We are looking for
Freshwater plastic pollution in an emerging hazard. To overcome this global challenge, reliable data on river plastic transport and accumulation is key. The Hydrology and Quantitative Water Management Group (HWM) works on developing innovative methods to quantify and characterize river plastic pollution. The “Plants against Plastic” project studies the role of water hyacinths in the transport, distribution and accumulation of riverine plastics. The aim is to develop a monitoring tool that uses water hyacinths as a proxy for river plastics, as they can be detected from space.
You will contribute to (1) developing new field data collection methods, (2) collecting field data on river plastics and plastic entrapment in water hyacinths, (3) retrieving remote sensing data to detect and monitor water hyacinths. You are expected to report the results in scientific articles and at conferences. This project is a collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh University of Technology (Vietnam) and the Plymouth Marine Laboratory (UK). You will be spending time with the project partners.
You will do your work in an ideal working environment. Our campus is an inspiring, green place to work, and has been selected as the most sustainable campus in the world multiple times. Besides that, we have an impressive ranking in several fields, with a #1 ranking for environmental science, ecology and agriculture, as well as very strong rankings in other fields. Finally, as for education, Wageningen University has been chosen as the “Best University” in the Netherlands for the 15th consecutive time.
We ask
- Affinity with fieldwork;
- Flexible and opportunistic working attitude;
- A MSc in geosciences, environmental sciences, hydrology or a related field;
- Experience with working with remote sensing imagery (preferably Sentinel 2);
- Good data processing/visualization skills;
- Good command of written and spoken English;
- Experience with writing scientific articles;
We offer
We offer a challenging and future-oriented research project. The position is initially for one year. Depending on new funding opportunities, the position may be extended to a 3-year research position or 4-year PhD project. Gross salary per month will be min € 2.709,- and max € 4.274,-, for a fulltime appointment (38 hours a week) in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement Dutch Universities.
In addition, we offer:
- 8% holiday allowance;
- a structural year-end bonus of 8.3%;
- excellent training opportunities and secondary employment conditions;
- flexible working hours and holidays can possibly be determined in consultation so that an efficient balance between work and private life is possible;
- excellent pension plan through ABP;
- 232 vacation hours, the option to purchase extra and good supplementary leave schemes;
- a flexible working time: the possibility to work a maximum of 2 hours per week extra and thereby to build up extra leave;
- a choice model to put together part of your employment conditions yourself, such as a bicycle plan;
- a lively workplace where you can easily make contacts and where many activities take place on the Wageningen Campus. A place where education, research and business are represented;
- use the sports facilities on campus for a reduced fee.
We provide a versatile job in an international environment with varied activities in a pleasant and open working atmosphere.
More information
For more information about this vacancy please contact Tim van Emmerik, ass-prof Hydrologic Sensing, e-mail: [email protected]
For additional information about the procedure, please contact Edgar Tijhuis, corporate recruiter, e-mail: [email protected]
This vacancy is open until 29 February 2020. The first job interviews will take place soon after the deadline for this position. You can only apply by using the apply button on this page on our website!
Equal opportunities employer
We encourage applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, gender, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age. We believe that a diverse and inclusive work environment makes us a more relevant, more competitive, and more resilient organization.
We are
The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Nine specialised research institutes from the Wageningen Research Foundation and Wageningen University have joined forces to help answer the most important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment.
With approximately 30 locations, 6,000 employees, and 12,000 students, Wageningen University & Research is one of the top tier organisations in its domain worldwide. A coordinated approach to problems and the cooperation between various disciplines are at the heart of the outstanding approach of Wageningen.
For further information about working at Wageningen University & Research, take a look at the special career site.
The Hydrology and Quantitative Water Management group is part of the Department of Environmental Sciences at Wageningen University. This group has an excellent track record in research focusing on hydrometeorology, catchment hydrology, hydrological extremes, environmental hydraulics and river morphology. The group has a substantial number of PhD candidates and Postdoctoral researchers on a variety of projects. It offers a stimulating, international research environment.
