Radboud University Nijmegen Faculty of Science, Mathematics and Computing Science
Nijmegen, (Gelderland), 40 hours per week
Job description
Within the framework of the cooperation between the Department of Environmental Science (Radboud University, RU-DES) and the Laboratory for Ecological Risk Assessment (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, RIVM-LER) methods are developed for the assessment of ecological risks of exposure to multiple physical-chemical pressures. The Department for Environmental Sciences has vacancies for three PhD positions within this framework. PhD 2: "Effect of environmental stress on ecosystem composition and functioning” In recent years, allometric theory has proven very useful in the interpretation of various ecological phenomena, including size distributions observed in ecological communities. So far, changes in size spectra as a function of physical-chemical pressures have received little attention (but see Cyr et al. 1997, Oikos 79: 333-346). In the present project, we aim to derive general rules on changes in size distributions in food webs as induced by physical-chemical pressures. To that end, existing theory (Mulder et al. 2005, Ecol. Lett. 8: 80–90; Hendriks 2007, Ecol. Modell. 205: 196-208) will be extended and tested on field observations. RU and RIVM have ample access to databases with field observations on species composition (community assemblages) and relative abundance (population densities). The available data cover various types of ecosystems influenced by different human stressors. In this project, these databases will be used to test predictions by (simple) models. Vice versa, the mechanisms that induce changes in size spectra observed in field surveys can be understood on the basis of the models developed. The field data will be analysed using statistical techniques such as multivariate analysis. The final objective is to derive concise indicators of the effect of environmental pressures, primary nutrients (C, N, P), micronutrients (Cu and Zn) and liming (increased soil pH) on community composition and ecosystem functioning.
Requirements
Required education/skills:University Graduate
The candidate should hold an MSc degree in Natural (Environmental) Sciences. A combined empirical-theoretical expertise on the impact of physical-chemical stressors on populations and communities is required. Important selection criteria are: curiosity, commitment, elementary modelling, good communication skills, good writing skills in English and experience in quantitative ecology and statistical techniques.
Job type: Research / Advising
Workfield(s):
- Research trainees, non-tenured lecturers, researchers(Scientific discipline: Natural Sciences)
Organization
Radboud University Nijmegen
Faculty of Science, Mathematics and Computing Science
Strategically located in Europe, Radboud University Nijmegen is one of the leading academic communities in the Netherlands. A place with a personal touch, where top-flight education and research take place on a beautiful green campus in modern buildings with state-of-art facilities.
The Department of Environmental Science is embedded in the Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Faculty of Science, Radboud University. Its mission is oriented around (1) scientific research in environmental issues, (2) education at BSc-MSc-PhD level and (3) service to society for regional management and (inter-)national policy. We aim to understand and assess biological responses to combined physical-chemical pressures (left and right column of Figure 1). Our efforts concentrate on: - (topics) interactions of multiple stressors, in particular physical reconstruction1 and chemical pollution, with ecosystem and human health - (aim) understanding and predicting - (geography) rivers and estuaries, in particular the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta and - (methods) theoretical concepts (models) developed in interaction with practical cases (laboratory experiments and field surveys) - (results) monodisciplinary in-depth insight and multidisciplinary overall assessment For additional information see website. The Laboratory for Ecological Risk Assessment (LER) of RIVM. The mission of LER is to provide a scientific basis for the assessment of impacts of different types of environmental stress on composition and functioning of ecosystems in their mutual coherence. The emphasis is on the fate of substances in ecosystems, the exposure of organisms en the subsequent effects on ecosystems. LER addresses its activities towards the assemblage and development of knowledge on structure and functioning of ecosystems and the effect of different types ecosystem stress there upon, individually or in combinations. Within the laboratory there is place for model development as well as experimental research. The models derived describe the relationships between environmental stress and the structure and functioning of ecosystems. These are applied in the risk assessment methods that are developed and in the decision support systems for the impacts of environmental stress on ecosystem quality. Results are applied in environmental policy and management to derive scientifically sound and effective policy measures. For additional information see website.
Date of entry: 14/05/2008
Conditions of employment
Maximum salary amount in Euro's a month 2.558
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: 4 years with go/no go decision after 1.5 years
Maximum hours per week: 40
Additional conditions of employment:
Salary scale: PhD scale
Additional Information
Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:
prof.dr. A.M. Breure
Telephone number: 31-30-2743068
E-mail address: t.breure@science.ru.nl, : ton.breure@rivm.nl
Or Prof. dr. ir. A.J. Hendriks
Telephone number: 31-24-3652932
E-mail address: A.J.Hendriks@science.ru.nl
Or additional information can be obtained through one of the following links:
You can apply for this job before 01-07-2008 (dd-mm-yyyy) by sending your application to:
Faculteit der Natuurwetenschappen, Wiskunde en Informatica
Mr. M. Frieling
PO Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, NL
E-mail: pz@science.ru.nl
When applying for this job always mention the vacancynumber 62.15.08.
