PhD student to study pollinator modelling and monitoring

Pursuing a PhD at Naturalis in Leiden (the Netherlands) means working on research with a truly global impact — contributing directly to biodiversity. And you'll be well supported every step of the way. With 3,200 m² of state-of-the-art lab facilities, housed in a museum with more than 40 million natural history objects, dedicated mentorship, and access to our broad international network, this position offers everything you need to thrive as a scientist.

As a PhD student...

• You will find yourself in a unique research environment, inspired by passionate scientists from a wide range of disciplines (e.g., taxonomy, evolution, ecology, and geology).
• You will receive dedicated supervision from experienced researchers and work closely with several international experts and collaborators with whom you’ll regularly exchange ideas about your research. This will help you to develop a strong academic profile.
• You will build valuable connections by participating in both the academic and social activities of our PhD community.

This is what you'll be doing
You'll work on modelling and monitoring of pollinators in Dutch landscapes as part of an EU-funded Life project PolliNature. In this project, several provinces will create landscapes that sustainably maintain healthy wild pollinator populations and communities. To provide a sound scientific basis for this, you will use species distribution modelling to understand the factors governing pollinator occurrence (habitats, landscape elements, food resources, host plants) and to predict where interventions might be most useful. Then, you will perform and oversee the pollinator monitoring in areas of interventions. This may range from own fieldwork and supervising students to training of local fieldworkers and citizen science. Scientific outputs include pollinator models, review on landscape elements and pollinators, and evidence for the effectiveness of different interventions. Many of the interactions will be in Dutch, therefore fluent Dutch is a strict requirement. You can count on dedicated support throughout the process. Whether you're formulating your research questions, collecting samples in the field, analyzing data, or publishing your findings, you'll be intensively guided by your supervisor—an expert on your topic—and the research analysts in our labs. The large team includes several pollinator experts (Leon Marshall, Thomas Wood, Koos Biesmeijer), other researchers, PhD students and postdocs, as well as MSc and BSc students. In addition, our museum and our network of ministries, companies, and educational institutions offer advantages for your outreach. This allows you to effectively make your findings visible and applicable, building a successful future for both nature and yourself. #EUfunded: This is an EU co-funded project, named LIFE PolliNature (LIFE25-NAT-NL-LIFE PolliNature - 101293517), part of the EU Life Program, coordinated by the Dutch Province of Overijssel.

Here's what we have to offer

• A gross monthly starting salary of € 3,463.- for a full-time contract (36 hours).
• One-year contract, with possible 3-year extension after successful evaluation.
• End-of-year bonus of 3.4% of your gross annual salary and 8% holiday pay.
• 27 days of leave per year with full-time employment. Plus 1 extra day that you can use for a holiday that is important to you.
• Commuting allowance depending on your means of transport.
• Pension scheme via PFZW, where Naturalis pays 60% of your premium.
• Plenty of development opportunities. We support your growth and give you unlimited access to the online training platform Goodhabitz.
• Fascinating knowledge events. These help you stay up to date on the latest developments in both your own field and outside it, such as our lectures and gatherings on various (scientific) topics. You can also attend – or take part in – the fascinating internal information session Naturalis Draait Door.
• Nice extras such as discounts on software and hardware for private use, collective health insurance plans, and a bicycle scheme. You’ll also enjoy discounts in our museum restaurant and unlimited free access to our award-winning museum for you and your family.
• Fun team outings. We also get together for drinks every month, organise an annual BBQ and a fantastic New Year's party. Not your scene? That's fine too, of course. All team activities are voluntary.
• A unique work environment in a state-of-the-art building where you will feel proud to work every single day – we guarantee it!

The world lies at your feet!
Literally. Whatever your role may be, you contribute to the preservation of our planet on a daily basis. Naturalis Biodiversity Center...

• is the national research and knowledge institute and a key player in biodiversity data and infrastructures;
• houses one of the largest natural history collections in the world;
• welcomes 500,000 museum visitors per year;
• collaborates with universities, expertise centers, and museums around the world;
• has a staff of diverse colleagues in various functions and with many different nationalities, with whom you will work together in an informal atmosphere.

This is your team
Within your research group BUGS (Biodiversity Under Global Stress), you will work closely with Leon Marshall, Koos Biesmeijer, and Thomas Wood. You will also be part of our PhD community — a close-knit group of around 50 PhD candidates and postdocs with whom you can share experiences and participate in training sessions, workshops, and peer review meetings. You'll often meet in the PhD room, a dedicated space for regular interaction. And of course, for those interested, there are plenty of social activities outside of work as well.

What you bring to the table
You are capable of working independently while also proactively seeking collaboration — whether with your supervisor, fellow researchers, or external partners. You're known for your systematic and accurate approach, driven by strong perseverance. You are confident in asking critical questions to further your research and you identify opportunities, effectively engaging others with your ideas.

You are also eager to disseminate your research findings, whether through public lectures or publications. You excel at translating complex topics into engaging and accessible narratives, reaching not only the scientific community but also businesses and the general public. In addition, you possess:

• a completed Master’s degree in a relevant field, such as biology or environmental sciences;
• a strong interest in quantitative ecology and pollinators;
• many of the interactions will be in Dutch, therefore fluent Dutch is a strict requirement;
• strong proficiency in English.

Become our new PhD student

• Upload your CV and motivation letter, including the contact details of two referees in one PDF via the application button before August 25, 2026.
• Want to know more about the position before you apply? Contact Koos Biesmeijer via email, koos.biesmeijer@naturalis.nl.
• For more information about the application procedure, you can send an email to our colleagues in the HR department via sollicitaties@naturalis.nl.

We are managing the recruitment for this vacancy ourselves; unsolicited acquisition is therefore not desired.