Postdoctoral Fellow in Integrative Taxonomy: Genomics and AI

1000scholars; Leiden; On-site; EUR 42,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

One-year contract

Pension scheme via PFZW

Unlimited access to training platform

Job summary

Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden invites applications for a Postdoctoral Fellow position. You will conduct cutting-edge research at plant genomics and AI, publish in high-profile journals, and contribute to ARISE, AcellARISE and eDentity programs.

The role includes collaboration with the Tropical Botany group and access to state-of-the-art facilities, mentoring students, and opportunities for international presentations. A PhD in genomics and strong coding skills are required.

Qualifications

• Completed PhD in genomics, ideally with plants.
• Strong coding skills in Bash and Python, with public repository links.
• Experience publishing and presenting scientific findings.

Responsibilities

• Conduct cutting-edge research at the intersection of plant genomics and AI.
• Collaborate to apply for funding and grants with the Research Coordination Office.
• Build international networks and contribute to teaching and mentorship.
• Publish results in high-profile journals and present at conferences.
• Develop and implement bioinformatic pipelines for genome-wide analyses.

Skills

Genomics research

AI modeling

Bash

Python

English proficiency

Collaboration

Education

PhD in Genomics or related field

Tools

Snakemake

GitHub

Linux HPC

Job description

Have you completed your PhD? Are you eager to enrich your knowledge on biodiversity as a postdoc? Then Naturalis in Leiden is the place for you.

Pursuing a postdoc at Naturalis means working on research with a truly global impact — contributing directly to biodiversity. With state‑of‑the‑art museum collections and lab facilities, many inspiring colleagues, and access to our international network, Naturalis offers everything you need to strengthen your career as a scientist.

As a postdoctoral fellow...

This is what you'll be doing

• You will conduct cutting‑edge research at the intersection of plant genomics and AI.
• You have ample opportunity to apply for funding and grants in collaboration with Naturalis researchers and partners to further your research. You will receive strong support, with access to our dedicated Research Coordination Office.
• You build valuable professional connections by participating in both the academic and social activities of our PhD‑and postdoc community. Furthermore, through our collaborations with diverse partners, you will strengthen your international profile.
• As a postdoctoral fellow, you will work together with colleagues to meet the Integrative Taxonomy ambitions of Naturalis. Our goal is to have a more efficient and accurate source of species identification for difficult plant families. You will use cutting‑edge genomic and Artificial Intelligence methods from several plant families to identify novel genomic regions and further develop and implement bioinformatic pipelines. For example, using AI we see opportunities to use the genomic data to train datasets for species identification and delimitation, such as image recognition, but we are also open to your innovative ideas. Your contribution will break new ground, moving beyond current plant DNA barcoding methods to explore these genome‑wide and AI approaches in a high risk/high reward project.
• Your work supports high‑impact institutional programs such as ARISE, AcellARISE, and eDentity, which use AI and DNA samples to monitor biodiversity and identify Dutch biodiversity. Alongside shaping this research, you will actively share your discoveries through high‑profile scientific publications and international presentations. Furthermore, you will have the opportunity to mentor students and contribute to teaching, fostering the next generation of biodiversity scientists.

Here’s what we have to offer

• The salary ranges from € 3,768 to € 4,897 gross per month (based on a full‑time contract of 36 hours/week), depending on relevant experience.
• A one‑year contract, full‑time (36 hours/week)
• End‑of‑year bonus of 3.4% of your gross annual salary and 8% holiday pay.
• Time off thanks to 27 days of leave per year with full‑time employment. Plus 1 extra day that you can use for a holiday that is important to you.
• Commuting allowance depending on your means of transport.

Pension scheme via PFZW, where Naturalis pays 60% of your premium.

Plenty of development opportunities. We support your growth and give you unlimited access to the online training platform Goodhabitz.

Fascinating knowledge events. These help you stay up to date on the latest developments in both your own field and outside it, such as our lectures and gatherings on various (scientific) topics. You can also attend – or take part in – the fascinating internal information session Naturalis Draait Door.

Laptop and phone allowance.

Nice extras such as discounts on software for private use, collective health insurance plans, and a bicycle scheme. You’ll also enjoy discounts in our museum restaurant and unlimited free access to our award‑winning museum for you and your family.

Fun team outings. We also get together for drinks every month, organize an annual BBQ and a fantastic New Year's party. Not your scene? That's fine too, of course. All team activities are voluntary.

A unique work environment in a state‑of‑the‑art building where you will feel proud to work every single day – we guarantee it!

The world lies at your feet! Literally. Whatever your role may be, you contribute to the preservation of our planet on a daily basis. Naturalis Biodiversity Center… is the national research and knowledge institute and a key player in biodiversity data and infrastructures. houses one of the largest natural history collections in the world. welcomes 500,000 museum visitors per year. collaborates with universities, expertise centers, and museums around the world. has a staff of diverse colleagues in various functions and with many different nationalities, with whom you will work together in an informal atmosphere.

This is your team

You will be part of the research group Tropical Botany (Dr. Angelica Cibrian Jaramillo, Dr. Paola De Lima Ferreira) in collaboration with the colleagues from the Data Competence Center (Dr. Rutger Vos) and various colleagues from the Application Development and Management department at Naturalis. You will also be part of our PhD‑and postdoc community — a close‑knit group of around 50 PhD candidates and postdocs with whom you can share experiences and participate in training sessions, workshops, and peer review meetings. And of course, for those interested, there are plenty of social activities outside of work as well.

What you bring to the table

• You have a passion for biodiversity and genomics! Experience in genomic research is essential, ideally with plants. Knowledge of AI‑related models is desirable.
• You are capable of conducting independent research, working in an organized manner, and structuring your approach effectively. At the same time, you know when to seek help when necessary. You enjoy collaborating with colleagues and external partners, and you actively maintain both your internal and external networks. You are skilled at identifying opportunities and engaging others with your ideas. Additionally, you can translate complex topics into compelling narratives, making them accessible even to those outside of the scientific community. You have experience in publishing and disseminating research findings via scientific publications, lectures, conference presentations, or teaching.
• A completed PhD degree with expertise in genomics, ideally with plants. Knowledge of different sequencing technologies, such as target enrichment and/or genome skimming, is an advantage.
• High proficiency in coding, at least using Bash and Python. Applicants should maintain their code in a public repository (e.g. GitHub) and include the link in their application.
• Proven skills in Linux/HPC environments, open‑source genomics pipelines, and workflow management systems (e.g. Snakemake).
• Experience or knowledge of artificial intelligence, such as implementing neural network models, is advantageous, and ideally, ML/AI frameworks such as PyTorch.
• Strong proficiency in English.

This position is part of the Naturalis Fellowship program, which aims to accelerate the identification, description, and understanding of biodiversity by promoting taxonomy and research collaboration.