Job: Research Fellow in Geology

For 2 years, at 36 hours a week

The Department of Geology of Naturalis employs six palaeontologists, two mineralogists, one research fellow, two post-docs, and four PhD researchers. Palaeontological research at the institute is thematically driven with regional foci on the Netherlands, southeast Asia, northwestern Europe, and the Mediterranean. Two staff members are currently co-leading an EU-ITN programme. Palaeontological expertise covers large branches of the Tree of Life and most of the Phanerozoic. Mineralogical research mostly concentrates on the Precambrian basement areas of former Gondwana, with emphasis on gemmology and partial melting. Thanks to a recent infrastructure investment, the labs have been expanded with micro-CT, micro-Raman, an EDS system linked to a new FEG-SEM, and state-of-the-art DNA facilities. In addition, collaboration with Earth science departments at Utrecht University and the Free University of Amsterdam ensures access to a national lab facility including a FEG-EMP and a nanoSIMS as of 2014 .

We seek to attract a Research Fellow to support one of the departmental research programmes, namely “Biodiversity on a dynamic planet at variable time scales”, “Long-term resilience of ecosystems“, “Evolution of island faunas”, and “HT processes in the continental crust”. You are an energetic and enthusiastic scientist with a proven track record and a clear view on how your research programme will contribute to the future success of the museum. You are eager to join our new institute, to cooperate with the existing staff, to study the natural history collections, and to use the new scientific infrastructure. Developing national and international partnerships as well as acquisition of externally funded projects are essential. You are expected to contribute to teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels and to represent Naturalis Biodiversity Center in societal and scientific communities.

Requirements

You have a PhD degree in geology,  palaeontology, mineralogy or petrology,and at least two years, and preferably not more than six years, of experience at the postdoctoral level. You have excellent teaching and communications skills in English, both written and verbal.

Furthermore, you have an excellent scientific track record (given the point in your career) and are involved in innovative and multidisciplinary research projects, operating in an international scientific network. You are able to engage in collaborative networks with students and university partners as well as existing Naturalis research staff. We expect you to qualify for personal grant systems at national (NWO-VIDI) or international (ERC) level and to submit high-quality proposals to such funding schemes.

Depending on the research topic, desired qualifications may include:

·         Ample experience with advanced microscopy techniques, GIS applications and/or web-based taxonomy;

·         Experiencewith research popularisation.

We offer

A full-time contract (36 hours per week) for one year, to be extended with one year after successful evaluation. A competitive salary up to a maximum of circa EUR 48,000 gross per year depending on experience and qualifications, including holiday allowance (8%). All our employees are incorporated into a pension fund. 

Procedure

You are invited to submit your application, including your curriculum vitae, a clearly focused research programme of maximum two pages (containing a two year working plan), a proposed budget, a complete list of publications*, your H-index, up to five keywords describing the research area, a statement of teaching interests and the names and e-mail addresses of at least two persons who can be contacted for reference (and who have agreed to be contacted), by November 29, by e-mail to sollicitaties@naturalis.nl.

For more information on the current research and facilities, see the websites of the founding partners of Naturalis Biodiversity Center, on www.naturalis.nl -www.nhn.leidenuniv.nl - www.science.uva.nl/zma - www.bis.wur.nl/UK/Organisation/Herbarium

Any additional information can be requested from:

Dr. Leo M. Kriegsman, Head of the Department of Geology
Naturalis Biodiversity Center

E-mail: Leo.Kriegsman@naturalis.nl