PhD Fellowship - Landscape Management and Trade-Offs Between Cultural Heritage, Bopdiversity and Landscape Functions 2019, Netherlands

 

Do you want to make a contribution to the sustainable management of European Landscapes? Please apply at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

Location: AMSTERDAM
FTE: 1.0

Description

The PhD position is part of the European Training Network TerraNova (H2020 ITN) in which 15 PhD fellows will collaborate to increase long-term understanding of landscape histories and land use strategies in Europe. This PhD will investigate changing human-environment interactions through time and how these impact on landscape management. Landscapes in Europe are valued for their cultural values, reflected in landscape elements such as hedgerows, stonewalls and the overall structure of the landscape. However, in the urbanizing societies of Europe tradeoffs occur between conservation of cultural heritage and novel functions and uses of landscape, i.e., for generating renewable energy. The ESR will identify in which areas of Europe such tradeoffs occur by using spatial analysis and modelling of future scenarios of landscape development. Novel management strategies for navigating these tradeoffs will be proposed and evaluated. The study will address Europe  as a whole while more detailed analysis will be made in the TerraNova case studies. Supervision will be provided by 3 supervisors from partners in the project while ample opportunities for exciting secondments will be offered.

Your duties

• analyze literature, conduct spatial analysis and modelling
• publish scientific papers
• interact and collaborate with other PhD students in the project
• interpret scientific analysis in terms of landscape management and policy implications

Requirements

• Msc degree in Environmental Sciences, (Physical) Geography, Landscape Ecology or related fields
• experience with spatial analysis and Geographic Information Systems
• affinity with quantitative analysis and modelling
• interdisciplinary skills
• work or study outside the Netherlands is an important experience of the successful candidate following the eligibility requirements of Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)

What are we offering?

• A challenging position in a socially involved organization. Renumeration according to the conditions of Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions (MSCA).
• Be part of a team of leading scientists in different fields of academia and commerce (science, landscape management, modelling and imaging techniques).
• Prestigious EU fellowship.
• Develop multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary research skills.
• Excellent training programme covering human-environment interaction, landscape histories, reconstruction, and management, energy regimes and spatial planning, among others.
• Establish a professional network in academia, business organizations and NGO’s.
• Internships and visits to different disciplinary institutes within industry and academia.

The appointment will initially be for 1 years. After a satisfactory evaluation of the initial appointment, the contract will be extended for a duration of 2 more years.
Additionally, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers excellent fringe benefits and various schemes and regulations to promote a good work/life balance, such as:

• a maximum of 41 days of annual leave based on full-time employment
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• excellent sport facilities
• contribution to commuting expenses
• optional model for designing a personalised benefits package

About Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

The ambition of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is clear: to contribute to a better world through outstanding education and ground-breaking research. And to be a university where personal education and societal involvement play a leading role. Where people from different disciplines and backgrounds work together on innovations and on generating new knowledge. Our teaching and research embrace the whole spectrum of science – from the humanities, the social sciences and the pure sciences through to the life sciences and the medical sciences.

 

For more information click "LINK TO ORIGINAL" below.