PhD Integrated Population Modelling for Black-tailed Godwit Conservation

Make a difference with your research. Join us to build advanced population models based on the field observations. Youll collect and analyse data on conservation options - predator management habitat configuration and measures for increased chick survival - and combine them in a spatially explicit Integrated Population Model to guide real conservation decisions helping reverse the decline of the Netherlands national bird the black-tailed godwit.

Join our team!

We seek a quantitative ecology-minded PhD candidate to expand our state-of-the-art Bayesian Integrated Population Model (IPM) that synthesizes population counts nest outcomes and survival across life stages. You will extend the IPM to become spatially explicit and link it to management options (e.g. land use predator pressure food availability) to forecast population outcomes and guide policy for the black-tailed godwit in Southwest Friesland the Netherlands.

This PhD builds on a long-running black-tailed godwit demography program in Friesland and is part of a large joint conservation project between the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and the University of Groningen (RUG). You will work alongside and collaborate with two PhD students and several senior and postdoctoral researchers based at the University of Groningen who study how predation and food supply shape chick growth and survivalproviding rich coordinated data streams for your models.

You are expected to be present at least one day per week at our shared meeting place - the BirdEyes centre in Leeuwarden with preferably occasional visits to Groningen. Your first or second year in spring (MarchJune) will be predominantly field-based in Friesland; thereafter the emphasis shifts toward modelling integration and scenario analyses.

What are you going to do

Tasks and responsibilities:

• Conduct and help organize demographic fieldwork during part of the PhD;
• Build validate and document the spatially explicit IPM; maintain reproducible workflows;
• Integrate multi-source data streams from other work packages (chick growth/condition predation habitat selection);
• Design and analyze management scenarios with stakeholders;
• Write scientific papers and present at conferences and project meetings;
• Contribute to teaching at UvA (maximum 10% of time).

Your profile

We are looking for someone with a strong motivation to conduct research in the field of animal population ecology and conservation. Were keen to meet candidates who are excited to make quantitative modelling work count for conservation.

Your experience and profile:

• MSc (or nearly completed) in ecology quantitative biology environmental science applied statistics or a closely related field;
• Fluent in spoken and written English;
• Strong computational skills;
• Some familiarity with population ecology capturemarkrecapture IPMs or state-space models;
• An interest in wader ecology and conservation in an agroeconomical context;
• An affinity for scientific writing;
• Clear communicator with an interest in stakeholder-facing science;
• Motivated to conduct fieldwork in a godwit population as part of a larger team;
• A valid European driving license;
• Experience with ecological fieldwork and/or handling and ringing birds is an advantage.

Our offer

We offer you a temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of 4 years (the initial contract will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended with 30 months). The preferred starting date is 1 March 2026. This contract should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and master students. For this position the University Job Classification profile Promovendus (PhD candidate) applies. Your salary will be 3059 gross per month in the first year and will increase to 3881 in the final year based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week. In addition you will receive an 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% year-end allowance.

The Collective Labour Agreement of Universities of the Netherlands is applicable.

Besides the salary and a vibrant and challenging environment at Science Park we offer you multiple fringe benefits:

• 232 holiday hours per year (based on fulltime) and extra holidays between Christmas and 1 January;
• a complete educational program for PhD students;
• multiple courses on topics such as time management handling stress and an online learning platform with 100 different courses;
• 7 weeks birth leave (partner leave) with 100% salary;
• partly paid parental leave;
• the possibility to set up a workplace at home;
• a pension at ABP for which UvA pays two third part of the contribution;
• the possibility to follow courses to learn Dutch;
• help with registration at UvA- Housing for a studio or small apartment when youre moving from abroad.

Are you curious to read more about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits take a look here.

Where you will work

The Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) is one of eight research institutes of the Faculty of Science at the University of Amsterdam. The research at IBED aims to unravel how ecosystems function in all their complexity and how they change due to natural processes and human activities. At its core lies an integrated systems approach to study biodiversity ecosystems and the environment. IBED adopts this systems approach to ecosystems addressing abiotic (soil and water quality) and biotic factors (ecology and evolution of plants animals and microorganisms) and the interplay between those. The IBED vision includes research encompassing experimental and theoretical approaches at a wide variety of temporal and spatial scales i.e. from molecules and microorganisms to patterns and processes occurring at the global scale. The University of Amsterdam has excellenthigh performance computingfacilities. Furthermore IBED has a dedicatedcomputational support teamwith specialized knowledge of bioinformatics (geo)database management and scientific programming. IBED also works with non-academic partners to deliver transdisciplinary science for society.

The position will be based in the Department of Theoretical and Computational Ecology. TCE uses theory Bayesian statistics and modern computation to understand complex ecological systems across scales. Youll be embedded in the Theoretical Ecology and Amsterdam Movement Ecology groups working day-to-day with staff postdocs and PhD students.

If you feel the profile fits you and you are interested in the job we look forward to receiving your application. You can apply online via the Apply-button on the vacancys webpage. We accept applications until and including 1 December 2025.

Applications should include the following information (all files besides your cv should be submitted in one single pdf file):

• a detailed CV including the months (not just years) when referring to your education and work experience;
• a letter of motivation;
• a list of publications;
• the names and email addresses of two references who can provide letters of recommendation.

Only complete applications received within the response period via the link below will be considered.

A knowledge security check can be part of the selection procedure.(for details: national knowledge security guidelines)

We will invite potential candidates for interviews soon after the closing date.

Do you have any questions or do you require additional information Please contact:

• Dr. Eldar Rakhimberdiev Assistant Professor in animal-environment interaction