The Department of Earth Sciences is looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate with an MSc background in Earth, Environmental or Climate Sciences or other appropriate fields. You will work on the project ‘Past, present and future global inland-water methane budget under the impact of compounded changes’.
Your job
Inland waters function as active biogeochemical reactors for the production, consumption, transport and emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. Methane is the second most important anthropogenic greenhouse gas contributing to global warming today. However, current estimates of methane emissions from inland waters to the atmosphere are highly uncertain because of limitations in long-term observational data and modelling methodology.
In this four-year study, you will develop a model for the dynamic methane cycling in global inland waters. This model will build on our pioneering model framework and simulate the changes in cycling fluxes of major carbon forms from land via inland waters to sea. You will synthesise, test, and use the reported methane kinetics from labs and culture experiments to construct the model using Python programming language. You will also compile field methane measurement data from published literature and datasets for analysis and model validation. On this basis, we will quantify the spatiotemporal changes in global inland-water methane dynamics from the pre-industrial era till the present and assess the influences of hydro-climate change and a variety of human activities (such as land-use change, eutrophication, and river damming). Moreover, the role of different waterbodies and the mutual interplay between inland-water methane dynamics and climate change will be the research focus. We invite you to share your ideas and suggestions for this innovative project in your motivation letter.
This project is part of the 10-year EMBRACER research programme funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). At EMBRACER, we work at the very frontiers of knowledge on climate change, Earth’s climate system and climate feedbacks. The programme brings together a wide range of world-leading climate experts with the aim to address existing uncertainties about climate feedbacks at the boundaries between oceans, land, ice, and atmosphere. Our interdisciplinary approach and state-of-the-art infrastructure will bring us forward in our understanding of the impact of climate feedbacks emerging over the next decades to centuries.
A personalised training programme will be set up, reflecting your training needs and career objectives. About 20% of your time will be dedicated to this training component, which includes following courses/workshops as well as training on the job in assisting in the Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes of the department at Utrecht University.
Your qualities
You are a motivated team player, have experience in modelling using programming language(s), and have completed your MSc degree in Earth Sciences, Environmental Science, Climate Science or a related discipline by the time the position starts. Furthermore, you have:
- strong and demonstrable skills in running cycling, transport, or budget models or Earth System Model(s) (shown by a relevant master research project experience or course study);
- a theoretical background and an interest in inland-water carbon cycling especially methane processes, biogeochemistry, redox reactions, water-air and/or water-sediment interactions, human perturbations, hydrology/limnology, and climate change (shown by a relevant master research project experience or courses);
- strong analytical skills;
- willingness to experiment with new data collection and model methodology development;
- motivation to cooperate in a diverse and multidisciplinary research team;
- excellent communication skills.
Being fluent in the use of Python or a similar programming language is essential. Due to the international character of our research, good command of spoken and written English is also essential.
We highly encourage applicants from all members of our community and of diverse backgrounds to join us.
Our 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 working week of 38 hours and a gross monthly salary between €2,901 and €3,707 (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 external link, 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.
About us
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.
The Department of Earth Sciences conducts teaching and research across the full range of the solid Earth and environmental Earth sciences, with activities in almost all areas of geology, geochemistry, geophysics, biogeology and hydrogeology. Our key research themes are Earth & Planetary Processes, Sustainable Use of the Subsurface, Planetary Health & Environment, and Climate & Life. The department hosts a highly international tenured staff of over 50 scientists and more than 110 PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers. We house or have access to a wide variety of world-class laboratories, among which are Utrecht University’s Electron Microscopy Centre, the Geolab, and the Earth Simulation Laboratory. Moreover, the department has excellent High-Performance Computing facilities.
The department is located at the Utrecht Science Park. Utrecht is the fourth largest city in the Netherlands with a population of nearly 360,000 and forms a hub in the middle of the country. Its historical city centre and its modern central station can easily be reached from the Science Park by public transport or by a 15-minute bicycle ride. Utrecht boasts beautiful canals with extraordinary wharf cellars housing cafés and terraces by the water, as well as a broad variety of shops and boutiques.
More information
For more information, please contact Dr Junjie Wang at j.wang3@uu.nl or Prof. Jack Middelburg at j.b.m.middelburg@uu.nl.
Note that international candidates that need a visa/work permit for the Netherlands require at least four months processing time after selection and acceptance. This will be arranged with help of the International Service Desk (ISD) of our university. Finding appropriate housing in or near Utrecht is your own responsibility, but the ISD may be able to advise you therewith. Unfortunately, we must warn that it is a tight market at the moment. In case of general questions about working and living in The Netherlands, please consult the Dutch Mobility Portal.
Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University. Commercial response to this ad is not appreciated.
Apply now
As Utrecht University, we want to be a home for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.
To apply, please send the following documents via the ‘apply now’ button:
- your curriculum vitae, including any courses taken that are relevant for the position;
- your motivation letter;
- academic credentials (mark sheets and degree statements).
No reference letters need to be submitted in your initial application. If you are shortlisted, we will contact you for referees. We aim for a quick selection procedure after the application deadline. The preferred starting date is late autumn 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.
The application deadline is 30 August 2025.
