Postdoctoral / junior researcher Exploring storylines of drought-flood events via data visualisation and art-science (f/m/x)

Do you have experience with data visualisation and creative methods? Are you interested in bringing together qualitative and quantitative data on drought-to-flood events around the world? Please apply at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

Location: AMSTERDAM
FTE: 0.8 - 1

Job description

Cascading events like floods after droughts are complex hydrosocial disasters that are expected to increase in the future. In the EU-funded PerfectSTORM project (‘STOrylines of futuRe extreMes’;

https://perfect-storm.org/

), a team of scientists is studying the hydrosocial processes behind drought-to-flood events to provide the understanding needed to prevent major disasters in the future. We are using a mixed-methods approach and are collecting qualitative and quantitative storylines of past drought-to-flood risk in case studies (Peru and Kenya) and at the global level. These storylines will be combined and used in interactive storytelling workshops with stakeholders and communities to imagine different futures.

We are now searching for a researcher with a data visualisation and art-science background to join our team. You will combine and visualise our qualitative and quantitative storylines of drought-to-flood events, which are based on rich interview material and system-dynamics modelling in Kenya and Peru, and an analysis of hydroclimatic extremes and document analysis on the global scale. You will develop an interactive website and other (digital and hard copy) versions of the storylines, so that they can be used in the workshops. You will do this together with the PhDs working on the project and with external partners, who can support video-editing and website development.

We envision this to be a great opportunity for those who are interested in exploring the use of creative methods in data and water science. We also offer opportunities to further develop skills in outreach to scientific and non-scientific audiences and in project management and organisation. We prefer a postdoctoral researcher, but are also open to applicants without a PhD. So if you are an interdisciplinary data-visualisation expert / science-artist with an Master’s degree (instead of PhD) and fulfil the other required skills and interests, please consider applying and if you are selected we can discuss adapting the position to a junior researcher.

Your duties

• combine quantitative and qualitative data into storylines of drought-flood events
• visualise these storylines on an interactive website and in other (digital and hard copy) forms
• explore creative methods and art-science
• write and contribute to scientific papers and other dissemination activities
• work with the team members and project partners, and support the PhDs
• support the project administration and management

Requirements

• a PhD (or MSc) degree:
  • in geography, earth or environmental science, with a strong data visualisation expertise and interest in creative methods; or
  • in computer science on data science, with expertise and/or interest in interdisciplinary water science and art; or
  • in science communication or art & science, with expertise and/or interest in interdisciplinary water science and data visualisation
• experience with data visualisation and with combining quantitative and qualitative data
• programming skills (in R or Python) or GIS skills
• experience (or demonstrable interest) in website development and content editing and/or working with partners who can support this
• experience (or demonstrable interest) in using art or developing/using creative tools to explore data and communicate scientific knowledge
• experience in (scientific) publishing and outreach, exemplified by relevant and good quality publications, science-policy briefs, websites, artistic pieces, etc. (ideally a combination of different types of outreach)
• good collaboration and communication skills to work in a larger multidisciplinary team and with international partners

Note:

we are always looking for people who can enrich our institute with unique perspectives and experiences. We actively encourage you to apply if you are from an underrepresented group in academia. We welcome applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds (including gender, LGBTQIA+, ethnicity, culture, ability, neurodiversity and minority identities), which we acknowledge enhances the quality of our research and education. Since women and other minoritized groups tend to refrain from applying when they do not tick all the boxes, we encourage you to apply even if you do not feel that you have all of the requirements listed above.

What are we offering?

An exciting 2-year researcher position in a socially involved organisation with a supportive project team and an active early-career scientist community. The salary will be in accordance with university regulations for academic personnel and on full-time basis amounts to a minimum gross monthly salary of €3,226 (scale 10) and a maximum €5,090 (scale 10), depending on your education and experience. The job profile: is based on the university job ranking system and is vacant for at least 0.8 FTE.

The appointment will be for 2 years.
Additionally, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers excellent fringe benefits and various schemes and regulations to promote a good work/life balance, such as:

• a maximum of 41 days of annual leave based on full-time employment
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• solid pension scheme (ABP)
• contribution to commuting expenses
• optional model for designing a personalized benefits package

About Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

The ambition of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is clear: to contribute to a better world through outstanding education and ground-breaking research. We strive to be a university where personal development and commitment to society play a leading role. A university where people from different disciplines and backgrounds collaborate to achieve innovations and to generate new knowledge. Our teaching and research encompass the entire spectrum of academic endeavor – from the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences through to the life sciences and the medical sciences.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is home to more than 31,000 students. We employ over 5,000 individuals. The VU campus is easily accessible and located in the heart of Amsterdam’s Zuidas district, a truly inspiring environment for teaching and research.

Diversity
We are an inclusive university community. Diversity is one of our most important values. We believe that engaging in international activities and welcoming students and staff from a wide variety of backgrounds enhances the quality of our education and research. We are always looking for people who can enrich our world with their own unique perspectives and experiences.

The Faculty of Science
Working at the Faculty of Science means working together with students, PhD candidates and scientists who are focused on their discipline, yet also have a broad view of the world. We are proud of the collegial working environment within the faculty, which is characterised by an ambitious and pragmatic attitude with commitment to the bigger picture. At the Faculty of Science, scientists and students work on fundamental and complex social issues for a sustainable and healthy future. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to malnutrition, from genetics to pharmaceuticals and from molecules to the moon: our teaching and research cover the full breadth of the natural sciences. Scientific teaching and research is highly experimental, technical, computational and interdisciplinary in nature. This is why we collaborate extensively with leading research institutes and industry. The faculty has over 11,000 students studying across 40 educational programmes and employs over 1,600 staff spread over 10 scientific departments, making us the largest science faculty in the Netherlands.

About the institute
Established in 1971, IVM is a leading environmental research institute that is internationally recognised for its high quality research output in a range of environmental disciplines, as well as for its interdisciplinary work. The mission of the institute is to contribute to sustainable development and care for the environment through scientific research and teaching. IVM aims to do excellent problem-oriented research that is useful to a wide range of stakeholders in the Netherlands and internationally. A unique strength of our research is to understand sustainability problems in their social and economic context. IVM’s research community works within four departments: Environmental Economics; Environmental Geography, Environmental Policy Analysis; and Water and Climate Risk. Since 2001 IVM has been part of the Faculty of Science at VU Amsterdam (legal name Stichting VU).

The department of Water and Climate Risk studies hydrological and climate processes, and how these processes lead to risks and opportunities for society, the economy, and the environment. A defining characteristic of the department is a multidisciplinary approach that combines expertise from natural sciences with knowledge from the fields of economics, e-Science and geography. This approach has led to a unique research portfolio of water and climate risk projects, and the department is a global leading institute in flood and drought risk assessment, and risk management research.

Application

Are you interested in this position? Please apply via the application button and upload your curriculum vitae and cover letter by 

10 January 2024

. 

Submitting a diploma and a reference check are part of the application process.

Applications received by e-mail will not be processed.

Vacancy questions
If you have any questions regarding this vacancy, you may contact:

Name: Dr Anne van Loon
Position: Associate Professor Drought Risk
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.vu.nl/ivm

No agencies