Naturalis has a job opening for a Postdoctoral Fellow to study Biosignatures in Stromatolites, 36 hours a week.
About us
Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden is the Dutch national research institute for biodiversity and systematics. With our collection of 42 million specimens, one of the world's largest natural history collections, and our state-of-the-art research facilities we offer the (inter)national research infrastructure for species, identification and monitoring (for example in the ARISE and DiSSCo projects). We closely collaborate with many Dutch universities, research institutes, industry, and government. We host over 120 researchers including 15 academia embedded professors and 40 PhD students. We present the history of our planet, and the diversity of life on Earth, through permanent and temporary museum exhibitions, educational programmes, and online presence, with more than 400,000 visitors per year. All in all, a unique combination of science and culture in the Netherlands and elsewhere in the world!
The research department is organised in 8 research groups comprising researchers and their postdocs and PhD-students. The current position will be in the research group Marine Biodiversity, led by Prof. Willem Renema. Naturalis has a completely new lab building, including state-of-the-art molecular facilities, microCT scanners, micro-XRF and electron microscopy (SEM and TEM).
Position
This position will focus on gathering an extensive, high-quality database of biosignatures in stromatolites and other layered structures, with the ultimate goal of contributing to a universal framework for biogenicity testing applicable to both Earth and extraterrestrial environments. This innovative project is at the intersection of paleobiology, geochemistry, and planetary science.
The successful candidate will collect and analyze known biogenic stromatolite and microbialite as well as known abiogenic layered structures from renowned sediment- and mineralogic museum collections, primarily from the MNHN in Paris, and Naturalis in Leiden. The study of the samples will allow comparison of biogenic and abiogenic stratified structures, using advanced techniques notably micro-CT, micro-XRF, optical microscopy, and various other imaging and geochemical methods. Quantifying key parameters such as fabric, layering patterns, porosity, and chemical variations in the samples will make it possible to propose distinctions between biogenic and abiogenic structures.
The gathered database and relevant parameters will subsequently be used to apply multivariate statistical methods and machine learning tools in order to define and refine robust biosignatures. This work involves collaboration with experts across disciplines in order to integrate the results into a generalized framework for identifying biosignatures on Earth and in extraterrestrial settings. The project will contribute to our general understanding of macroscopic biosignatures in ancient geological terrains hosting the first traces of life on Earth, and their implications for astrobiology and planetary exploration.
The postdoctoral project is part of the Human Frontiers Science Program (HFSP) Project "Unambiguous Biosignatures for Life Detection", led by Prof. Henderson Cleaves (Howard University, Washington DC, USA), Dr. Sean McMahon (University of Edinburgh, UK), and Dr. Mark van Zuilen (Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, The Netherlands). The researcher will be part of the research team of Dr. Mark van Zuilen in the Marine Biodiversity Group (Prof. Willem Renema), Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden.
The candidate is expected to work synergistically within the HFSP project, interacting with researchers in Edinburgh and Washington DC.
The Postdoc project will be carried out at Naturalis in the Marine Biodiversity group (Leiden), with frequent visits to the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (MNHN) in Paris.
General requirementsand skills
- A PhD in geology, paleobiology, geochemistry, or a related field.
- Strong expertise in microscopy, imaging techniques, and/or geochemical analysis.
- Familiarity with building, curating, or analyzing large databases; previous experience in database management is a strong asset.
- Experience with data analysis, statistical methods, or machine learning is highly desirable.
- A demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively in multidisciplinary environments.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present findings to diverse audiences.
We are looking for a candidate with excellent knowledge of the English language (written and verbal), as well as a scientific and critical attitude, outstanding time management and organisational skills, and the ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within the project consortium and the Naturalis research group.
The candidate should have good communication skills and be enthusiastic to contribute to knowledge dissemination and outreach activities within the project. Experience with supervising student projects is an advantage.
We offer
A contract (36 hours per week) for a period of one year, to be possibly extended with one year and a monthly starting salary between € 3,641.00 and € 4,731.00, depending on relevant experience. You also get an allowance for travel expenses, holiday allowance (8%) and year-end bonus (3.4%). The starting date is between February and April 2025. Naturalis Biodiversity Center offers an inspiring working atmosphere with effective and efficient supervision of our PhD and Postdoc candidates. Our Research Coordination Office also provides ample support to our scientific staff. Our institute promotes gender equality and wants to enhance the diversity of staff members. Feel free to contact Dr. Mark van Zuilen (mark.vanzuilen@naturalis.nl) with questions about the position. For procedural questions related to the application please contact HR: sollicitaties@naturalis.nl.
Procedure
Applicants are invited to submit their application in one pdf, including a cover/motivation letter (max. 1 page) and CV (max. 2 pages) and the names and contact details of two referees.
Please use this form for your application no later than December 18th. Interviews are foreseen to take place in the first two weeks of January 2025.
Naturalis endorses the Cultural Diversity Code. In the case of equal suitability, preference is given to the candidate who reinforces diversity within the team.
If you are a recruiting agency, please do not contact us.