About the position

The PHYVIR project: One of the major challenges in oceanography is how to capture biological processes in mathematical models used for e.g. climate predictions. Despite their minute size, marine phytoplankton are vital for marine ecosystem productivity and play a key role in global carbon and nutrient cycling. However, like all life on Earth, phytoplankton are susceptible to viral infections. Viral-induced lysis of phytoplankton cells redirects the flow of energy and elements, with expected far-reaching consequences for ocean ecosystem structure and functioning.

Still, phytoplankton viral lysis rates are poorly constrained; to what extent viral infections affect phytoplankton stoichiometry and functional traits, as well as how this is influenced by global (climate -induced) environmental stressors, is understudied; and a comprehensive understanding of the geographical distribution of viruses and phytoplankton hosts is lacking. Moreover, virus-host dynamics in global ecosystem and biogeochemical models are generally poorly addressed.

The PHYVIR project aims to integrate complementary expertise – developing and applying mathematical models and bioinformatics to viral ecology, phytoplankton physiology and biological oceanography - to bridge the knowledge gaps that limit our current understanding and predictive power of how viral infections impact phytoplankton communities and global biogeochemical fluxes.

The PHYVIR project is funded by the Dutch research Council NWO and consists of 5 PhD and 2 Postdoc positions. This postdoc project focuses on modeling global marine virus-host interactions and their implications for carbon and nutrient cycling. The postdoc project is supervised by Dr. Cara Nissen (UvA), Prof. Jef Huisman (UvA) and Prof. Corina Brussaard (NIOZ & UvA), and the place of employment will be Amsterdam.

What are you going to do?

As a postdoctoral researcher for PHYVIR’s modelling research, you will add viruses to a global ecosystem model (MIT’s DARWIN model), coupled to an ocean circulation model (MITgcm). The model will use a trait-based approach both for the viruses and the phytoplankton. Specifically, using information on phytoplankton-virus interactions from the literature, from PHYVIR lab experiments and field studies, and from mechanistic virus-host interaction models developed by the PhD contributing to PHYVIR’s modeling research, you will implement a multi-virus model to assess how (different) viruses affect distributions and the seasonal dynamics of phytoplankton functional groups, total phytoplankton biomass, succession and plankton diversity across ocean provinces. The ultimate aim is to obtain a better understanding of how viruses affect marine carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling at the global scale under present and future conditions.

Tasks and responsibilities:

Add marine viruses to a global ecosystem model;
Perform model simulations on Dutch high-performance computing infrastructure (SURF);
Analyze model outcomes using available observational datasets;
Write proposals to acquire additional computing resources and data storage on Dutch high-performance computing infrastructure;
Integrate results obtained by the other PHYVIR PhD students, postdoc and the larger PHYVIR team;
Actively collaborate with researchers at MIT, including a research visit to the US;
Present your results at meetings and scientific conferences;
Publish your results in international scientific journals;
Contribute to teaching and to supervision of MSc students (max 10% of the time).

Your profile

We are looking for an enthusiastic candidate who enjoys quantitative analyses and modeling, and has a keen interest in marine viral ecology, phytoplankton host-virus interactions, and biogeochemical cycles. You are well-organized and have a collaborative personality while also being able to work independently.

What do we require?

A PhD in marine ecology, marine biogeochemistry, oceanography, climate science, environmental physics, computational science, or closely related discipline;
Experience with running large-scale numerical ocean models used in marine ecology and/or biogeochemistry and analyzing their output;
Experience with adding biological complexity to such models is advantageous;
A demonstrated ability to work with programming languages such as Python, Matlab, or C++;
Demonstrated publication record in relevant scientific areas;
An intrinsic motivation to increase our understanding of marine ecosystems and carbon cycling;
Strong oral and written communication skills in English.

Our offer

A temporary contract for 38 hours per week for a period of 12 months, with the possibility to the extend the contract for another 24 months upon a positive evaluation of your performance. The preferred starting date is the summer or fall of 2026. At the beginning of your employment, we will draft a career development plan that includes a description of both short-term and longer-term career goals and identifies possible training opportunities and (international) meetings. For this position the University Job Classification profile Researcher 4 applies. The gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week and dependent on relevant experience, ranges between € 3,546 to €5,538 (scale 10). In addition, you will receive a 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% year-end allowance.

The Collective Labour Agreement of Universities of the Netherlands is applicable.

Besides the salary and a vibrant and challenging environment at Science Park, we offer you multiple fringe benefits:

232 holiday hours per year (based on fulltime) and extra holidays between Christmas and 1 January;
multiple courses to follow from our Teaching and Learning Centre;
multiple courses on topics such as time management, handling stress and an online learning platform with 100+ different courses;
7 weeks birth leave (partner leave) with 100% salary;
partly paid parental leave;
the possibility to set up a workplace at home;
a pension at ABP for which UvA pays two third part of the contribution;
the possibility to follow courses to learn Dutch;
help with registration at UvA- Housing for a studio or small apartment when you’re moving from abroad.

