Researcher

Researcher on North Sea biodiversity

💰 € 4,532.00 - € 6,268.00 gross/month

⏱ 36 hours/week or part thereof

📅 Tenure track: a four-year temporary contract, with the possibility of a permanent contract

after successful evaluation.

🎓 PhD degree

Are you the innovative marine researcher who can contribute scientific excellence to the development of our North Sea program? Then Naturalis in Leiden is the place for you! Working at Naturalis means working on research with a truly global impact — contributing directly to biodiversity. With state-of-the-art museum collections and lab facilities, many inspiring colleagues and access to our international network, Naturalis offers everything you need to strengthen your career as a scientist.

As a researcher …

• You will have ample opportunities to showcase and share your research and results widely, through publications, presentations, or with partners in our international network.
• You will receive strong support in identifying and applying for funding opportunities, with access to our dedicated Research Coordination Office.
• You will be part of the Marine Biodiversity team that is focussing on community ecology of (mostly) benthic marine ecosystems.

This is what you'll be doing

As an ambitious, enthusiastic, and innovative scientist you will strengthen our research on development, support, and quality assurance of the North Sea research program and actively drive the expansion of our scientific initiatives. The Netherlands is losing biodiversity faster than most European countries, and urgent solutions are needed. Naturalis, home to one of the world’s largest natural history collections, combines the collection of specimens and digital solutions to accelerate species identification and deepen ecosystem insights. Join us to drive pioneering research and make a tangible impact.

We are looking for a researcher who will contribute to exploring and unlocking the potential of North Sea biodiversity research of Naturalis. An analytical mind with a sharp eye for scientific excellence — and the ambition to push new boundaries by securing innovative project proposals and expanding our program’s horizon. You will acquire project funding, and contribute to outreach, mentor PhD students and postdocs, and work with a large network of scientists. This is your chance to innovate, and shape a scalable approach to marine biodiversity research in the Netherlands and beyond.

Here's what we have to offer

• A gross monthly salary of € 4,532.00 to € 6,268.00 gross/month for a full time contract (36 hours).
• End-of-year bonus of 3.4% of your gross annual salary and 8% holiday pay.
• Time off thanks to 27 days of leave per year with full-time employment. Plus 1 extra day that you can use for a holiday that is important to you.
• Commuting allowance depending on your means of transport.
• Pension scheme via PFZW, where Naturalis pays 60% of your premium.
• Plenty of development opportunities. We offer the opportunity to all our researchers to develop personal lines of research into vibrant, visible and viable research groups and full support for personal growth and career development. We also encourage collaboration and affiliation with one of the Dutch universities.
• Unlimited access to the online training platform Goodhabitz.
• Fascinating knowledge events. These help you stay up to date on the latest developments in both your own field and outside it, such as our lectures, journal clubs and gatherings on various (scientific) topics. You can also attend – or take part in – the fascinating internal information session ‘Naturalis Draait Door’.
• Laptop and phone allowance.
• Nice extras such as discounts on software for private use, collective health insurance plans, and a bicycle scheme. You’ll also enjoy discounts in our museum restaurant and unlimited free access to our award-winning museum for you and your family.
• Fun team outings. We also get together for drinks every month, organize an annual BBQ and a fantastic New Year's party. Not your scene? That's fine too, of course. All team activities are voluntary.
• A unique work environment in a state-of-the-art building where you will feel proud to work every single day – we guarantee it!

The world lies at your feet! Literally. Whatever your role may be, you contribute to the preservation of our planet on a daily basis. Naturalis Biodiversity Center…

• is the national research institute for biodiversity research and a key player in Dutch en European biodiversity data and infrastructures.
• houses one of the largest natural history collections in the world.
• welcomes 500,000 museum visitors per year.
• collaborates with universities, expertise centres and museums around the world.
• has a staff of diverse colleagues in various functions and with many different nationalities, with whom you will work together in an informal and vibrant atmosphere.

This is your team

You will be part of the research group Marine Biodiversity led by Prof. Dr. Willem Renema.

What you bring to the table

We're looking for an expert in marine ecology with a proven track record in independent research who wants to use their expertise in modern species detection techniques to scale up the biomonitoring of the North Sea, the monitoring of the impact of anthropogenic activities (including but not restricted to offshore wind farms) and the tracking of results of ecosystem restoration. You have experience with modern technologies like (e)DNA metabarcoding, image recognition or you know how to connect with specialists in this field. You possess excellent communication, presentation, and collaboration skills and you know how to translate your vision and innovative ideas into tangible results. You are comfortable managing cross-functional relationships with students, researchers and companies to ensure the successful completion of cross-sectoral projects.

In addition, you have:

• A completed PhD degree in a relevant field, such as life sciences.
• Proven skills in marine ecology and monitoring techniques.
• Experience in publishing and disseminating research findings via scientific publications, lectures, conference presentations, or teaching.
• Strong proficiency in English.

Become our new researcher

• Upload your application in one PDF via the application button no later than July 3 CEST, 2026. Your application contains 1. a narrative academic profile of no more than three pages. This is a description of the scientific and societal impact of your research, including a list of no more than 10 key outputs, and a concise table including publications, teaching activities, and major grants and awards. 2. A personal motivation letter and 3. the names and contact details of two referees.
• Want to know more about the position before you apply? Please send an email to [email protected].
• For more information about the application procedure, you can send an email to our colleagues in the HR department via [email protected].

We are managing the recruitment for this vacancy ourselves; unsolicited acquisition is therefore not desired.