As PhD student in the SURPHYVE project you will investigate how feeding on bacteria contributes to phytoplankton winter survival by performing grazing rate measurements and assessing gene expression in natural winter communities, and by assessing the temperature dependence of phytoplankton resource (nutrients, carbon, bacterial prey) requirements in laboratory experiments.  

This PhD position is tightly linked to two postdoc positions within the SURPHYVE project, which will focus on the role of osmotrophy and rates of mortality in shaping winter survival, respectively. The fieldwork and some of the experiments will be performed as a team, while the PhD student will also perform laboratory experiments on their own.

Training and courses during the PhD trajectory will be offered by UvA, and by the Graduate School for Production Ecology & Resource Conservation (PE&RC).

Tasks and responsibilities:

• Conducting laboratory experiments with cultured phytoplankton strains to assess their physiological responses under controlled conditions;
• Participation in research expeditions to Svalbard, to assess phytoplankton species composition and perform field experiments to quantify their feeding rates;
• Analysis of data from laboratory experiments and field expeditions, and publication of results in international scientific journals;
• Presentation of the results in the department, at meetings of the Netherlands Polar Program, and at (international) scientific conferences;
• Supervision of BSc and/or MSc students who wish to do an internship on Arctic phytoplankton and assistance in BSc or MSc courses;
• Completion of a PhD thesis within the official appointment duration of four years.

We are looking for an enthusiastic candidate, who enjoys a combination of laboratory experiments, field studies and data analysis. You have a keen interest in marine phytoplankton ecology and are eager to perform research in polar ecosystems. You enjoy working in a team, but are also able to work independently and stay well-organized when it gets busy.

Your experience and profile:

• A MSc degree in marine biology, microbial ecology, biological oceanography, or closely related discipline;
• Experience with culturing of bacteria or phytoplankton in the laboratory, and/or with field research in marine and/or freshwater ecosystems;
• Willingness and ability to perform winter fieldwork on Svalbard;
• Strong communication and writing skills in English;
• A demonstrated ability to work with programming software such us R or Python is a plus;
• Experience with statistical analysis of large dataset and/or bioinformatics is a plus;
• Holding a driving license B is beneficial.

Techniques to be used in this research include, e.g. flow cytometry, (fluorescence) microscopy, PAM-fluorometry, isotope analysis, and proteomics. We do not expect that candidates master all these techniques from the start, but consider previous experience with one or more of these as an advantage.

A temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of 4 years (the initial contract will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended for a total duration of 4 years). This should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and master students. The preferred starting date is Spring 2026.

For this position the University Job Classification profile “Promovendus” (PhD candidate) applies. Your salary will be € 3,059 gross per month in the first year and will increase to € 3,881 in the final year, based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week. In addition, you will receive an 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% year-end allowance.

A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants.

The Collective Labour Agreement of Universities of the Netherlands is applicable.

Besides the salary and a vibrant and challenging environment at Science Park we offer you multiple fringe benefits:

• 232 holiday hours per year (based on fulltime) and extra holidays between Christmas and 1 January;
• multiple courses to follow from our Teaching and Learning Centre;
• a complete educational program for PhD students;
• multiple courses on topics such as time management, handling stress and an online learning platform with 100+ different courses;
• 7 weeks birth leave (partner leave) with 100% salary;
• partly paid parental leave;
• the possibility to set up a workplace at home;
• a pension at ABP for which UvA pays two third part of the contribution;
• the possibility to follow courses to learn Dutch;
• help with registration at UvA- Housing for a studio or small apartment when you’re moving from abroad. 

Are you curious to read more about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits, take a look here.