WildlifeNL is seeking a dedicated PhD candidate to explore the complex relationships between humans and wildlife within the Dutch landscape. You will investigate how humans experience and value interactions with wild mammals and contribute to effective management strategies that foster human-wildlife coexistence. Your research will focus on citizen science and stakeholder engagement to examine and address concerns related to interactions with wildlife. We invite you to apply!

Your job
Numbers of several wild mammal species are increasing in the Dutch landscape, while free-roaming cattle and horses (hereafter, large grazers) are also increasingly used in nature management. For a densely populated country like the Netherlands, this means that there are constant interactions between people and wild mammals or large grazers. While these are often experienced as positive, they also sometimes lead to conflicts: between people and animals, or between people. With a broad consortium of researchers and societal partners, WildlifeNL studies ways to support coexistence between humans and wildlife. We investigate the interactions between humans and animals, and explore how the behaviour of wildlife and humans can be influenced in such a way that a low-conflict coexistence of humans and wildlife becomes possible. The research is approached through diverse scientific disciplines in close cooperation with various societal partners, such as nature managers, farmers, hunters, animal welfare organisations and government agencies. We are currently looking for a team of six PhD candidates with backgrounds in ecology, social science and philosophy.

As a PhD candidate on the human dimensions of human-wildlife interactions, you will focus on studying the individual relationships between people and wildlife in two living labs, Grenspark KempenBroek and Nationaal Park Zuid-Kennemerland. Using citizen science you will investigate what interactions people have with wildlife, how they are experienced, and where in the landscape different types of interactions occur. Based on these results, you will assess the role citizen science can play to monitor and ultimately influence human-wildlife interactions and perceptions. Using qualitative methods, you will engage with different stakeholders to explore how people relate to and value wildlife. Furthermore, you will examine what concerns people have in interacting with wildlife, and what support would be needed to address these. You will work closely together with the other PhD candidates to work towards novel strategies to promote human-wildlife coexistence.

• You have a Master’s degree in Sustainability Science, Social (environmental) Science, Environmental Psychology, or a related area.
• You are fluent in both spoken and written English and Dutch.
• You have demonstrable strong qualitative or quantitative (in R) skills, and a willingness to develop the other.
• You have demonstrable field experience with conducting interviews and/or administering surveys.
• You have a strong interest in citizen science and digital tools for citizen science.
• You are flexible and open-minded and have excellent communication skills. You have demonstrable communication with diverse stakeholders (e.g., different disciplines or societal actors).
• You have a collaborative spirit and the ability to work effectively both independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team of other PhD candidates, senior scientists, and societal partners.
• You have strong skills in academic writing, and published work as the first author (or high-quality unpublished work) will be considered an advantage.
• You have a strong interest in working inter- and transdisciplinary and in human-wildlife interactions and their management.
• You can demonstrate a clear affinity with stakeholder engagement, preferably you have experience in this, particularly in relation to stakeholders relevant to the job description.
• You are willing to do long periods of fieldwork (many months per year).

We offer:

• a position for one year, with an extension to a total of four years upon a successful assessment in the first year, and with the specific intent that it results in a doctorate within this period;
• a gross monthly salary between €2,872 and €3,670 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

Universiteit Utrecht

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

Utrecht University’s Faculty of Geosciences studies the Earth: from the Earth’s core to its surface, including man’s spatial and material utilisation of the Earth – always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organised in four departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development.

For more information about this position, please contact Dr Ine Dorresteijn at i.dorresteijn@uu.nl.