Would you like to contribute to understanding the impact of climate change on nutrient dynamics in high-latitude marine environments? Do you thrive in the dynamic blend of fieldwork adventures, laboratory experiments and geochemical modelling? As a PhD Candidate, you will explore the impact of climatic changes on nutrient dynamics in high-latitude regions and the role they play in the growth of phytoplankton in marine environments.

High-latitude oceans are rapidly changing due to human-induced climate change. Variations in the environment can strongly alter the dynamics of key nutrients such as iron and manganese, which can limit primary productivity in surface waters. The sea floor is a key source of iron and manganese to the ocean. In this project we aim to determine how iron and manganese are currently released from sediments and transported to offshore waters where they can impact phytoplankton growth and how this will change in the future.

The project focuses on samples that were collected around East Antarctica and Svalbard this year. These two locations contrast in terms of the impact of climate change. Where the impact of human-induced climate change around East Antarctica is limited, Svalbard is already heavily impacted. Your work will be to determine current iron and manganese dynamics at these two locations by conducting laboratory work and geochemical modelling. Additional fieldwork is expected. The ultimate goal of the project is to implement the findings in a state-of-the-art global model to determine how iron and manganese dynamics will change in the future upon continued climatic changes.

Your teaching load may be up to 10% of your working time.

• You hold an MSc degree in Earth or Chemical Life Sciences (biogeochemistry, geobiology or environmental chemistry).
• You have good communication skills and are able to operate in a dynamic international research team.
• You have a good command of written and spoken English.
• You are willing and able to develop yourself into an independent scientist (growth mindset).
• Experience in geochemical lab work is helpful. Experience in or the willingness to learn quantitative geochemical modelling is essential.
• Experience in fieldwork would be an advantage.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

• We will give you a temporary employment contract (1.0 FTE) of 1,5 years, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, your contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4-year contract).
• You will receive a starting salary of €2,770 gross per month based on a 38-hour working week, which will increase to €3,539 in the fourth year (salary scale P).
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus.
• You will be able to use our Dual Career and Family Support Service. The Dual Career Programme assists your partner via support, tools, and resources to improve their chances of independently finding employment in the Netherlands. Our Family Support Service helps you and your partner feel welcome and at home by providing customised assistance in navigating local facilities, schools, and amenities. Also take a look at our support for international staff page to discover all our services for international employees.
• You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20.

Work and science require good employment practices. This is reflected in Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions. You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself, for example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports subscription. And of course, we offer a good pension plan. You are given plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.

The department of Microbiology is part of the Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES), Faculty of Science, Radboud University, Nijmegen (Netherlands), and is world-leading in environmental microbiology. The department was recently expanded with a research group focusing on environmental geo(micro)biology and biogeochemistry. We offer a dynamic research environment with a strong international profile, state-of-the-art laboratory infrastructure, strong national and international collaborations, and the possibility for researchers to further develop themselves both scientifically and professionally through a large variety of courses, training opportunities and conferences. Radboud University is an equal opportunity employer, committed to building a culturally diverse intellectual community, and as such encourages applications from women and minorities.