Are you curious to read more about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits, take a look here.

About us

The Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) is one of eight research institutes of the Faculty of Science at the University of Amsterdam (UvA). The research at IBED aims to unravel how ecosystems function in all their complexity, and how they change due to natural processes and human activities. At its core lies an integrated systems approach to study biodiversity, ecosystems and the environment. IBED adopts this systems approach to ecosystems, addressing abiotic (soil and water quality) and biotic factors (ecology and evolution of plants, animals, and microorganisms), and the interplay between those. The IBED vision includes research encompassing experimental and theoretical approaches at a wide variety of temporal and spatial scales, i.e. from molecules and microorganisms to patterns and processes occurring at the global scale. The University of Amsterdam has excellent high performance computing facilities. Furthermore, IBED has a dedicated computational support team with specialized knowledge of bioinformatics, (geo)database management and scientific programming. IBED also works with non-academic partners to deliver transdisciplinary science for society.

The position will be based in the Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology (IBED/UvA). The department of Freshwater & Marine Ecology aims to increase our understanding of the biodiversity and dynamics of freshwater and marine ecosystems from the level of molecules and genes to entire ecosystems. The position will involve collaborations with the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) on Texel and with the Department of Theoretical and Computational Ecology (IBED/UvA).

Are you intrigued by how small marine phytoplankton impact global carbon cycling and the impact of viral infections on this? Do you enjoy thinking about how to describe ecological processes with mathematical equations? The Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology at the University of Amsterdam is looking for a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join our team. You will be part of the larger research consortium project PHYVIR, aimed at elucidating marine phytoplankton-virus interactions from local to global scales.

About the position

What are you going to do?

Tasks and responsibilities:

Add marine viruses to a global ecosystem model;
Perform model simulations on Dutch high-performance computing infrastructure (SURF);
Analyze model outcomes using available observational datasets;
Write proposals to acquire additional computing resources and data storage on Dutch high-performance computing infrastructure;
Integrate results obtained by the other PHYVIR PhD students, postdoc and the larger PHYVIR team;
Actively collaborate with researchers at MIT, including a research visit to the US;
Present your results at meetings and scientific conferences;
Publish your results in international scientific journals;
Contribute to teaching and to supervision of MSc students (max 10% of the time).

Your profile

What do we require?

A PhD in marine ecology, marine biogeochemistry, oceanography, climate science, environmental physics, computational science, or closely related discipline;
Experience with running large-scale numerical ocean models used in marine ecology and/or biogeochemistry and analyzing their output;
Experience with adding biological complexity to such models is advantageous;
A demonstrated ability to work with programming languages such as Python, Matlab, or C++;
Demonstrated publication record in relevant scientific areas;
An intrinsic motivation to increase our understanding of marine ecosystems and carbon cycling;
Strong oral and written communication skills in English.

Our offer

The Collective Labour Agreement of Universities of the Netherlands is applicable.

Besides the salary and a vibrant and challenging environment at Science Park, we offer you multiple fringe benefits:

232 holiday hours per year (based on fulltime) and extra holidays between Christmas and 1 January;
multiple courses to follow from our Teaching and Learning Centre;
multiple courses on topics such as time management, handling stress and an online learning platform with 100+ different courses;
7 weeks birth leave (partner leave) with 100% salary;
partly paid parental leave;
the possibility to set up a workplace at home;
a pension at ABP for which UvA pays two third part of the contribution;
the possibility to follow courses to learn Dutch;
help with registration at UvA- Housing for a studio or small apartment when you’re moving from abroad.

Are you curious to read more about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits, take a look here.

About us

If you feel the profile fits you, and you are interested in the job, we look forward to receiving your application. You can apply online via the ‘Apply’-button on the vacancy’s webpage. We accept applications until and including 22 March 2026.

Applications should include the following information (all files besides your cv should be submitted in one single pdf file):

a detailed CV including a list of publications and the months (not just years) when referring to your education and work experience;
a letter of motivation;
the names and email addresses of two references (e.g., your PhD or postdoc supervisors).

Only complete applications received within the response period via the link below will be considered.

A knowledge security check can be part of the selection procedure. (for details: national knowledge security guidelines)

The interviews will be organized in two rounds. Potential candidates will be invited to the first round of online interviews. The first-round interviews will be held in the week of 13-17 April. In the second round we will invite 2-3 selected candidates to visit the UvA in early June.

Do you have any questions, or do you require additional information? Please contact:

Dr. Cara Nissen, c.nissen@uva.nl

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Postdoc on Modelling Global Marine Phytoplankton-Virus Interactions