Fully Funded PhD Position at Utrecht University, Netherlands: Reconstructing Zeeland’s Historic Landscape Developments (2026)
The successful candidate will investigate historic landscape and vegetation changes using fossil plant remains preserved in peat and lake sediments. This opportunity is suitable for graduates with a background in physical geography, Earth sciences, landscape ecology, or a related discipline who have experience in paleogeographic or botanical landscape reconstruction.
Applications must be submitted online by 1 November 2026.
PhD Position Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Position | PhD: Reconstructing Zeeland’s Historic Landscape Developments |
| University | Utrecht University |
| Faculty | Faculty of Geosciences |
| Department | Department of Physical Geography |
| Location | Utrecht, Netherlands, with fieldwork in Zeeland |
| Research project | Re-Flex Zeeland |
| Employment type | Full-time, 1.0 FTE |
| Working hours | 36–40 hours per week |
| Monthly salary | €3,204–€4,051 gross |
| Initial contract | 1 year |
| Contract extension | Up to 4 years in total, subject to a successful first-year assessment |
| Expected start date | Late 2026 or early 2027 |
| Application deadline | 1 November 2026 |
About the Research Project
The PhD position is part of Re-Flex Zeeland, a collaborative research project funded by the Delta Climate Centre (DCC) in Vlissingen. The project aims to reconstruct and visualize natural landscape formation processes in Zeeland during historical periods of rapid sea-level rise, with particular attention to the last 12,000 years.
The project brings together Utrecht University, Wageningen University & Research (WUR), NIOZ, Scalda, and UNESCO GeoPark Schelde Delta. The wider research team includes two PhD candidates and one postdoctoral researcher.
Zeeland’s landscape has undergone major changes over thousands of years. It developed from a subarctic environment with boreal forest into alternating peatland and intertidal environments before becoming increasingly regulated by human embankments over the past few centuries.
Today, the landscape is heavily managed to support economic activity, flood safety, and other societal needs. Understanding how natural landscapes functioned in the past can help researchers evaluate opportunities for flood protection, biodiversity restoration, and more sustainable coastal management.
The selected PhD candidate will contribute to the work package “Holocene peat deposits as natural archives of landscape developments.” The research will use fossil plant remains, peat deposits, lake sediments, and pollen evidence to investigate how Zeeland’s landscape and ecosystems changed over time.
Key Responsibilities
The successful candidate will combine fieldwork, laboratory analysis, and quantitative landscape reconstruction.
1. Conduct fieldwork and map peat deposits
You will design and carry out fieldwork to identify and map the locations and ages of peat deposits along an east–west transect around Zeeland’s major marine estuaries. The work will involve several sampling campaigns in Zeeland, in collaboration with the Delta Climate Centre.
2. Investigate fossil plant remains and pollen
You will study the botanical composition of peat deposits and use pollen analysis to improve understanding of historical vegetation and landscape development. Particular attention will be given to transitions between peatland and intertidal environments.
3. Reconstruct historical landscapes
You will integrate existing information with newly collected field data to establish the timing and variability of past landscape changes. Your work will help researchers understand how coastal environments responded to changing sea levels and other environmental processes.
4. Contribute to collaborative research
The findings will support computer simulations of coastal dynamics conducted through a parallel PhD project at Wageningen University & Research. They will also provide scientific context for historical landscape visualizations developed by a postdoctoral researcher at NIOZ, working with Scalda and UNESCO GeoPark Schelde Delta.
5. Support teaching and student research
You will help co-supervise Bachelor’s and Master’s courses and thesis projects that contribute to the research. PhD candidates at Utrecht University also participate in academic and personal development courses and assist with teaching. These activities together account for approximately 10% of the contracted working time.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants should have a strong interest in landscape development, vegetation history, and the environmental processes that shape coastal systems.
To be eligible, candidates should meet the following requirements:
Educational qualification: An MSc degree in Physical Geography, Earth Sciences, Landscape Ecology, or a related field.
Relevant research experience: Demonstrated experience in paleogeographic and/or botanical landscape reconstruction.
Technical background: Significant experience in at least one relevant area, such as physical-geographical fieldwork, pollen analysis, or quantitative vegetation reconstruction.
Willingness to learn: Motivation to develop skills in the other research methods required for the project.
Interdisciplinary outlook: Ability and willingness to collaborate across different geoscientific disciplines.
Interest in Zeeland: Affinity with Zeeland and a willingness to spend time in the region and engage with its landscape and community.
English proficiency: Good spoken and written English at C1 level or above, or the willingness and aptitude to reach that level through training.
Personal qualities: Curiosity, enthusiasm, and the ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary team.
The position includes training opportunities for relevant research techniques. Applicants do not need to have equal experience in every method, but they should demonstrate substantial experience in at least one of the key research areas and a clear motivation to develop further expertise.
