Postdoc The value of citizen science for Ecology

Role Overview:
The Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) has a long-standing tradition of citizen science projects across departments, including bird ringing at ‘Vogeltrekstation’, volunteer-led research on smaller waters, and yearly soil biodiversity monitoring. You will contribute to developing a long-term vision on embedding citizen science across departments to create a citizen science hub within NIOO-KNAW. This includes investigating reliability, trustworthiness and validation of citizen science data in ecological research. The project enhances our understanding of how volunteer-generated biodiversity and environmental monitoring data can be reliably incorporated into scientific research and environmental policy and decision-making.

Responsibilities:
Contribute to developing a long-term vision on embedding citizen science across departments to create a citizen science hub within NIOO-KNAW. Investigate reliability, trustworthiness and validation of citizen science data in ecological research. Enhance understanding of how volunteer-generated biodiversity and environmental monitoring data can be reliably incorporated into scientific research and environmental policy and decision-making.

Requirements:
Enthusiastic ecologist with shown expertise in working in citizen science projects. Background PhD in Ecology, Environmental Science or Biology related fields. Experience in working with environmental databases, environmental monitoring and community-based research. Excellent communication skills and capable of building bridges across sectoral and research domains. Proficiency in Dutch is considered an advantage.

Qualifications:
PhD in Ecology, Environmental Science or Biology related fields. Demonstrated expertise in working in citizen science projects. Experience in working with environmental databases, environmental monitoring and community-based research. Excellent communication skills. Proficiency in Dutch is considered an advantage.

What They Offer:
Depending on education and experience the minimum salary is € 3.546 and the maximum salary is € 5.538 gross per month for a full-time appointment (scale 10 cao Nederlandse Universiteiten/KNAW). This is exclusive of 8% vacation allowance, 8.3% year-end bonus, travel allowance, internet allowance, home working allowance and pension accrual with ABP. The KNAW offers its staff an excellent package of secondary benefits. A package that meets the different needs of employees depending on their stage of life, lifestyle or career ambitions. For example, by working an extra two hours a week, it is possible to increase the number of days off from 29 to 41 days a year (with full-time employment). For a complete overview of the terms of employment, please refer to the web page: werken bij de KNAW. Applying for a Certificate of Good Conduct can be part of the employment procedure.