PhD: Effects of atmospheric nitrogen deposition on plant and insect diversity

Are you a highly motivated and enthusiastic ecologist who wants to uncover how nitrogen deposition affects plant and arthropod biodiversity? Are you excited by the idea of combining large-scale fieldwork across Northwestern Europe with hands-on experiments to answer a question that matters for biodiversity conservation? If so, this PhD-position could be the perfect fit for you!

Human-driven nitrogen (N) deposition is changing ecosystems worldwide. It can cause an oversupply of nitrogen in the soil and soil acidification, and shift the balance of nutrients; not just how many nutrients are available, but also the ratios between them (their ‘stoichiometry’). This changes which plants thrive, and it changes the nutritional quality of the leaves and pollen that herbivorous and pollinating insects consume. However, we still poorly understand how these changes unfold within and among plant species, or how they cascade to affect insect performance and, ultimately, insect community diversity. As a PhD candidate, you will contribute to finding this out. You will combine field studies in Northwestern European forests across a N-deposition gradient spanning the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and Sweden with greenhouse and controlled feeding experiments on caterpillars and solitary bees.

Your duties and responsibilities include: 

• Design and conduct field studies across Northwestern Europe to assess how large- and small-scale gradients in N deposition affect soil chemistry, plant stoichiometry, and plant and arthropod diversity
• Perform experiments to find out how nutrient concentrations in plant leaves and pollen affect the performance and food preferences of insect herbivore and pollinator species
• Analyse complex ecological datasets, linking soil, plant and insect variables
• Co-supervise MSc students conducting thesis research within the project
• Publish your results in a PhD thesis, as well as in peer-reviewed papers

You will work here

The research is embedded within the Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation (PEN) group at Wageningen University, which is led by Prof. David Kleijn. Daily supervision will be by Dr. Philippine Vergeer, Dr. Jeroen Scheper, Dr. Fons van der Plas (all PEN) and Dr. Wim Ozinga (Vegetation and Landscape Ecology, Wageningen Environmental Research).  

You are a team player with strong motivation for ecological (field) studies, you like to analyze complex data sets, and have a critical, curious approach to research. You are keen to publish your findings in leading international academic journals, to communicate your findings to a wide audience, and you enjoy co-supervising MSc students doing thesis research within the framework of the project. 

You also possess: 

• An MSc in ecology, environmental sciences or a related field;

• Experience with ecological field studies (e.g., soil sampling, vegetation surveys, arthropod sampling and identification);

• Advanced skills in data analysis in R;

• Excellent written and spoken English;

• A driver's license;

For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognised Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here.

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• Partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team.
The gross salary for the first year is € 3.204,- per month rising to € 4.051,-  in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project (48 months in total) if you perform well. 

We encourage development and internal mobility within our organisation. Our recruitment and selection policy sets out the conditions that apply specifically to you as a (former) employee. If you have any questions, we are happy to help.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. 

Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees. 

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family. 

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, our Welcome Center can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example housing, opening a bank account, dual career programs or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

For more information about the position, please contact Dr. Fons van der Plas, fons.vanderplas@wur.nl; Dr. Philippine Vergeer, philippine.vergeer@wur.nl
Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Jessa Rozema, Corporate Recruiter, via jessa.rozema-stol@wur.nl

Ready to apply?
You can apply directly using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.

To apply, please send the following documents (max. 3 pages in total ):

• Complete and up-to-date curriculum vitae (max. 2 pages);
• Motivation letter (max. 1 page).

The maximum length of the documents must not exceed 3 pages. If it exceeds, applications will not be considered. Additional files such as grades and transcripts are not required during this stage and will not be considered.

You can apply up to and including <DAY> <DATE> 2026. The first interviews are scheduled for <DAY> <DATE> 2026.

Additional information form
For this position, you must fill in a mandatory form which will allow us to have a comprehensive view of your qualifications and better assess your fit for it. You can access the form using the link below:

PhD: Effects of atmospheric nitrogen deposition on plant and insect diversity – Fill out form

Your prompt response will ensure that your application continues to move forward in the evaluation process. We assure you that the information provided will be kept confidential and used solely for this application process.

Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone's unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.

​The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 students and over 150,000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch the video below to get an idea of our green campus!

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.

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