PhD Student for Marine Ecology, The NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, The Netherlands

The NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research is an independent research institute associated with the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research.

NIOZ was founded in 1876 and is one of the oldest major oceanographic institutions in Europe. Its mission is to pursue curiosity-driven multidisciplinary marine research in coastal and shelf seas as well as in the open ocean through close co-operation between physicists, chemists, geologists and biologists.

Within the national NWO project Changing carrying capacity in Dutch marine waters (ZKO Monitoring), a 5-year research program on the Structure and Functioning of the Wadden Sea fish assemblage is funded in which the Department of Marine Ecology (MEE; Dr. ir. H.W. van der Veer) collaborates with the Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystem Studies, Wageningen IMARES (Prof. dr. Adriaan D. Rijnsdorp).

Within this project we have a vacancy for a PhD student (m/f)

Project description
The project is build on a monitoring programme employing standardized sampling methods (bottom trawls) of the fish fauna in the western Wadden Sea covering both sub-tidal and inter-tidal habitats, whereby biological samples are collected to estimate present trophic relationships, food consumption, growth, mortality and for comparison with historical monitoring programmes (1960-ties and 1980-ties). Surveys will be combined with underwater audiovisual observations with the aim to apply landscape ecological methods and to arrive at predictive models for the presence, distribution and structure of fish communities. The PhD will function in a team and is expected to participate in data collection, data processing of past and newly acquired data, as well as to write scientific papers on the results of his/her work.

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a Master degree in Marine Ecology or a related field, affinity for field work and preferably a statistical or theoretical background. Experience with sea-going research is beneficial but not essential.

We offer a full-time PhD position for 4 years. We offer a pension scheme, a health insurance allowance, a yearly 8% vacation allowance, year-end bonus and flexible employment conditions. Conditions are based on the Collective Employment Agreement of the NWO Research Institutes.

Further information about the project can be obtained from the Personnel Department, Ms. Jolanda Evers + 31 (0)222-369371. Information about NIOZ and the department of Marine Ecology can be obtained at www.nioz.nl and information about IMARES at www.wageningenimares.wur.nl.

Applicants should sent an application letter, CV and reference list to within 8 weeks, attended to ms. Jolanda Evers, HRM Department, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, P.O. Box 59, 1790 AB Den Burg, Texel, The Netherlands or via e-mail to jobs[ at ]nioz.nl

Closing date: November 15th 2008