accompanied by a yield gap in the first years.

In this project we aim to unravel how soil biological, chemical and physical properties change during the transition from conventional to organic farming systems, in order to understand the mechanisms underlying high yields and stability in long-term organically managed agricultural fields. This knowledge will allow us to test if and how the transition from conventional to organic agriculture can be accelerated. We will identify factors that can predict successful conversion and can serve as indicators for vital soils for sustainable intensification of agriculture. Within the project, the PhD student will study soil ecological processes and will collaborate closely in joint experiments with a PhD student based at Wageningen University focusing on soil chemistry and physics and a Postdoc on molecular soil ecology. Practical work will include detailed spatial soil sampling in long-term field experiments and famer’s fields, along with microcosm experiments in greenhouses.

Funding

The “Vital soils” project is funded by the Green-program of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO).

Requirements

• Strong motivation and enthusiasm
• MSc degree in (soil) ecology, or a related field
• Research experience or demonstrated affinity with soil ecology, field and greenhouse experiments, soil chemistry analyses, molecular identification and quantification technology
• Experience with (spatial) data/statistical analysis
• Good communicative skills (fluency in English required)
• Driving license

Appointment

This is a temporary appointment, fulltime. PhD projects are 4-year appointments starting with a 1-year contract. After 1 year progress will be evaluated.

Salary

The gross salary starts at € 2.174,00 per month in the 1st year, and will gradually increase to a maximum of € 2.779,00 per month in the 4th year, scale P, Collective Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO Nederlandse Universiteiten), plus 8% holiday pay and a year-end bonus. We offer an extensive package of fringe benefits.

Information

Additional information about this vacancy is available upon request from Prof. W.H. van der Putten (tel. 0317-473599, e-mail: [email protected]), dr. M. Schrama (email: [email protected]) or dr. G.F. Veen, (tel: 0317-473610, email: [email protected]). Information on the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO) can be found at http://www.nioo.knaw.nl.

Applications

Written applications for this position should include names of at least two referees, which we may want to consult. Please send your application letter and CV by e-mail to: [email protected] with reference to vacancy number PhD-TE-015038. Deadline for the application is April 17 2016.