Junior researcher Land Use Change and Sustainability

Do you enjoy working with GIS and spatial data and do you want to contribute to three large projects on future forests, agriculture and biodiversity?  Please apply at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

Location: AMSTERDAM
FTE: 0.6 - 1

The Junior Researcher is expected to collaborate with a team of PhD students and staff in setting up land use models for the European scale. These models will be used to simulate land use changes in Europe, and inform science and policy on climate change, sustainable forestry, biodiversity, and agricultural sustainability. Among the many applications are the development of a trans-European network of protected areas or the envisioning of a new European-level agricultural policy. You will collect and process the data, set up the land use models starting from an existing model, and assist in the scenario analysis and its documentation. If interested, it is possible to continue this function as a PhD student.

Your duties

• Adapting and operationalizing a land use model for Europe
• Collaborate with researchers in three projects and harmonize the different project needs to build a model
• Collect and process spatial data on land use and its drivers

• Msc degree in geography, environmental science, spatial economics or similar
• Strong skills in GIS analysis and data processing; preferably also with simulation models
• Overall good IT skills
• An independent and pro-active attitude

A challenging position in a socially involved organization. On full-time basis the remuneration amounts to a minimum gross monthly salary of €2,960 (scale 10) and a maximum €4,670 (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 0.6 FTE, but a full-time employment is preferred.

The initial employment contract will affect a period of 18 months and might be prolonged.
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),
• a wide range of sports facilities which staff may use at a modest charge, contribution to commuting expenses

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 30,000 students. We employ over 5,500 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
The Faculty of Science inspires researchers and students to find sustainable solutions for complex societal issues. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to medicines and from molecules to the moon: our teaching and research programmes cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. We share knowledge and experience with leading research institutes and industries, both here in the Netherlands and abroad.

Working at the Faculty of Science means working with students, PhD candidates and researchers, all with a clear focus on their field and a broad view of the world. We employ more than 1,250 staff members, and we are home to more than 11,000 students.

About the institute
VM is a leading environmental research institute that is internationally recognized 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 research community works within four departments: Environmental Economics; Environmental Policy Analysis; Environmental Geography; and Water and Climate Risk. IVM is part of the Faculty of Science at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (www.ivm.vu.nl ). This position is based within the Environmental Geography department. The Environmental Geography department conducts interdisciplinary research on the spatial aspects of environmental and social challenges and the solutions sustainable land use can provide to these.

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

. It is preferred if you can also provide a link to your Msc thesis and the contact details of a reference (preferably your Msc thesis supervisor).

Applications received by e-mail will not be processed.

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

Name: Peter Verburg
E-mail: [email protected]

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