Postdoc Climet: Landscape limnology and methane cycling in Arctic lakes

What will you be doing 

You will be working on the CLIMET project (Climate feedbacks and methane cycling in Arctic lakes: enzymes to atmosphere).

The recent increase in atmospheric methane is attributed to an imbalance between microbial production and degradation. Methane emissions from warming Arctic lakes are an important climatic feedback loop, potentially contributing to this imbalance. Linked to warming, the terrestrial input of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and as higher influxes of glacial dust, containing elements (including rare earth metals) may be affecting methane cycling in arctic lakes. The CLIMET project team will map the impact of DOM and lanthanide-containing glacial dust on the Arctic methane cycle from the genes involved to the impact on methane emission from Greenland's lakes.

You will investigate lakes around Kangerlussuaq (West Greenland) across a gradient of DOM and dust to identify relationships among methane cycling and potential environmental drivers. The work will involve organizing and executing a lake sampling campaign in Greenland, including the collection of water and sediment samples and the operation of sensors and automated devices to collect limnological and geographical data. You will work with research assistants at the NIOO-KNAW to conduct a range of analytical measurements (nutrient auto-analyzer, TIC/TOC, IC, ICP-MS, GC-MS, HPLC). You will conduct geospatial analyses of catchment and lake bathymetric properties and multivariate analyses to identify spatial patterns and relationships among variables across the lake district. Working as a postdoc in Work Package 1 you will have an over-arching remit for drawing together different parts of the project and so will work alongside microbiologists conducting molecular analyses (QPCR, metagenomics, transcriptomics), biogeochemists conducting methane flux measurements and experiments, and palaeolimnologists conducting sediment core analyses.

What will you be contributing

• Executing a large field survey of lakes in West Greenland (July 2025)
• Planning and logistics for fieldwork and sample collection
• Executing and/ or overseeing the analysis of water and sediment samples
• Processing of field data from sensors, bathymetric and lake catchment surveys
• FAIR storage of multivariate datasets
• Geospatial analysis of lake catchments and bathymetries
• Multivariate analysis of lake survey data incorporating molecular data
• Contribute to the development of the project as it evolves
• Closely collaborate and coordinate activities with other CLIMET team members
• Publish results in scientific journals
• Participate in outreach activities
• Contribute to maintaining a friendly, welcoming and collaborative environment within the group

What skills do you bring in

• A PhD in limnology, aquatic sciences, geography, Arctic biogeochemistry or related areas
• Excellent background in lake ecosystems, preferably in Arctic areas, documented by publications in peer-reviewed journals
• Desirable methodological skills: Experience in limnological analysis such as: water chemistry, aquatic greenhouse gases, aquatic biota (e.g. macrophytes, phytoplankton, zooplankton), dissolved organic matter, stable isotope analyses, aquatic sensors.
• Skilled and interested in numerical analyses; willing to develop in this area as necessary to deliver on the project
• Familiarity with molecular techniques is an advantage, but in the absence of these skills the applicant must be open to learning about such techniques
• Excellent organizational skills and leadership potential
• An integrative and collaborative personality with enthusiasm for actively participating in the CLIMET team and to the NIOO-KNAW community.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and spoken.
• Prepared to spend a month doing field research in Greenland and to take responsibility for the fieldwork team
• Familiarity with challenging fieldwork and the risk assessment process
• Full driving license (equivalent to Dutch rijbewijs B)
• Familiar with limnological sampling on small boats

What do we offer

A 4-year position (1FTE) within the Department of Aquatic Ecology, with a preferred starting date of June 1, 2025.

You will be based at NIOO-KNAW and part of a multidisciplinary team (NIOO-KNAW, Radboud University (Nijmegen), Utrecht University) and will be closely cooperating with 3 other post-doc, 3 PhD students and a technician recruited on this project. There will be ample training opportunities including those offered by the KNAW, the Graduate School PE&RC which is available to postdocs and cohort-building activities offered by the CLIMET consortium. 

Information

For more information please contact prof. Suzanne McGowan (tel. +31 317 473 537, email s.mcgowan@nioo.knaw.nl). Information on the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) can be found at the website: http://www.nioo.knaw.nl/

Applications

Your application, in English, should include a cover letter detailing your motivation for and expectations from this position, your CV and contact information for two references.

The closing date for application is Monday 28 April 2025. Interviews will take place on Monday 12 May.

Terms of employment

Depending on education and experience the minimum salary is 3.378 and the maximum salary is 5.331 gross per month for a full-time appointment (scale 10 cao Nederlandse Universiteiten/KNAW). This is exclusive of 8% vacation allowance, 8.3% year-end bonus, travel allowance, internet allowance, home working allowance and pension accrual with ABP.

The KNAW offers its staff an excellent package of secondary benefits. A package that meets the different needs of employees depending on their stage of life, lifestyle or career ambitions. For example, by working an extra two hours a week, it is possible to increase the number of days off from 29 to 41 days a year (with full-time employment).  

For a complete overview of the terms of employment, please refer to the web page: werken bij de KNAW.

Applying for a Certificate of Good Conduct can be part of the employment procedure.

Diversity & Inclusion

The KNAW considers a working environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated of great importance. A working environment in which attention is paid to individual quality and where development opportunities are paramount. Together we strive for an inclusive culture in which we embrace differences. We would therefore like to invite candidates who want to contribute to this through their background and experience. In the event of equal suitability, preference will be given to the candidate who thus enhances diversity within the Academy.

We will not respond to any supplier enquiries based on this job advertisement.