Postdoctoral Job on Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR:MRV) at Utrecht University

Utrecht University is inviting applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher on Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR:MRV) in the Faculty of Geosciences, Department of Earth Sciences. The position focuses on the emerging field of marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) and, more specifically, on developing ecological monitoring, reporting, and verification approaches for responsible deployment of these technologies.

The research will be conducted as part of the EU-funded MAR-CO2 project, “Measurement and reporting for responsible marine CO2 removal.” The successful candidate will work with an international consortium of researchers and industry partners and contribute to field observations, laboratory experiments, ecological assessment, and the development of an ecological MRV (eMRV) framework.

This is a full-time postdoctoral position for up to 36 months, with a gross monthly salary of €3,706 to €5,760 based on full-time employment. The application deadline is 20 September 2026.

Postdoctoral Researcher mCDR:MRV — Key Details

Detail	Information
Position	Postdoctoral Researcher on Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal
Project	Measurement and reporting for responsible marine CO2 removal (MAR-CO2)
Field	Marine Science, Environmental Science, Earth Sciences, Biogeochemistry, Ecology
University	Utrecht University
Faculty	Faculty of Geosciences
Department	Department of Earth Sciences
Location	Utrecht, Netherlands
Employment	Postdoctoral researcher, 1.0 FTE
Duration	Maximum 36 months
Working hours	36–40 hours per week
Salary	€3,706–€5,760 gross per month
Salary scale	Scale 10, CAO NU
Holiday allowance	8%
Year-end bonus	8.3%
Application deadline	20 September 2026
Expected availability	From 1 November 2026
Latest intended start	1 January 2027
Degree required	PhD in Earth Sciences, Environmental Science, Marine Sciences, or related field
Project leader	Dr Cale Miller

About the Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal Research Project

Marine carbon dioxide removal is receiving increasing international attention as a potential strategy for addressing climate change. The basic idea is to increase the ocean’s capacity to store anthropogenic carbon dioxide, thereby helping remove CO2 from the atmosphere.

However, marine carbon dioxide removal is not simply a matter of increasing carbon storage. Interventions can alter seawater chemistry and potentially affect organisms, ecosystems, biodiversity, and processes that are important for human and environmental health.

The Utrecht University project therefore focuses on measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV). The postdoctoral researcher will contribute specifically to ecological MRV (eMRV), helping develop approaches capable of identifying and assessing ecological consequences associated with mCDR deployment.

Two major mCDR approaches highlighted in the project are direct ocean carbon capture and ocean alkalinity enhancement. These approaches can manipulate ocean carbonate chemistry through technologies such as electrochemical processes, enhanced rock weathering, or the addition of alkaline fluids.

Several pilot projects are already beginning in European coastal waters. At the same time, important scientific questions remain about the biological and ecological effects of these interventions. This postdoctoral project is designed to help address that knowledge gap.

What Will You Research?

As the new postdoctoral researcher, you will help integrate ecological approaches into the broader MRV framework for marine carbon dioxide removal.

A major part of the role will involve designing and conducting in situ observations at partnered pilot sites. These sites are located across different European marine environments, including the Baltic, Mediterranean, and Atlantic regions.

The research will combine field campaigns with laboratory experiments. This combination will allow the project team to investigate both real-world environmental responses and more controlled experimental responses to changes associated with mCDR strategies.

Field-Based Ecological Monitoring

The position provides an opportunity to work with several complementary observational approaches. These include:

• Deployment of passive chemical samplers
• Quantification of organic matter export
• Investigation of functional responses using eDNA
• Monitoring changes in particulate organic carbon (POC)
• Monitoring biogenic silica
• Assessment of ecological functions and biodiversity
• Field campaigns at European pilot sites

These measurements will contribute to an ecological MRV framework that supplements conventional monitoring, reporting, and verification approaches.

Laboratory Experiments

The postdoctoral researcher will also conduct laboratory research. The laboratory component will focus on benthic fluxes and how they respond to changes in overlying seawater associated with specific mCDR strategies.

