PhD position in Neuroscience

As a PhD candidate in this project, you will use advanced imaging and molecular techniques to investigate defensive behaviors in larval zebrafish, providing new insights into the neurons and circuits involved. During your PhD you will develop a range of research-focused and broader academic skills, including:

• Volumetric imaging: perform experiments using a light-sheet microscope optimized for live, volumetric imaging of larval zebrafish.
• Data analysis: analyze whole‑brain calcium imaging recordings.
• Spatially resolved molecular methods: apply expansion microscopy (ExM) adapted for spatial transcriptomics to identify neuronal subpopulations underlying observed responses.
• Anatomical characterization: use transgenic lines to uncover morphological and neuroanatomical features of those neuronal subpopulations.
• Scientific communication: write manuscripts for publication, resulting in your PhD thesis and present your research at local and international conferences.
• Supervision and teaching: co-supervise undergraduate and graduate student projects and participate in undergraduate teaching.

PhD: Integrated Assessment Modelling of Climate Feedbacks, Tipping Points

Climate change is driven in part by complex feedback mechanisms within both natural and human systems. Some of these feedbacks can lead to so-called tipping points: critical thresholds beyond which the climate system may shift abruptly and potentially irreversibly. These processes are not yet fully integrated into the analysis of integrated assessment models (IAMs), which are used to support policymakers in designing effective climate strategies.

In this PhD project, you will work on improving the representation of feedbacks, tipping points, and extreme events in the MIMOSA model, a flexible IAM that links climate dynamics with socio-economic processes. You will develop an inventory of critical feedbacks, translate them into model representations, and conduct uncertainty analyses to evaluate their impact on cost-effective climate pathways. You will also explore the expansion of MIMOSA with a simplified energy system module and investigate linkages with the more detailed IMAGE model.

The project is embedded in the broader EMBRACER programme, which aims to advance our understanding of climate feedbacks. You will therefore collaborate with colleagues in climate science, systems modelling, and policy analysis.

Post Doc: Integrating biodiversity data into spatial energy planning

The BIOGAIN project (Enabling biodiversity-positive transformation of energy planning towards climate neutrality), funded through the Biodiversa+ programme, brings together leading universities and research institutes from across Europe to identify pathways for biodiversity-positive energy planning.

As a postdoctoral researcher, you will focus on integrating biodiversity data and spatial optimisation methods into renewable energy planning. This involves exploring how advanced data on nature and biodiversity (derived from AI-supported monitoring and analysis of sources such as satellite imagery, acoustic sensors, and camera traps) can inform spatial planning and decision-making for solar and wind energy infrastructures. Working closely with European partners in ecology, data science, and planning, you will assess biodiversity data availability and develop methods to spatially identify areas of synergy and conflict between renewable energy and biodiversity objectives.

Your tasks and responsibilities are:

• identifying and analysing essential biodiversity indicators relevant for spatial energy planning across different European contexts;
• screening planning documents and data sources to assess how biodiversity information is currently quantified and integrated;
• evaluating additional baseline data and explore how AI-supported biodiversity monitoring can strengthen planning evidence and decision support;
• developing and applying spatial optimisation methods to identify areas of synergy and trade-off between renewable energy development and biodiversity objectives;
• collaborating with consortium partners working on ecology, data science, and governance to ensure methodological coherence and integration across work packages;
• engaging with policymakers, developers, and other stakeholders to make biodiversity data and spatial tools accessible and useful for planning practice;
• publishing scientific papers and contribute to transdisciplinary outputs, stakeholder workshops, and dissemination activities within the BIOGAIN consortium.

While the tasks in the BIOGAIN project have to be completed as outlined, you get the flexibility to emphasise your own research interests and strengths. We will provide you with the conditions and support to advance in your academic and/or professional career. Resources are secured for participation in multiple international conferences, interaction on site with stakeholders in the Netherlands and participating in project meetings on site with our European partner organisations.

Universitair Docent Strategisch Human Resource Management

Je levert specifiek een bijdrage aan het onderzoek en het onderwijs vanuit de leerstoelgroep SHRM. We zijn gespecialiseerd is in vraagstukken rond SHRM & public service performance en HRM van publieke vraagstukken. Denk daarbij aan de vraag hoe HRM en leiderschap bijdragen aan het welzijn van medewerkers en het creëren van publieke waarde. Of hoe werkgevers werknemers met een ondersteuningsbehoefte duurzaam aan het werk kunnen krijgen en houden. De leerstoelgroep SHRM is betrokken bij het Future of Work platform.

Als UD zet je je in voor (de ontwikkeling van) academisch onderwijs en je levert een bijdrage aan het verwerven en uitvoeren van (toegepaste) onderzoeksprojecten. Dit gaat deels over fundamenteel onderzoek in lijn met de USBO-onderzoeksstrategie en daarnaast om een bijdrage aan USBO advies door toe te werken naar hoogwaardig organisatieadvies. Onze opdrachtgevers en partners zijn veelal organisaties in het publieke domein zoals ministeries, provincies, gemeenten, semi-overheidsorganisaties, geprivatiseerde instellingen en andere profit en non-profit organisaties. De verbinding met externe partners kan de vorm hebben van structurele, meerjarige samenwerking. De verhouding tussen het type onderzoeksactiviteiten zal in onderling overleg worden bepaald.

USBO verwelkomt wetenschappers met verschillende disciplinaire achtergronden, theoretische perspectieven en onderzoeksbenaderingen. In alle activiteiten vindt USBO het actief betrekken van maatschappelijke partners belangrijk. In het onderzoek heb je een achtergrond in en/of aantoonbare affiniteit met het thema SHRM (in brede zin) en zie je mogelijkheden om jouw eigen onderzoek te verbinden aan de strategische ambities van het departement USBO waarin digitalisering, duurzaamheid en inclusie centrale thema’s zijn. In het onderwijs ben je breed inzetbaar, in zowel de bachelor- als de masteropleiding Bestuurs- en Organisatiewetenschap en zo mogelijk ook in het executive onderwijs (onderwijs voor professionals).

PhD position in Polymer-Extracellular Vesicle (EV) Hybrids

A promising, yet unexplored, approach to the enhance endosomal escape efficiency of EVs is to engineer hybrid delivery systems by decorating their surfaces with synthetic polymers capable of selectively disrupting endosomal membranes.

In this PhD position your role will be to design and synthesize the polymers, devise strategies to tether them to EVs, and test the obtained hybrid delivery platforms for functional cargo delivery of model- and pharmaceutically relevant cargo in vitro. Additionally, you will explore further functionalization of the hybrid EVs with nanobodies to improve their cellular uptake selectivity. In this research, you will be supported by existing expertise in EV isolation, loading and characterization (Dr. de Jong), polymeric drug delivery systems (Dr. van Ravensteijn) and nanobody-mediated targeting (Dr. Oliveira). Ultimately, you will deliver a proof-of-concept for polymer-mediated endosomal escape of EVs, paving the way further in vivo implementation.

The multidisciplinary nature and societal relevant research direction make this PhD position the ideal opportunity to develop yourself into an independent and versatile researcher which is well-versed in the latest developments in drug delivery. Additionally, you will have the chance to contribute to educating the next generation of (pharmaceutical) scientists through active involvement in the educational programmes of Utrecht University.