Postdoctoral Fellow in Marine Protected Areas at Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Netherlands (2026)
This exciting three-year research opportunity offers the chance to work with leading scientists, international universities, NGOs, government organizations, and industry partners to develop innovative biodiversity monitoring indicators and decision-support tools for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Indonesia and the Dutch Caribbean.
If you have a PhD in marine or environmental sciences and enjoy interdisciplinary research with real-world conservation impact, this could be the perfect postdoctoral opportunity.
About Naturalis Biodiversity Center
Naturalis Biodiversity Center, located in Leiden, Netherlands, is one of the world's leading biodiversity research institutions. It serves as:
The national biodiversity research institute of the Netherlands
Home to one of the world's largest natural history collections
A global center for biodiversity data and scientific infrastructure
A museum welcoming over 500,000 visitors annually
An internationally recognized institution collaborating with universities, museums, NGOs, and research organizations worldwide
Researchers at Naturalis benefit from cutting-edge laboratories, extensive biological collections, international collaborations, and an active scientific community.
About the TIDE-MPAs Project
The successful applicant will become a key researcher in the NWO-funded TIDE-MPAs project (Tourism Impact Dashboard for Social-Ecological-System Resilience in Marine Protected Areas).
The project focuses on improving the resilience of coral reef ecosystems by integrating biodiversity monitoring, tourism management, governance, and environmental indicators into an interactive decision-support dashboard.
The project covers Marine Protected Areas in:
Indonesia
Dutch Caribbean
The consortium includes:
Naturalis Biodiversity Center
KITLV
Bogor Agricultural University (IPB)
BRIN
Papua University
YKAN
Coral Triangle Center (CTC)
KI
Government agencies
Commercial partners
Position Summary
Position: Postdoctoral Fellow
Institution: Naturalis Biodiversity Center
Location: Leiden, Netherlands
Working Hours: 32 hours per week
Contract Duration:
Initial one-year appointment
Possible extension for an additional two years following a positive evaluation
Application Deadline: 30 July 2026
Research Responsibilities
The selected postdoctoral researcher will combine scientific research with project coordination and stakeholder engagement.
Major responsibilities include:
Scientific Research
Lead at least two peer-reviewed scientific publications
Contribute to interdisciplinary research papers
Conduct research on:
Coral reef resilience
Marine Protected Areas
Biodiversity monitoring
Tourism impacts
Ecological indicators
Environmental governance
Monitoring and Indicator Development
The researcher will:
Review existing biodiversity monitoring systems
Evaluate environmental databases
Identify practical indicators for:
Biodiversity
Water quality
Tourism pressure
Governance effectiveness
Socio-economic conditions
Tourism Dashboard Development
A major responsibility will be developing an innovative Marine Protected Area Tourism Dashboard, designed to:
Support adaptive management
Improve transparency
Enhance biodiversity monitoring
Increase public awareness
Assist policymakers and conservation managers
Project Coordination
Responsibilities also include:
Coordinating international consortium activities
Managing project timelines
Preparing reports and deliverables
Organizing:
Fieldwork
Workshops
Training activities
Consortium meetings
Stakeholder engagement events
Research Team
The successful candidate will work closely with:
Dr. Lisa Becking (Naturalis)
Dr. David Kloos (KITLV)
Dr. Sikko Visscher (KITLV)
International collaborators include:
Bogor Agricultural University (IPB)
BRIN
Papua University
YKAN
Coral Triangle Center
KI
The researcher will also join Naturalis' active community of approximately 50 PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers, offering valuable networking, peer learning, and professional development opportunities.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants should have:
A PhD in:
Marine Science
Marine Ecology
Conservation Science
Environmental Science
Or a closely related discipline
In addition, candidates should demonstrate:
Strong interest in coral reef conservation
Knowledge of Marine Protected Areas
Interest in biodiversity conservation
Passion for social-ecological systems research
Required Skills
Ideal applicants should possess experience in:
Quantitative data analysis
R programming
Scientific publishing
Research dissemination
Project coordination
Data management
Scientific reporting
International collaboration
Excellent written and spoken English is essential.
Experience working in Indonesia or with Indonesian marine ecosystems is considered an advantage.
Salary and Benefits
Naturalis offers an attractive employment package including:
Salary
€3,768 – €4,897 gross per month
Based on full-time equivalent (36 hours/week)
Salary depends on experience
Additional Benefits
Employees also receive:
8% holiday allowance
3.4% end-of-year bonus
27 annual leave days (full-time equivalent)
One additional personal holiday
Pension scheme through PFZW (60% employer contribution)
Travel allowance
Laptop and phone allowance
Free access to GoodHabitz online learning platform
Discounts on software and health insurance
Bicycle scheme
Unlimited free museum access for employees and their families
Access to scientific lectures, workshops, and networking events
Why Apply?
This position offers a unique opportunity to:
Conduct internationally impactful marine conservation research
Publish high-quality scientific papers
Collaborate with global biodiversity experts
Influence conservation policy through applied science
Work in Indonesia and the Dutch Caribbean
Develop practical tools for Marine Protected Area management
Expand professional networks across academia, NGOs, and government organizations
Application Process
Applicants must submit one PDF file containing:
Motivation Letter (maximum 2 pages)
Motivation for joining the project
Relevant experience
Contributions to the project
Teamwork approach
Curriculum Vitae (maximum 3 pages)
Names and contact details of three referees
Applications must be submitted through the official application portal.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Position | Postdoctoral Fellow |
| Institution | Naturalis Biodiversity Center |
| Location | Leiden, Netherlands |
| Working Hours | 32 hours/week |
| Contract | 1 year + possible 2-year extension |
| Salary | €3,768–€4,897/month |
| Application Deadline | 30 July 2026 |
Official Application Link
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Where is this postdoctoral position based?
The position is based at Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden, Netherlands.
2. What is the duration of the appointment?
The appointment begins with a one-year contract, which may be extended by two additional years following a positive evaluation.
3. What research topics will the postdoctoral fellow work on?
The project focuses on:
Coral reef resilience
Marine Protected Areas
Biodiversity monitoring
Tourism impacts
Conservation governance
Environmental indicators
Social-ecological systems
4. Which programming language is preferred?
Experience with R for quantitative data analysis is preferred.
5. Is previous experience in Indonesia required?
No. However, previous research experience in Indonesia or Indonesian coral reef ecosystems is considered an advantage.
6. What salary does the fellowship offer?
The gross monthly salary ranges from €3,768 to €4,897, depending on qualifications and experience.
7. Are international applicants eligible?
Yes. Naturalis welcomes applications from qualified researchers worldwide.
8. What documents are required?
Applicants must submit:
Motivation letter
CV
Contact details of three referees
9. What makes this position unique?
This fellowship combines marine ecology, biodiversity monitoring, conservation science, tourism sustainability, project coordination, and international collaboration, allowing researchers to produce both high-impact scientific publications and practical conservation tools.
10. When is the application deadline?
The deadline to apply is 30 July 2026.
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