Early Career Postdoc: Seagrass nursery-plant ecophysiology and biogeochemistry for ecosystem restoration

The Department of Coastal Systems (COS) at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ-Texel) is looking for a highly motivated early career postdoctoral researcher to help develop a pilot-scale seagrass nursery that will support long-term, large-scale ecosystem restoration. We are looking for an experimental scientist with a background in aquatic or marine plant physiology, ecophysiology, biogeochemistry, or a related field, who is excited to apply fundamental knowledge of plant functioning to a major challenge in coastal ecosystem restoration.

THE DEPARTMENT

The Department of COS studies integral coastal ecosystems and their populations of fish, birds, and other marine animals in the North and Wadden Seas as well as on a global scale. The department focusses on key physical, chemical and biological processes that determine the productivity and the ecological functioning of coastal areas. The coastal system is studied as a unity by considering the interrelations between the key compartments of the ecosystem (water, sediment, microalgae, macrozoobenthos, parasites, fish and birds). The welcoming atmosphere at NIOZ will provide ample opportunity for collaborations.

THE PROJECT

Seagrass meadows are important coastal ecosystems but have largely disappeared from the Dutch Wadden Sea. Active restoration is now producing promising results, yet further upscaling is constrained by the availability of seeds and plants from natural donor populations. To overcome this bottleneck, NIOZ and partners are developing a pilot-scale seagrass nursery in Lauwersoog.

Building on successful cultivation experiments and pilot trials, the project will develop a 160-m² nursery producing seeds and plants of Zostera marina and Nanozostera noltei for restoration in the Wadden Sea. A key challenge is to optimize the biological cultivation process by understanding and controlling the environmental conditions that determine plant growth and reproduction. The project thereby connects fundamental plant ecophysiology and biogeochemistry directly to large-scale ecosystem restoration.

THE POSITION

You will take a leading scientific role in developing and optimizing seagrass cultivation in the pilot nursery. Through experiments ranging from aquaria to large outdoor cultivation units, you will unravel how nutrient availability, inorganic carbon, light and environmental cues affect seagrass growth and reproduction, and how these factors can be manipulated to optimize cultivation.

In your work, you will combine hypothesis-driven experimental research with hands-on development and optimization of a new seagrass cultivation system. You will work closely with NIOZ researchers, technical staff and external project partners, and translate your findings into practical cultivation protocols for producing seagrass restoration material at scale.

THE CANDIDATE

You hold a PhD in a relevant discipline, such as plant physiology, plant ecophysiology, aquatic plant biology, marine botany, biogeochemistry or aquatic ecology, and have experience with hypothesis-driven experimental research. We particularly encourage applications from researchers with a strong background in plant physiology or biogeochemistry who are interested in applying their expertise to marine ecology and ecosystem restoration. Previous experience with seagrasses is an advantage but is not essential.

You enjoy combining rigorous experimental science with practical problem solving and are comfortable working hands-on with living plants, cultivation systems and monitoring equipment. You are able to analyse and interpret experimental data, communicate your findings clearly in English, and enjoy collaborating across disciplinary and organisational boundaries. An affinity with ecology and ecosystem restoration is essential.

NIOZ is committed to a healthy and an inclusive working environment, in which people from diverse backgrounds can contribute and develop their talents. We value transparent and inclusive decision-making and expect our leaders to demonstrate visible commitment to inclusion, awareness of bias, and cultural intelligence.

THE CONDITIONS

• Employment of this position for 40 hours a week at Royal NIOZ NWO-I for a duration of 3 years.

• Salary compliant with CAO-WVOI (Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Research Institutes) scale 10 depending on relevant experience.

• The freedom to fulfill your role and space and opportunities for your personal (talent) development with the help of the NIOZ Academy.

• 338 annualized holiday hours for a full-time 40-hour work week.

• Pension scheme via ABP, 8% holiday allowance and a year-end bonus of 8.33%.

• 2nd class public transportation travel is reimbursed 100%.

• Employment benefits plan to exchange a portion of your salary for days off or vice versa, or can be used to purchase a bicycle with tax benefits. We offer relocation expenses for employees coming from abroad and support with finding accommodation.

For additional information about this vacancy, please contact Prof. Dr. Ir. Tjisse van der Heide. For additional information about the procedure, please send an e-mail to working@nioz.nl.

Closing date for this vacancy is 15 October 2026. We aim to invite suitable candidates for an interview in November 2026.