Postdoctoral Researcher Seagrass Restoration
Solliciteer nuPostdoctoral Researcher Seagrass Restoration
The University of Groningen invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher position within the REBORN project (Unlocking Seagrass Restoration in North-West Europe as a Blue-Green Infrastructure and Natural Capital Opportunity). REBORN is funded by the Interreg North-West Europe (Interreg NWE) programme and is led by the University of Groningen as the Lead Partner, in an interdisciplinary consortium of 11 partners across the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, France, and Germany.
Seagrass meadows are critical coastal ecosystems that once provided millions of euros in ecosystem services along North-West European (NWE) coastlines, from carbon sequestration and fisheries support to coastal protection. Today, over 50,000 hectares of NWE seagrass meadows are degraded and in urgent need of restoration, representing a major natural capital opportunity. The EU Nature Restoration Law has set binding targets to restore 60% of degraded ecosystems by 2040, including seagrasses, requiring an unprecedented scale of action.
REBORN addresses this challenge by simultaneously advancing seagrass restoration governance, practice, and capacity-building across the NWE region. The University of Groningen is the Lead Partner and Work Package 2 leader, responsible for developing and testing the REBORN Restoration Model — a novel, replicable framework for large-scale seagrass restoration — across five pilot sites. RUG’s Lighthouse pilot is located in the Oosterschelde (NL). The Govers Lab Group at RUG has pioneered seagrass restoration since 2014, currently working to develop the knowledge to scale seagrass restoration across the Netherlands and Europe.
The postdoctoral researcher will join the Govers Lab Group and play a central scientific role in the REBORN project, with a focus on restoration ecology, field-based experimentation, and knowledge transfer within the transnational consortium. They will also play a central collaborative role in the research group, with the opportunity to be engaged in all other research lines.
Postdoctoral Researcher Seagrass Restoration
Solliciteer nu
What are you going to do?
As a Postdoctoral Researcher within the REBORN project, you will take a leading scientific and coordination role across the consortium. Your responsibilities will include:
- Running and coordinating pilot and lighthouse seagrass restoration experiments across North-West Europe.
- Co-developing seagrass restoration experiments in collaboration with consortium partners.
- Contributing to the co-development of the REBORN Restoration Model, a transnational, replicable framework for large-scale seagrass restoration.
- Developing and maintaining an NWE seagrass restoration knowledge database.
- Organising and leading REBORN working groups on restoration science, methodology, and cross-border knowledge exchange.
- Contributing to the joint development of a transnational strategy to scale up seagrass restoration in NWE in line with EU Nature Restoration Law targets.
- Sharing knowledge through scientific publications (peer-reviewed journals) and non-scientific publications (policy briefs, outreach materials).
- Actively contributing to project communication activities, including social media, newsletters, and public engagement.
- Representing the Lead Partner (University of Groningen) at Interreg NWE meetings and national and international events.
- Co-organising the annual REBORN Agora networking events.
- Presenting results at conferences, workshops, and stakeholder events.
Who are you?
We are looking for a candidate with a genuine passion for marine restoration and the drive to make a real-world impact. You bring both scientific rigour and a collaborative, practical mindset to your work.
Essential
- A PhD in Marine Biology, Marine Ecology, Nature Management, or a closely related field (obtained or PhD thesis submitted at the start of the appointment).
- Experience in active marine restoration — including planning, practice, monitoring, and analysis.
- A keen interest in and commitment to marine restoration science and practice.
- Strong scientific writing and reporting skills, with a publication record commensurate with career stage.
- Experience presenting research findings at scientific conferences, workshops, or stakeholder events.
- Ability to facilitate learning and identify and foster opportunities for collaboration and impact.
- Good quantitative and analytical skills.
- Fluent in English, both oral and written.
- A collaborative mindset and strong team player, with the ability to also work independently.
- Cultural sensitivity and the ability to work effectively in an international, transdisciplinary team.
