Postdoctoral researcher on Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR:MRV)

Earthsciweek; Utrecht; Hybrid; EUR 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

8% holiday bonus

8.3% end-of-year bonus

Job summary

Utrecht University is seeking a Postdoctoral researcher on Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR:MRV) to join the Department of Earth Sciences. The role involves integrating ecological MRV approaches, designing in situ studies, and collaborating with an international consortium to assess eMRV frameworks within MAR-CO2 projects.

The position is fully funded for up to 36 months with a competitive gross monthly salary and attractive CAO benefits.

Qualifications

• PhD in Earth Sciences, Environmental Science or Marine Sciences or related field.
• Experience in conducting experiments and analytical sample processing.
• Theoretical background in marine biogeochemistry and ecology.
• Excellent communication and scientific writing skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead field campaigns and coordinate in situ observation studies.
• Design and implement MRV approaches for marine carbon removal research.
• Collaborate with international partners across pilot sites in Europe.
• Publish findings and present at national and international forums.

Skills

Experiments

Marine physiology

Biogeochemistry

Ecology

Scientific writing

Communication

Education

PhD in Earth Sciences

PhD in Environmental Science

PhD in Marine Sciences

Job description

Postdoctoral researcher on Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR:MRV)

Utrecht University has great ambitions for its teaching quality and study success rates. This also applies to its clear research profiles which are centred around four themes: Dynamics of Youth, Institutions, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Utrecht University plays a prominent role in our society and contributes to finding the answers to topical and future societal issues.

UU wishes to be a home for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.

Postdoctoral researcher on Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR:MRV)

The Department of Earth Sciences is looking for a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher candidate with a background in Earth, Environmental or Marine Sciences or other appropriate fields. You will work on the project: "Measurement and reporting for responsible marine CO 2 removal (MAR-CO 2 )".

Marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) is becoming an internationally recognised strategy as a way to mitigate climate change by increasing the ocean's capacity to store anthropogenic CO 2 emissions. Several strategies such as (1) direct ocean carbon capture, and (2) ocean alkalinity enhancement, manipulate ocean carbonate chemistry via electrochemical methods or alkalinity addition (enhanced rock weathering or via alkaline fluids), respectively. Both methods are beginning early pilot trail stages throughout European coastal waters; however, scientific research is lacking with respect to assessing the biological and ecological impacts of these mCDR approaches.

This EU-funded project is in collaboration with an international consortium of researchers and industry partners that will assess mCDR via monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV). Specifically, as the new postdoctoral researcher you will integrate ecological MRV (eMRV) approaches, that are essential for the deployment of mCDR strategies, via the assessment of ecological functions, biodiversity impacts, and potential consequences for human health effects. You will help design, implement, and conduct in situ observation studies with partnered pilot sites (in the Baltic, Mediterranean, and Atlantic) complemented with laboratory experiments to build an eMRV framework supplementing traditional MRV. Observational approaches include deployment of passive chemical samplers, quantifying organic matter export, examining eDNA functional responses, and monitoring shifts in POC and biogenic silica. Laboratory studies will target the response of benthic fluxes associated with changes in overlying seawater based on pilot site mCDR strategy.

Qualifications

We seek candidates who are motivated about eMRV research, can lead field campaigns, and are self-driven and can work independently and with a team. Applicants should hold a PhD degree in Earth Sciences, Environmental Science, Marine Sciences or a related discipline by the time the position starts.

More specific, you have:

• Experience in conducting experiments and performing analytical sample processing (lab work);
• A theoretical background in marine environmental physiology, biogeochemistry, and ecology;
• Willingness to experiment with new data collections;
• Excellent communication and (scientific) writing skills.

Due to the international character of our research, good command of spoken and written English is essential. We highly encourage applicants from all members of our community and of diverse backgrounds to join us. Your possible starting date will be taken into account in the selection procedure.

Knowledge security screening can be part of the selection procedures of academic staff. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology.

Terms of employment

We offer:

• a postdoctoral position (1.0 FTE) for max. 36 months.
• a full-time gross salary between € 4,251 and € 4,925 in scale 10.3 - 10.7 of the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities (CAO). The starting level will be based on relevant experience since obtaining the PhD degree;
• 8% holiday bonus and 8.3% end-of-year bonus;

In addition to the collective employment conditions, Utrecht University has a number of its own arrangements. These include agreements on professional development, leave arrangements, sports and cultural schemes, and you get discounts on software and other IT products. We also give you the opportunity to expand your terms of employment through the Employment Conditions Selection Model. This is how we encourage you to grow. For more information, please visit working at Utrecht University .

About the organisation

Utrecht University's Faculty of Geosciences studies the Earth: from the Earth's core to its surface, including man's spatial and material utilisation of the Earth - always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With a population of 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the Faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty is organised in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Physical Geography, Sustainable Development, and Human Geography & Spatial Planning.

The Department of Earth Sciences conducts teaching and research across the full range of the solid Earth and environmental Earth sciences, with activities in almost all areas of geology, geochemistry, geophysics, biogeology and hydrogeology. Our key research themes are Earth & Planetary Processes, Sustainable Use of the Subsurface, Planetary Health & Environment, and Climate, Life & Oceans. The department hosts a highly international tenured staff of over 50 scientists and more than 110 PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. We house or have access to a wide variety of world-class laboratories, among which are UU's Electron Microscopy Centre , the Geolab , and the Earth Simulation Lab . We also have excellent High-Performance Computing facilities.

Utrecht is the fourth largest city in the Netherlands with a population of nearly 360,000 and forms a hub in the middle of the country. Its historical city centre and its modern central station can easily be reached from our campus in Utrecht Science Park by public transport or by a 15-minute bicycle ride. Utrecht boasts beautiful canals with extraordinary wharf cellars housing cafés and terraces by the water, as well as a broad variety of shops and boutiques.

We aim to complete the selection procedure shortly after the application deadline of September 20 th , 2026. The position is available from November 1 st , 2026, and should ultimately be filled by January 1 st , 2027. Thus, your possible starting date will be taken into account in the selection procedure, so clearly indicate when you think that you can start.

In that perspective, note that international candidates that need a visa/work permit for the Netherlands require at least four months processing time after selection and acceptance. This will be arranged with help of the International Service Desk (ISD) of our university. Finding appropriate housing in or near Utrecht is your own responsibility and, unfortunately, we must warn that it is a tight market at the moment. In case of general questions about working and living in The Netherlands, please consult the Dutch Mobility Portal .

Online screening may be part of the selection.

Please mention EARTHWORKS when responding to this advertisement.