This means the position combines field science with experimental research and analytical sample processing. Candidates who enjoy moving between field campaigns, laboratory work, environmental measurements, and scientific interpretation may find this position particularly relevant.

What Is Ecological MRV (eMRV)?

Monitoring, reporting, and verification are important for evaluating whether carbon dioxide removal approaches achieve their intended objectives.

For marine carbon dioxide removal, traditional MRV approaches may need to be complemented by measurements that capture ecological consequences. Ecological MRV can therefore help answer questions such as:

• How does an mCDR intervention affect marine ecosystems?
• Are there measurable changes in biodiversity?
• Do biological communities respond to altered seawater chemistry?
• Are ecological functions affected?
• Could changes have implications for human health?
• Can environmental effects be reliably detected and reported?

The Utrecht University project aims to incorporate these ecological dimensions into a broader framework for responsible mCDR deployment.

Candidate Profile and Eligibility

Applicants should have completed a PhD in Earth Sciences, Environmental Science, Marine Sciences, or a related discipline by the time the position begins.

The university is looking for a researcher who is motivated by ecological MRV and is comfortable taking responsibility for research activities. The successful candidate should be able to lead field campaigns while also working independently and collaboratively within an international research team.

Required or Relevant Experience

Applicants should ideally have experience in:

• Conducting scientific experiments
• Laboratory-based analytical sample processing
• Marine environmental physiology
• Marine biogeochemistry
• Marine ecology
• Developing or testing new approaches to data collection
• Scientific communication
• Scientific writing
• Field-based research and campaigns

A willingness to experiment with new data collection methods is particularly valuable because the project involves developing an ecological framework for an emerging research area.

English Language Requirement

Because the project involves an international consortium of researchers and industry partners, applicants need a good command of spoken and written English.

Strong scientific writing and communication skills are particularly important because the role will involve communicating research findings across disciplines and contributing to an international collaborative project.

Salary and Employment Benefits

Utrecht University offers this postdoctoral position at 1.0 FTE for a maximum of 36 months.

The gross monthly salary is between €3,706 and €5,760 for full-time employment, under salary scale 10 of the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU).

Additional employment benefits include:

• 8% holiday pay
• 8.3% year-end bonus
• Pension scheme
• Partially paid parental leave
• Flexible employment conditions
• Professional development opportunities
• Various types of leave
• Sports and cultural activity arrangements
• Terms of Employment Options Model

The university also provides opportunities for employees to invest in their professional and personal development.

Research Environment at Utrecht University

The position is based in the Department of Earth Sciences within the Faculty of Geosciences at Utrecht University.

The Faculty of Geosciences studies the Earth from its core to its surface, including human use of Earth’s spatial and material resources. Sustainability and innovation are central to its research and educational activities. The faculty has around 3,400 students and 720 staff members and consists of four departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development.

The Department of Earth Sciences covers a broad range of solid Earth and environmental Earth sciences, including geology, geochemistry, geophysics, biogeology, and hydrogeology.

Its research themes include:

• Earth & Planetary Processes
• Sustainable Use of the Subsurface
• Planetary Health & the Environment
• Climate & Life

The department has a highly international research community with more than 50 tenured scientists and over 110 PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. Researchers also have access to facilities including the Electron Microscopy Centre, Geolab, Earth Simulation Lab, and high-performance computing facilities.

Project Leader: Dr Cale Miller

The project leader for this postdoctoral position is Dr Cale Miller, an Assistant Professor in Geosciences and Earth Sciences at Utrecht University. His expertise includes ecology, marine biogeochemistry, marine biology, estuaries, and oceanography.

Dr Miller’s research focuses on coastal margin ecosystems, particularly the movement and cycling of carbon in temperate estuaries and Arctic fjord ecosystems. His work also examines benthic biogeochemical processes and environmental physiology.

His current research includes projects on carbon capacity and flux in European coastal blue-carbon ecosystems as well as research investigating the effects of ocean alkalinity enhancement on oyster larval development and mineral dissolution.

This research background closely complements the marine carbon removal and ecological monitoring focus of the advertised postdoctoral position.

Why Consider This Postdoctoral Position?