- Holistic, transdisciplinary, and practical thinker with the ability to connect science, policy, and practice.
- Enthusiastic, driven, and goal-oriented, with a proactive approach to problem-solving.
- Willingness to travel for fieldwork, consortium meetings, and events across North-West Europe.
- Willingness to engage with local communities and diverse stakeholders.
- Willingness to co-supervise MSc and/or PhD students.
Desirable
- Experience with seed-based or shoot-based seagrass restoration techniques.
- Familiarity with remote sensing tools for coastal vegetation mapping (satellite or drone-based).
- Experience with ecosystem service quantification or natural capital accounting.
- Experience working in large, multi-partner European research projects (e.g. Interreg, Horizon Europe).
- Experience with goal setting, coaching, or mentoring junior researchers.
What can you expect from us?
- In accordance with the collective labor agreement for Dutch universities, we offer a salary of at least € 4.241 (schaal 10.4) up to a maximum of € 4.728 (schaal 10.7) gross per month for a full-time employment contract.
- 232 vacation hours per year, based on a 38-hour workweek (1.0 FTE). You can also work more or fewer hours in exchange for more or fewer free hours. For example, with a 40-hour workweek, you save 96 extra free hours, and with a 36-hour workweek, you lose 96 hours.
- End-of-year bonus of 8.3% and 8% holiday allowance.
- Extensive opportunities for personal and professional development.
- A temporary appointment of 0.8-1.0 fte for 34 months (end date 30 June 2029), with no possibility of extension.
Where will you be working?
At the University of Groningen (UG), researchers from all fields of academia and technology are working on academic challenges and societal questions. Lecturers prepare their students for meaningful careers within or outside the academic world. Interdisciplinary research and teaching, sharing of knowledge, collaboration with businesses, government institutions, and societal organizations are aspects that are of the utmost importance to this European top university. The UG aims to be an open academic community with an inclusive and safe working climate that invites you to add your value.
The Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) provides teaching and research across a wide range of disciplines, from physics and biology to artificial intelligence, mechanical engineering, and pharmacy. In close collaboration with partners from industry, healthcare, and society, we contribute to the urgent challenges of our time, such as energy, sustainability, digitization, and medical technology. Our community is open and informal, with more than 7,000 students, 1,000 PhD students, and 1,400 staff members from all over the world. If you would like to learn more about the Faculty of Science and Engineering, visit rug.nl/fse.
Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES)
You will be affiliated to two key expertise groups at the GELIFES; Marine Biology and Conservation Ecology doing cutting edge interdisciplinary research in the field of marine conservation ecology.
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Application procedure
After submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation by email.
The selection committee assesses your application and you will be notified as soon as possible whether you are invited for an interview.
We would like to get to know each other better in a first interview, which can take place either online or on location.
We may schedule a second interview with you. Depending on the position, this interview can be complemented with an assessment or guest lecture.
After a positive interview, we will discuss the terms of employment together. When everything is completed, we are happy to welcome you at the University of Groningen!
Interested?
Does this vacancy appeal to you? If so, click on the button below and apply straightaway.
Please add the following documents to your application:
- CV.
- Cover letter (max. 1000 words).
- Contact details of two relevant references.
- Letter PhD supervisor for candidates who have not yet obtained their PhD.
Do you have any questions or need more information?
-
Questions about the content of the job?
Laura Govers
Associate Professor
L.L.Govers@rug.nl -
Questions about your application process?
Laura Govers
Associate Professor
L.L.Govers@rug.nl
Information about applying
When scheduling meetings, we will take your schedule into account as much as possible.
The University of Groningen considers social safety important. We strive to be a university where staff and students feel respected and at home, regardless of differences in background, experiences, perspectives, and identity. For more information, see also our page about our diversity policy.
Acquisition is not appreciated.
Our selection procedure follows the guidelines of the NVP Application Code.
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