PhD Candidate: Soil Biodiversity: The Faculty of Science at Leiden University is seeking a motivated PhD candidate to explore the role of soil biodiversity in mitigating drought stress in urban green spaces. This position is part of the Thirsty Cities project, which aims to enhance urban resilience against climate change.
PhD Candidate: Enhancing Urban Drought Resilience Through Soil Biodiversity
Designation:
PhD Candidate
Research Area:
Urban Ecology, Soil Biodiversity, Environmental Science, Plant-Microbe Interactions
Location:
Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
Eligibility/Qualification:
- MSc degree in (urban) ecology, plant sciences, microbial ecology, environmental sciences, or a related discipline.
- Experience in plant-microbe growth experiments, with a willingness to extend to field research.
- Background in microbiology and/or molecular techniques, including bioinformatics for DNA-based analyses.
- Strong quantitative skills for analyzing complex ecological data.
- Ability to collaborate in an interdisciplinary team setting.
- Proficiency in spoken and written English.
- Excellent communication skills for scientific publications and public outreach.
Job Description:
- Investigate how soil biodiversity influences tree resilience to drought through soil-tree interactions.
- Design and conduct controlled laboratory (and potentially field) experiments on soil biodiversity’s role in tree performance under varying water availability scenarios.
- Collaborate with project partners to integrate experimental data into models and facilitate knowledge transfer to stakeholders.
- Communicate research findings through publications, public engagement activities, and teaching.
How to Apply:
Applications can be submitted via the online system on the Leiden University website. Ensure to upload:
- A letter of motivation (max. 2 pages) highlighting research interests and relevance to the position.
- Curriculum vitae.
- Relevant certificates (e.g., degree certificate).
- Contact details of two references.
Last Date for Application:
31 July 2025
For more information about the project, see the Thirsty Cities initiative and visit the Leiden University website.