This position could be particularly attractive to researchers who want to work at the intersection of marine science, climate mitigation, ecology, and biogeochemistry.

The project offers exposure to an emerging area of climate research while addressing one of the key challenges associated with marine carbon dioxide removal: understanding and demonstrating its ecological consequences.

Researchers will also have the opportunity to combine field campaigns in several European marine environments with laboratory experiments and the development of new monitoring approaches.

For candidates interested in interdisciplinary climate research, the position provides a strong opportunity to contribute to the scientific foundations needed for responsible mCDR deployment.

Utrecht University and Life in Utrecht

The position is located at Utrecht Science Park in the Netherlands.

Utrecht is one of the country’s major cities and is centrally located within the Netherlands. The university describes the city as having a historic centre, canals, cafés, shops, and strong public transport connections. Utrecht Science Park is also connected to the city centre by bicycle and public transportation.

For international researchers, the location provides access to Utrecht University’s extensive academic environment while also offering connections to research networks across the Netherlands and Europe.

Application Requirements

Applicants must apply through Utrecht University’s online application system. Applications submitted by email will not be considered.

Your application should include:

1. Motivation Letter

Explain why the postdoctoral position fits your academic background and research interests. You should also describe how your expertise could contribute to the MAR-CO2 project and why you are interested in joining Utrecht University and the Department of Earth Sciences.

2. Curriculum Vitae

Your CV should include relevant research experience, publications, and work completed during your PhD or previous postdoctoral positions.

3. Referee Details

Provide the names and contact details, including email addresses, of at least two referees.

Reference letters are not required when you apply. If you are shortlisted, the university will contact your referees after informing you in advance.

Expected Starting Date

The position is available from 1 November 2026 and is ultimately intended to be filled by 1 January 2027.

The university states that the candidate’s possible starting date will be considered during selection. Applicants should therefore clearly indicate when they would be able to start.

This is especially important for international candidates who may need additional time for immigration procedures.

Visa and Work Permit Information for International Applicants

International candidates who require a visa or work permit for the Netherlands should take the processing timeline into account.

Utrecht University notes that international candidates may require at least four months of processing time after selection and acceptance. The university’s International Service Desk assists with this process.

Applicants should also be aware that finding accommodation in or around Utrecht is their own responsibility. The university notes that the housing market is currently tight, although its International Service Desk may be able to provide advice. Employment cannot begin without official residence registration in the Netherlands.

Application Deadline

The application deadline for the Postdoctoral Researcher on Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR:MRV) position is:

20 September 2026

The university aims to complete the selection process shortly after the deadline.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the mCDR:MRV postdoctoral position at Utrecht University?

It is a postdoctoral research position in the Department of Earth Sciences focused on ecological monitoring, reporting, and verification for marine carbon dioxide removal. The project is called Measurement and reporting for responsible marine CO2 removal (MAR-CO2).

What is the application deadline?

The application deadline is 20 September 2026.

What degree is required?

Applicants should have a PhD in Earth Sciences, Environmental Science, Marine Sciences, or a related discipline by the time the position starts.

How long is the postdoctoral contract?

The position is offered at 1.0 FTE for a maximum of 36 months.

What is the salary?

The gross monthly salary is €3,706 to €5,760 for full-time employment, under salary scale 10 of the Dutch Universities’ CAO NU.

Where will the research take place?

The position is based at Utrecht University, while field research will involve partnered pilot sites in the Baltic, Mediterranean, and Atlantic regions.

What research methods will be used?

The project combines field observations and laboratory experiments. Methods include passive chemical sampling, organic matter export measurements, eDNA functional response analysis, monitoring POC and biogenic silica, and laboratory investigations of benthic fluxes.

Are reference letters required?

No. Applicants should provide the contact details of at least two referees. Reference letters are not required at the application stage.

When can the successful candidate start?

The position is available from 1 November 2026 and should ultimately be filled by 1 January 2027. Candidates should clearly state their earliest possible starting date.

Can international researchers apply?

Yes. International applicants are welcome. Those requiring a visa or work permit should account for the required processing time and residence registration requirements.