PhD Candidate in Health Sciences (Utrecht University)

Position Type: PhD Candidate (Full-time, 32–40 hrs/week) Faculty: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Department: Department of Population Health Sciences, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS) Location: Utrecht, Netherlands Duration: 1 year initial, extendable to 4 years upon positive evaluation Application Deadline: 3 March 2026 Project Overview Investigate how nitrogen deposition and soil acidification affect microbial communities and the health of forest ecosystems. Focus on weakly buffered soils where nitrogen-induced eutrophication and acidification interact with drought stress to impact tree growth, survival, and soil function. Embedded in a larger nitrogen deposition project with spatial and temporal modelling of deposition and air concentrations. Key Responsibilities Study impacts of nitrogen deposition and soil acidification on soil microbial communities and forest vitality. Conduct fieldwork along nitrogen deposition gradients in Dutch forests and abroad. Collect soil and tree growth data using dendrometers. Perform laboratory analyses, including PCR, PLFA, microbial biomass, soil carbon, respiration, and enzymatic activities. Contribute to interdisciplinary research combining ecology, soil science, and forest biology. Candidate Profile Required Qualifications & Skills: MSc in Ecology, preferably with soil microbial ecology focus. Skills in field and lab work, including soil sampling and microbial analysis. Experience with experimental design and (multivariate) statistical analysis. Strong English communication and teamwork skills. Independent, motivated, and eager to learn. Advantageous: Experience with tree growth measurements and forest ecology. Offer / Benefits Salary: €3,059 – €3,881 per month (gross, full-time, CAO NU scale P) 8% holiday pay + 8.3% year-end bonus Pension scheme, partially paid parental leave, flexible employment terms Professional development and participation in workshops Working in a highly interdisciplinary and internationally connected environment How to Apply Required Documents: CV Letter of motivation Application: Apply via Utrecht University portal (“Apply Now”) Contacts: dr. René Verburg – r.w.verburg@uu.nl dr. Daniel Martins Figueiredo – d.m.figueiredo@uu.nl Prof. Roel Vermeulen – r.c.h.vermeulen@uu.nl Deadline: 3 March 2026 This position is ideal for candidates interested in forest ecology, soil-microbe interactions, and environmental stressors, combining fieldwork, lab experiments, and statistical modeling. If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Academicoxy

Position Type: PhD Candidate (Full-time, 32–40 hrs/week)
Faculty: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Department: Department of Population Health Sciences, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS)
Location: Utrecht, Netherlands
Duration: 1 year initial, extendable to 4 years upon positive evaluation
Application Deadline: 3 March 2026

Project Overview

Investigate how nitrogen deposition and soil acidification affect microbial communities and the health of forest ecosystems.
Focus on weakly buffered soils where nitrogen-induced eutrophication and acidification interact with drought stress to impact tree growth, survival, and soil function.
Embedded in a larger nitrogen deposition project with spatial and temporal modelling of deposition and air concentrations.

Key Responsibilities

Study impacts of nitrogen deposition and soil acidification on soil microbial communities and forest vitality.
Conduct fieldwork along nitrogen deposition gradients in Dutch forests and abroad.
Collect soil and tree growth data using dendrometers.
Perform laboratory analyses, including PCR, PLFA, microbial biomass, soil carbon, respiration, and enzymatic activities.
Contribute to interdisciplinary research combining ecology, soil science, and forest biology.

Candidate Profile

Required Qualifications & Skills:

MSc in Ecology, preferably with soil microbial ecology focus.
Skills in field and lab work, including soil sampling and microbial analysis.
Experience with experimental design and (multivariate) statistical analysis.
Strong English communication and teamwork skills.
Independent, motivated, and eager to learn.

Advantageous:

Experience with tree growth measurements and forest ecology.

Offer / Benefits

Salary: €3,059 – €3,881 per month (gross, full-time, CAO NU scale P)
8% holiday pay + 8.3% year-end bonus
Pension scheme, partially paid parental leave, flexible employment terms
Professional development and participation in workshops
Working in a highly interdisciplinary and internationally connected environment

How to Apply

Required Documents:

CV
Letter of motivation

Application: Apply via Utrecht University portal (“Apply Now”)
Contacts:

dr. René Verburg – r.w.verburg@uu.nl
dr. Daniel Martins Figueiredo – d.m.figueiredo@uu.nl
Prof. Roel Vermeulen – r.c.h.vermeulen@uu.nl

Deadline: 3 March 2026

This position is ideal for candidates interested in forest ecology, soil-microbe interactions, and environmental stressors, combining fieldwork, lab experiments, and statistical modeling.

If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Academicoxy

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