The Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) of VU University Amsterdam invites applications for:
Postdoc Global Land Use Modelling f/m
For 1.0 fte
Vacancy number: 1.2010.00122
The applicant will be based in the Department of Spatial Analysis and Decision Support at the Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM). This department is an international research group of about thirty researchers, faculty members and PhD students. The department has a leading role in spatial analysis of complex environmental issues from an interdisciplinary perspective. The group works on a wide range of topics studying how socio-economic and biophysical processes lead to the emergence of spatial patterns. Research topics include adaptation to climate change, mapping and modeling of ecosystem services and the development of methods for spatial analysis and decision support. The group aims at publishing high-quality interdisciplinary research in peer-reviewed journals and works together with the other departments in IVM on economic, governance and environmental issues.
Tasks
The central role of land use in global change and integrated environmental assessment makes an adequate representation of land use change processes in global scale models necessary. The focus of most current land use modelling is on changes in land cover (e.g., deforestation) while also more subtle changes in management of the land can have large environmental impacts and affect Earth system processes For this postdoc project the specific objective is to create a new, innovative, method for land-use modelling at global scale based on a high-resolution representation of land use systems. This conceptual model should potentially benefit multiple integrated assessment models. The researcher will build a new global scale land use model and parameterize this model based on a global level land use systems classification. An international workshop needs to be organized to discuss the set-up of the model and link the approach with regional scale land use models. The results will be published in peer-reviewed journals.
Requirements
A completed PhD degree in the field of spatial analysis; environmental or ecological modelling;
Affinity with an interdisciplinary working environment;
Excellent research and publication skills, proven by past accomplishments;
Experience with modeling and programming.
Further particulars
The appointment will be for a period of 2 years. You can find information about our excellent fringe benefits of employment at www.workingatvu.nl
Salary
The salary will be in accordance with university regulations for academic personnel, and depending on experience, range from a minimum of € 2.379,- gross per month (salary scale 10) up to a maximum of € 4.374,- gross per month (salary scale 11) based on a fulltime employment.
Information
For additional information or a full project description please contact:
Prof. Dr. Peter Verburg
Phone number +31 (0)20 59 83594
E-mail: [email protected]
Application
Applicants are requested to write a letter in which they describe their abilities and motivation, accompanied by a curriculum vitae and one or two references before the 24th of May 2010.
Written applications should be addressed to the Vrije Universiteit, Dr. J.M.R.M. Neutelings, Managing Director, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands or by e-mail to [email protected], with the vacancy number on the letter and the envelope, or in the e-mail subject line.