PhD Position: Dynamic Modelling of Vegetation Responses to Nature Restoration Actions

As a result of increasing human activities across the globe, many landscapes have become degraded. In Europe, over 80% of habitats are in poor condition, and 75% of the species have a poor conservation status. Restoration is proposed as a vital strategy for the long-term and sustained recovery of biodiverse and resilient European ecosystems, but a lot is still unknown regarding the time- and context-dependent responses of species and habitats to restoration measures.

In this project you will build upon existing dynamic vegetation models to simulate the effects of different types of restoration actions on habitats across Europe. You will review existing dynamic vegetation models that can simulate recolonisation processes and vegetation succession in response to a wide range of restoration approaches—from reducing environmental pressures to implementing targeted interventions such as disturbance control or seed sowing. You will then select and further develop a dynamic vegetation model so that it can account for key external drivers, for example climate change and nitrogen deposition, on vegetation growth and development. Using this extended dynamic vegetation model, you will evaluate both the potential benefits of restoration measures and the degree to which global changes, such as shifts in climate and land use, may limit their effectiveness. Finally, you will apply the extended model to selected regions across Europe to simulate how different restoration actions are likely to influence habitat trajectories and outcomes.

These efforts will contribute to a European project focused on understanding ecological responses to nature restoration measures. Besides the research activities, you will contribute 10% of your working time to teaching activities to help you develop your teaching skills and further qualify for a career as an independent academic researcher.

Would you like to learn more about what it’s like to pursue a PhD at Radboud University? Visit the page about working as a PhD candidate.

PhD/Postdoc Position: Modelling the Effects of Nature-inclusive Agriculture and Forestry on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

The expansion and intensification of agriculture and forestry are among the primary drivers of global biodiversity loss and the degradation of ecosystem services. Nature-inclusive agriculture and forestry are proposed as strategies to conserve and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services. However, the benefits of nature-inclusive agriculture to biodiversity and ecosystem services are not yet fully understood.

In this position, you will apply meta-analytical approaches to quantify and understand the effects of nature-inclusive agriculture and forestry on biodiversity (e.g. species diversity and species abundance) and ecosystem services (e.g. pollination and carbon sequestration). You will also investigate how these effects depend on local context. Next, you will use the meta-analytical models in combination with spatial conservation prioritisation models to identify areas where restoration measures have synergistic effects on biodiversity, ecosystem services and productivity.

These efforts will contribute to a European project focused on assessing the environmental and socioeconomic impacts of nature restoration to support the effective implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation and Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. In addition to the research activities, you will contribute 10% of your working time to teaching activities in the BSc/MSc Biology programmes.

Would you like to learn more about what it’s like to pursue a PhD at Radboud University? Visit the page about working as a PhD candidate.

Postdoc Position: Evaluating the Effectiveness of National Nature Restoration Plans

Large-scale nature restoration is increasingly promoted as a proactive, positive approach to achieve long-term goals for the preservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Designing effective nature restoration plans is however challenging, because species and habitats respond differently to restoration depending on the local context, and climate change may jeopardise restoration success.

In this position, you will have the opportunity to make a contribution to help design effective national nature restoration plans through ecological modelling and data collection. The position is part of a European project focused on understanding ecological responses to nature restoration measures. Your main tasks will be:

1. Establish and analyse a database with species traits, as a foundation to understand species’ responses to restoration measures.
2. Apply a suit of ecological modelling tools to assess the effectiveness of the national restoration plans of a selection of European Member States, with a focus on the national restoration plan of the Netherlands.

In addition to the research, you will contribute to project management, for example by assisting in the organisation and reporting of project meetings, and the supervision of a PhD candidate. Furthermore, you will contribute a maximum of 10% of your working time to teaching activities in the BSc/MSc Biology programmes.

PhD Position: Dynamic Modelling of Vegetation Responses to Nature Restoration Actions

As a result of increasing human activities across the globe, many landscapes have become degraded. In Europe, over 80% of habitats are in poor condition, and 75% of the species have a poor conservation status. Restoration is proposed as a vital strategy for the long-term and sustained recovery of biodiverse and resilient European ecosystems, but a lot is still unknown regarding the time- and context-dependent responses of species and habitats to restoration measures.

In this project you will build upon existing dynamic vegetation models to simulate the effects of different types of restoration actions on habitats across Europe. You will review existing dynamic vegetation models that can simulate recolonisation processes and vegetation succession in response to a wide range of restoration approaches—from reducing environmental pressures to implementing targeted interventions such as disturbance control or seed sowing. You will then select and further develop a dynamic vegetation model so that it can account for key external drivers, for example climate change and nitrogen deposition, on vegetation growth and development. Using this extended dynamic vegetation model, you will evaluate both the potential benefits of restoration measures and the degree to which global changes, such as shifts in climate and land use, may limit their effectiveness. Finally, you will apply the extended model to selected regions across Europe to simulate how different restoration actions are likely to influence habitat trajectories and outcomes.

These efforts will contribute to a European project focused on understanding ecological responses to nature restoration measures. Besides the research activities, you will contribute 10% of your working time to teaching activities to help you develop your teaching skills and further qualify for a career as an independent academic researcher.

Would you like to learn more about what it’s like to pursue a PhD at Radboud University? Visit the page about working as a PhD candidate.

PhD/Postdoc Position: Modelling the Effects of Nature-inclusive Agriculture and Forestry on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

The expansion and intensification of agriculture and forestry are among the primary drivers of global biodiversity loss and the degradation of ecosystem services. Nature-inclusive agriculture and forestry are proposed as strategies to conserve and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services. However, the benefits of nature-inclusive agriculture to biodiversity and ecosystem services are not yet fully understood.

In this position, you will apply meta-analytical approaches to quantify and understand the effects of nature-inclusive agriculture and forestry on biodiversity (e.g. species diversity and species abundance) and ecosystem services (e.g. pollination and carbon sequestration). You will also investigate how these effects depend on local context. Next, you will use the meta-analytical models in combination with spatial conservation prioritisation models to identify areas where restoration measures have synergistic effects on biodiversity, ecosystem services and productivity.

These efforts will contribute to a European project focused on assessing the environmental and socioeconomic impacts of nature restoration to support the effective implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation and Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. In addition to the research activities, you will contribute 10% of your working time to teaching activities in the BSc/MSc Biology programmes.

Would you like to learn more about what it’s like to pursue a PhD at Radboud University? Visit the page about working as a PhD candidate.