The Faculty of Science and Institute of Environmental Sciences is looking for a
Postdoc in modelling food system dynamics
Vacancy number: 22-247
Key responsibilities
This position focuses on developing a transdisciplinary food system model for the Netherlands within the NWA project: Transitie naar een duurzaam voedselsysteem. This model will serve as a tool to integrate and formalize the insights from the project by providing a systemic, qualitative, and quantitative understanding of effective leverage points for a sustainable food system, including social, environmental, and economic consequences.
The model will be implemented to help both overcome obstacles (e.g. lock-ins) and exploit synergies (e.g. co-benefits of radical changes for sectors) that can accelerate the transition toward a sustainable Dutch food system. This model will thus capture material networks, stocks and flows, changes in biophysical environment (yield change, biodiversity etc.) and macroeconomic responses to changing global food trade.
Key tasks include:
· Develop the structural components (production, supply chains, and trade) of the Dutch food system model;
· Quantitatively implement the knowledge generated during the participatory modelling;
· Aid in effectively communicating the tradeoffs of transitioning toward various future food systems;
· Develop future business models to ensure a viable transition toward a sustainable food system.
Selection Criteria
We are searching for a candidate with the following attributes:
· A strong quantitative background in system dynamics and environmental modelling, or a comparable background involving non-linear systems;
· Ideally has familiarity with the food system and/or an interest and understanding of sustainability challenges facing the Dutch food system;
· Has affinity with working in an interdisciplinary team;
· Has strong communicative skills.
· The following criteria are also desirable
· Knowledge of computational general equilibrium models;
· Knowledge of supply chains and business models;
· Understanding of life cycle assessment, material flow analysis, environmental input-output analysis
Research at our faculty
The Faculty of Science is a world-class faculty where staff and students work together in a dynamic international environment. It is a faculty where personal and academic development are top priorities. Our people are driven by curiosity to expand fundamental knowledge and to look beyond the borders of their own discipline; their aim is to benefit science, and to make a contribution to addressing the major societal challenges of the future.
The research carried out at the Faculty of Science is very diverse, ranging from mathematics, information science, astronomy, physics, chemistry and bio-pharmaceutical sciences to biology and environmental sciences. The research activities are organised in eight institutes. These institutes offer eight bachelor’s and twelve master’s programmes. The faculty has grown strongly in recent years and now has more than 2,300 staff and almost 5,000 students. We are located at the heart of Leiden’s Bio Science Park, one of Europe’s biggest science parks, where university and business life come together.
The Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) is positioned in the Faculty of Sciences. The core focus of CML is to perform research and education in the interdisciplinary field of Environmental Sciences. CML has two Departments: Industrial Ecology (CML-IE) and Environmental Biology (CML-EB). Presently, about 125 fte (including postdocs and PhDs) are employed at CML. CML collaborates with the TU Delft and Erasmus University in the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Centre for Sustainability (LDE-CfS), Naturalis Biodiversity Centre, and other partners.
Terms and conditions
We offer a 1.0 fte, 2 years appointment. The salary range is from € 2.846,- to € 4.490 gross per month (pay scale 10 in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities).
Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3 %), training and career development and sabbatical leave. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break.
Information
Enquiries can be made to José M. Mogollón j.m.mogollon@cml.leidenuniv.nl
Applications
To apply for this vacancy, please send an email to sollicitaties@cml.leidenuniv.nl. Please ensure that you upload the following additional documents quoting the vacancy number:
· CV
· Motivation letter
· The names and phone numbers of two referees
We will consider applications submitted before 15/05/2022 After that date we will consider application on a rolling basis, should the position not being yet filled.
Interviews will take place on the third week of May.
For more information, see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/science and https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at. Information about CML can be found at https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/science/environmental-sciences.