Salary and Employment Benefits
Utrecht University offers a full-time PhD appointment with a gross monthly salary ranging from €3,204 to €4,051, based on a 38-hour working week and salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU).
The initial appointment is for one year. Following a successful assessment during the first year, the contract can be extended to a total of four years, with the aim of completing a doctorate within that period.
Additional benefits include:
8% holiday allowance.
8.3% year-end bonus.
Pension scheme.
Partially paid parental leave.
Flexible employment conditions under the CAO NU.
Flexible leave arrangements and additional vacation days.
Opportunities for personal and professional development.
Employment package options that allow employees to tailor certain benefits to their needs.
Further information is available on the university’s terms of employment page.
About Utrecht University
Utrecht University is a research-intensive university in the Netherlands, where researchers from different disciplines collaborate on major scientific and societal challenges. Its research priorities include Life Sciences, Pathways to Sustainability, Dynamics of Youth, and Institutions for Open Societies.
The Faculty of Geosciences studies the Earth, from its interior to its surface, including the interactions between natural systems and human use of land and resources. The Department of Physical Geography focuses on the processes, patterns, and dynamics of continental and coastal systems.
The department offers a research and teaching environment for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD students, with an active community of more than 30 PhD candidates.
The position is based at Utrecht University, while the research will involve fieldwork in Zeeland.
How to Apply
Interested candidates must submit their applications through Utrecht University’s official online recruitment system. Applications submitted by email will not be accepted.
Prepare the following documents and information:
Motivation letter explaining your interest in the position, relevant research experience, and suitability for the project.
Curriculum vitae (CV) outlining your academic background, research experience, and relevant skills.
At least two referees, including their names, email addresses, and telephone numbers.
If you hold an international, non-Dutch Master’s degree, you may be asked to provide copies of your Bachelor’s and Master’s diplomas and corresponding grade lists in English if selected for the position.
Application Deadline
1 November 2026
The first interviews are expected to take place in mid-November 2026. The intended starting date is late 2026 or early 2027.
Official Application Link
Apply for the PhD position at Utrecht University
For questions about the vacancy, contact:
Dr T.H. Donders, Associate Professor — t.h.donders@uu.nl
Dr W.Z. Hoek, Associate Professor — w.z.hoek@uu.nl
International applicants who require a visa or work permit should note that processing takes at least four months after selection and acceptance. Utrecht University’s International Service Desk will assist with the process. Finding suitable accommodation in or near Utrecht remains the applicant’s responsibility, although the university may provide advice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the PhD position at Utrecht University about?
The project focuses on reconstructing Zeeland’s historic landscape and vegetation development over approximately the past 12,000 years. The research will use peat deposits, fossil plant remains, pollen analysis, and field data to understand past environmental changes, particularly transitions between peatland and intertidal environments.
2. What is the application deadline?
The deadline is 1 November 2026. Applications must be submitted through the official online recruitment portal.
3. What qualifications are required?
Applicants must hold an MSc degree in Physical Geography, Earth Sciences, Landscape Ecology, or a related field. They should also have demonstrated experience in paleogeographic and/or botanical landscape reconstruction.
4. How much is the PhD salary?
The gross monthly salary is €3,204–€4,051, based on a 38-hour working week. The appointment also includes holiday pay, a year-end bonus, pension arrangements, and other employment benefits.
5. How long is the contract?
The initial appointment lasts one year. Following a successful assessment in the first year, it can be extended to a total of four years.
6. Is fieldwork part of the PhD?
Yes. The candidate will conduct several sampling campaigns in Zeeland, map peat deposits, collect field data, and investigate peat and sediment records. The research also involves laboratory analysis and quantitative landscape reconstruction.
7. Do applicants need experience in every research method?
No. The university requires significant experience in at least one relevant area, such as physical-geographical fieldwork, pollen analysis, or quantitative vegetation reconstruction. Candidates should be motivated to develop skills in the other areas.
8. Can international students apply?
The vacancy does not state that applications are restricted by nationality. International candidates should note that applicants requiring a Dutch visa or work permit need at least four months of processing time after selection and acceptance. The university will assist through its International Service Desk.
9. What documents are required?
Applicants must provide a motivation letter, a CV, and the names and contact details of at least two referees. Candidates with international non-Dutch Master’s degrees may also be asked for their degree certificates and English-language grade lists if selected.
10. When will interviews take place?
The first interviews are expected to be scheduled for mid-November 2026. The intended start date is late 2026 or early 2027.
Final Thoughts
This PhD position at Utrecht University offers an opportunity to investigate how Zeeland’s coastal landscapes and ecosystems evolved over thousands of years. It combines fieldwork, pollen analysis, botanical research, and quantitative reconstruction within an interdisciplinary project focused on coastal dynamics and environmental change.
Candidates with a relevant MSc degree and experience in paleogeographic or botanical landscape reconstruction should review the eligibility criteria and prepare their application before 1 November 2026.
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