Postdoctoral researcher for dynamic vegetation modeling and satellite-based fire analysis- NL

Qabird; Leiden; Hybrid; EUR 40,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working options

Home-working allowance

ABP pension

8% holiday allowance

8.3% end-of-year bonus

Job summary

Leiden University, in collaboration with Utrecht University, seeks a researcher to quantify fire dynamics and its impacts on vegetation and climate at regional scales using DGVMs and advanced satellite data. This role integrates large geospatial datasets to improve non-CO2 fire emissions and albedo change modeling.

You will work within the CML Institute, engaging in interdisciplinary research across ecology, climate, and fire dynamics, contributing to INFLAMES and related NL collaborations.

Qualifications

• Experience with large geospatial datasets (ERA5, CMIP6, Sentinel, MODIS).
• Experience with complex models and high performance computing, ideally DGVMs.
• Understanding and interest in interactions between ecology, climate and fires.
• A doctorate degree in a relevant field.
• Evidence of analytical thinking and scientific writing.

Responsibilities

• Adapt the fire component of a DGVM with improved representation of vegetation fire attributes.
• Evaluate and improve modeled non-CO2 fire emissions during fires.
• Evaluate and improve modeled albedo changes after fires, including recovery and possible regrowth of vegetation.
• Make predictions of future fire dynamics and its impacts on vegetation at regional scales.

Skills

Geospatial data handling

DGVMs (Dynamic Global VegetationModels

High performance computing

Ecology–climate-fire interactions

Education

Doctorate degree in a relevant field

Tools

ERA5

CMIP6

Sentinel

MODIS

Job description

In collaboration with Utrecht University, you will quantify fire dynamics and its impacts on vegetation and climate at regional scales, combining global vegetation models with state-of-the-art remote sensing data.

What You Will Do

Changing fire dynamics will be studied using a Dynamic Global Vegetation Model (DGVM), allowing us to quantify different mechanistic processes. Using high-resolution satellite-based estimates of trace gas emissions and albedo during and after wildfire events we will evaluate and improve the modeling of fire-related non-CO2 emissions and albedo changes. This will lead to better predictions of fire extents and its impacts on vegetation at regional scales. This is a contribution to INFLAMES (https://inflames-project.github.io/), a national research project on fires, with partners from seven research institutes and universities in the Netherlands.

• Adapting the fire component of a Dynamic Global Vegetation model with improved representation of fire attributes of vegetation.
• Evaluating and improving modeled non-CO2 fire emissions during fires.
• Evaluating and improving modeled albedo changes after fires, including recovery and possible regrowth of vegetation.
• Making predictions of future fire dynamics and its impacts on vegetation at regional scales.

Where you will work

Leiden University is situated between Amsterdam (36 km) and The Hague (15 km) and was founded in 1575, making it the oldest university in the Netherlands. It houses around 35,000 students originating from 112 nationalities, facilitated by approximately 8,000 staff.

The Institute of Environmental Science (CML) at Leiden University offers a vibrant and supportive community of scientists committed to the challenges of sustainability. CML distinguishes itself for its attention to professional development in coordination with the interests of its scientists. As such, there are plenty of opportunities to learn new skills, expand your knowledge, collaborate across disciplines, and experiment in a friendly environment fully embodying academic freedom across all career levels.

The core focus of CML is to perform research and education in the interdisciplinary field of Environmental Sciences. CML focuses on the sustainable use of natural resources and preservation of natural capital and biodiversity. CML has a culture of mutual support and collaboration between researchers. CML has two Departments: Industrial Ecology (CML-IE) and Environmental Biology (CML-EB). Presently, about 150 fte (including postdocs and PhDs) are employed at CML. CML further collaborates with TU Delft and Erasmus University in the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Centre for Sustainability (LDE-CfS), and with the Naturalis Biodiversity Centre.

The Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) is positioned in the Faculty of Sciences. The Faculty of Science is a world-class faculty where staff and students work together in a dynamic international environment. It is a faculty where personal and academic development are top priorities. Our people are committed to expanding fundamental knowledge by curiosity and looking beyond the borders of their own discipline; their aim is to benefit science and to make a contribution to addressing the major societal challenges of the future. The research carried out at the Faculty of Science is very diverse, ranging from mathematics, information science, astronomy, physics, chemistry and bio-pharmaceutical sciences to biology and environmental sciences. The research activities are organized in eight institutes. These institutes offer eight bachelor’s and twelve master’s programmes. The faculty has grown strongly in recent years and now has more than 2.800 staff and almost 6000 students. We are located at the heart of Leiden’s Bio Science Park, one of Europe’s biggest science parks, where university and business life come together.

For more information, see www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/science. Information about CML can be found at www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/science/environmental-sciences.

What You Bring

A successful candidate has

• Experience in working with large geospatial datasets (e.g., ERA5, CMIP6, Sentinel, MODIS)
• Working with complex models and high performance computing, ideally dynamic global vegetation models (DGVMs)
• Understanding and interest in interactions between ecology, climate and fires
• A doctorate degree in a relevant field
• Evidence of analytical thinking and scientific writing

We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team, welcoming applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. Your unique perspectives will enrich our research and foster a collaborative and innovative environment.

What We Offer

We offer an initial one-year contract, with an option to extend for up to 2 years based on performance, following the pay scale 10 in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.

Salary ranges from € 3.546 to € 5.538 gross per month based on a full-time position.

At our institution, we believe in flexibility and work-life balance! With a full-time position (38 hours per week), you are entitled to 232 vacation hours per year, which is equivalent to 30.5 vacation days (based on a 38-hour work week). If you value flexibility, you have the freedom to adjust your working hours. For example, you could choose to work 40 hours per week, earning extra compensation hours. Alternatively, if you prefer a shorter work week, you can work 36 hours per week by using some of your vacation days to create more time for yourself. You’ll work closely with your supervisor to tailor your schedule in a way that suits both your needs and the team’s.

In addition, we offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Holiday allowance (8%) and an end-of-year bonus (8.3%)
• An attractive pension scheme with ABP, ensuring your financial well-being both now and in the future
• Extensive options for secondary employment conditions: You can explore options such as sabbaticals, paid parental leave, and the individual choices model, which allows you to exchange leave days and/or salary for benefits like an advantageous sports subscription, bicycle scheme, and childcare options
• Hybrid working options: If your role allows, you can enjoy the flexibility of working from home within the Netherlands
• Home-working allowance: You’ll receive a home-working allowance (for both workdays and internet), and the university will provide you with a laptop and support for creating a comfortable home office
• PhD student support: As a PhD student, you’ll be part of the Graduate School of Science, which offers a variety of training courses at three levels: professional courses, skills training, and personal effectiveness

We are committed to offering a flexible, supportive, and rewarding work environment, designed to help you grow both professionally and personally. For more information about the working conditions, please visit: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at/job-application-procedure-and-employment-conditions

What We Value

At the Faculty of Science, we value inclusiveness and strive for a diverse community with equal opportunities for all. We give full support to our staff in achieving their potential to become independent academic researchers and teachers. For more information about our policy on diversity and equality please go to the diversity page on our website: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/dossiers/diversity

Female researchers are also welcome to join the Researchers In Science for Equality network of the Faculty of Science (rise.nu).

Enquiries

Enquiries can be made to Prof. Peter van Bodegom ([e-mail]) or Dr. Gerbrand Koren ([e-mail])

Selection Committee

• Prof. Peter van Bodegom, full professor, Leiden University
• Dr. Gerbrand Koren, assistant professor, Utrecht University

The deadline for submissions is Monday August 31th, 2026; applications received after this date will not be considered.

The interviews will take place on Thursday September 10th, 2026. The interviews will be conducted online to ensure a level playing field for (international) applicants.