PhD position on local food web dynamics within offshore wind farms

PhD position on local food web dynamics within offshore wind farms in the North Sea POWER (Progress in Offshore Wind Ecological Research) consortium.

As offshore wind farms rapidly expand in the North Sea, mitigating their ecological impact on marine ecosystems is critical. The North Sea POWER project addresses this challenge by filling vital knowledge gaps regarding underwater noise, biomass and water flows, and wildlife disturbance (such as seabirds and bats) to support a sustainable green energy transition. By reducing uncertainty in models and identifying effective mitigation options, North Sea POWER supports offshore wind development that protects marine ecosystems while contributing to a sustainable energy future. 

The project is funded through the Dutch Research Agenda (NWA), developed in collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy. 

Led by Wageningen University & Research, the project brings together a transdisciplinary consortium of leading academic institutions, societal stakeholders, conservation organisations, and energy sector partners. More about the consortium.

This position is one of twelve PhD and postdoc positions across the consortium. You will be part of a team working on shared questions, with joint meetings, fieldwork and training alongside your own project. You will be hosted at Wageningen Marine Research in Den Helder, where you will study how fouling communities in offshore wind farms affect local food web dynamics and carbon cycling in close collaboration with Wageningen University. Part of the molecular lab work will be performed in the lab of Marine Animal Ecology in Wageningen. 

Are you interested in how biofouling communities in offshore wind farms affect local food web dynamics and carbon cycling? 

We are looking for a motivated PhD candidate to join our research team on biofouling with a focus on quantifying how biofouling communities influence primary and secondary production and blue carbon sequestration in the seabed. By combining laboratory experiments, in-situ fieldwork observations, and ecosystem modelling, your work will help refine current ecosystem-scale models and inform environmental impact assessments. 

Your duties and responsibilities include: 

• conduct laboratory experiments to measure and quantify grazing rates, carbon biomass, prey preferences, particle export, and faeces sinking velocity rates across different fouling species;
• execute field surveys from research vessels;
• integrate empirical data into conceptual models;
• publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and present them at national and international conferences;
• mentor BSc/MSc students. 

Your team 

You will be part of Wageningen Marine Research (WMR – Den Helder), as a member of the Theme Team North Sea Reefs with Dr. Joop Coolen, and Dr. Ninon Mavraki as your daily supervisors, and you are also part of the Marine Animal Ecology Group (MAE) supervised by the Associate Professor Reindert Nijland at Wageningen University and Research. In Den Helder a broad group of scientists, analysts, field workers and students work on a variety of topics, such as benthic ecology, seals, seabirds, bats and other species. You will be a member of the theme team North Sea Reefs, with multiple colleagues specialising in the ecology of natural and artificial reefs in the North Sea. Furthermore, you will have the opportunity to design experiments involving molecular tools, such as eDNA and DNA metabarcoding, which then will be performed at the molecular laboratory of MAE in Wageningen University. 

You will work here 

The position is available within Wageningen University & Research at the Marine Animal Ecology group. The organisation has good and flexible employment conditions, including good education and training facilities for PhD students. Your working location will be at Wageningen Marine Research in Den Helder, the Netherlands, where the daily supervisors Joop Coolen and Ninon Mavraki are located. WMR is an applied research institute with 3 locations (Den Helder, IJmuiden and Yerseke) in the Netherlands. Research areas in Den Helder include coastal and offshore North Sea, tropics and (ant)arctic regions. In addition to ecological research, WMR advises the government regarding protection of species and habitats, pollution, and other anthropogenic interactions with ecology, and collaborate with industry, i.a. to study nature inclusive designs. Facilities in Den Helder in addition to offices, include a benthic lab, eco-analysis lab, climate rooms, mesocosms and algae culture facilities. Additionally, WMR has an experimental hard substrate garden in the marina on the island of Texel. 

You are/have the following:

• you have a master’s degree (or graduation before appointment date) in Biology, Marine Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, or another closely related field;
• you have experience with hands-on laboratory experiments and ecological fieldwork;
• you have demonstrated background or strong interest in ecological modelling and data analysis;
• you have a strong interest in marine ecology and multidisciplinary research;
• you also have strong collaborative skills and are willing to work with a diverse group of scientists, technicians, and project stakeholders with various backgrounds. 

Furthermore, you have strong quantitative and preferably technical skills, and the ability to work independently in a challenging environment. 

You also possess: 

you have a proactive, inquisitive, enthusiastic, creative and self-reliant mind-set and you are strongly motivated to obtain a PhD degree. 

Finally, you are excellent in written and oral communication skills in English (a minimum of CEFR C2 level language proficiency). For more information about this proficiency level, please visit our special language page.

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 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.

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. Reindert Nijland, via email: reindert.nijland@wur.nl. 

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Noorien Abbas, Corporate Recruiter, via email: recruitment.asg@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 October 20, 2026. The first interviews (online) are scheduled for Thursday, November 5th 2026, and potential second round in person interviews on location in Den Helder are scheduled on Friday, November 13th, 2026.

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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