Job description
Within the framework of the cooperation between the Department of Environmental Science (Radboud University, RU-DES) and the Laboratory for Ecological Risk Assessment (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, RIVM-LER) methods are developed for the assessment of ecological risks of exposure to multiple physical-chemical pressures. The Department for Environmental Sciences has vacancies for three PhD positions within this framework. PhD 2: "Effect of environmental stress on ecosystem composition and functioning” In recent years, allometric theory has proven very useful in the interpretation of various ecological phenomena, including size distributions observed in ecological communities. So far, changes in size spectra as a function of physical-chemical pressures have received little attention (but see Cyr et al. 1997, Oikos 79: 333-346). In the present project, we aim to derive general rules on changes in size distributions in food webs as induced by physical-chemical pressures. To that end, existing theory (Mulder et al. 2005, Ecol. Lett. 8: 80–90; Hendriks 2007, Ecol. Modell. 205: 196-208) will be extended and tested on field observations. RU and RIVM have ample access to databases with field observations on species composition (community assemblages) and relative abundance (population densities). The available data cover various types of ecosystems influenced by different human stressors. In this project, these databases will be used to test predictions by (simple) models. Vice versa, the mechanisms that induce changes in size spectra observed in field surveys can be understood on the basis of the models developed. The field data will be analysed using statistical techniques such as multivariate analysis. The final objective is to derive concise indicators of the effect of environmental pressures, primary nutrients (C, N, P), micronutrients (Cu and Zn) and liming (increased soil pH) on community composition and ecosystem functioning.
Requirements
Required education/skills:University Graduate
The candidate should hold an MSc degree in Natural (Environmental) Sciences. A combined empirical-theoretical expertise on the impact of physical-chemical stressors on populations and communities is required. Important selection criteria are: curiosity, commitment, elementary modelling, good communication skills, good writing skills in English and experience in quantitative ecology and statistical techniques.
Job type: Research / Advising
Workfield(s):
- Research trainees, non-tenured lecturers, researchers(Scientific discipline: Natural Sciences)
Organization
Radboud University Nijmegen
Faculty of Science, Mathematics and Computing Science
Strategically located in Europe, Radboud University Nijmegen is one of the leading academic communities in the Netherlands. A place with a personal touch, where top-flight education and research take place on a beautiful green campus in modern buildings with state-of-art facilities.
The Department of Environmental Science is embedded in the Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Faculty of Science, Radboud University. Its mission is oriented around (1) scientific research in environmental issues, (2) education at BSc-MSc-PhD level and (3) service to society for regional management and (inter-)national policy. We aim to understand and assess biological responses to combined physical-chemical pressures (left and right column of Figure 1). Our efforts concentrate on: - (topics) interactions of multiple stressors, in particular physical reconstruction1 and chemical pollution, with ecosystem and human health - (aim) understanding and predicting - (geography) rivers and estuaries, in particular the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta and - (methods) theoretical concepts (models) developed in interaction with practical cases (laboratory experiments and field surveys) - (results) monodisciplinary in-depth insight and multidisciplinary overall assessment For additional information see website. The Laboratory for Ecological Risk Assessment (LER) of RIVM. The mission of LER is to provide a scientific basis for the assessment of impacts of different types of environmental stress on composition and functioning of ecosystems in their mutual coherence. The emphasis is on the fate of substances in ecosystems, the exposure of organisms en the subsequent effects on ecosystems. LER addresses its activities towards the assemblage and development of knowledge on structure and functioning of ecosystems and the effect of different types ecosystem stress there upon, individually or in combinations. Within the laboratory there is place for model development as well as experimental research. The models derived describe the relationships between environmental stress and the structure and functioning of ecosystems. These are applied in the risk assessment methods that are developed and in the decision support systems for the impacts of environmental stress on ecosystem quality. Results are applied in environmental policy and management to derive scientifically sound and effective policy measures. For additional information see website.
Date of entry: 14/05/2008
Conditions of employment
Maximum salary amount in Euro's a month 2.558
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: 4 years with go/no go decision after 1.5 years
Maximum hours per week: 40
Additional conditions of employment:
Salary scale: PhD scale
Additional Information
Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:
prof.dr. A.M. Breure
Telephone number: 31-30-2743068
E-mail address: t.breure@science.ru.nl, : ton.breure@rivm.nl
Or Prof. dr. ir. A.J. Hendriks
Telephone number: 31-24-3652932
E-mail address: A.J.Hendriks@science.ru.nl
Or additional information can be obtained through one of the following links:
- About the organization (http://www.ru.nl)
- About the department (http://www.ru.nl/environmentalstudies, http://www.rivm.nl)
- About the function (http://www.ru.nl/environmentalstudies, http://www.rivm.nl)
- Radboud University Nijmegen (http://www.ru.nl)
You can apply for this job before 01-07-2008 (dd-mm-yyyy) by sending your application to:
Faculteit der Natuurwetenschappen, Wiskunde en Informatica
Mr. M. Frieling
PO Box 9010, 6500 GL Nijmegen, NL
E-mail: pz@science.ru.nl
When applying for this job always mention the vacancynumber 62.15.08.
