Fully Funded PhD and Academic vacancies at Leiden University

The University of Leiden in the Netherlands has a number of fully-funded PhD available here.

Title: PhD candidate on spatial and temporal plant microbiome (Leiden University Vacancies)

Job Type: PhD positions

External/ internal: External

Location: The Faculty of Science / the Institute for Biology

Deadline: 11.02.2024

Summary:

The Institute for Biology within the Faculty of Science is actively seeking a PhD candidate to explore the spatial and temporal aspects of plant microbiomes. This unique opportunity involves an in-depth investigation into how microorganisms, specifically Bacilli, influence plant growth and protection. The selected candidate will delve into the dynamics of plant-microbiome interactions by assessing the microbiome composition of various crops and model plants. They will experiment with different plant varieties and mutants to examine colonization by endophytic bacteria. A significant part of this project will utilize the Institute’s microscopy unit to monitor fluorescently labeled bacteria for plant colonization over time and space.

Requirements:

The ideal candidate for this role should possess:

1. A strong foundation in plant-microbiome interactions, with a particular focus on bacterial interactions.
2. Practical experience in:
   • Cultivating plants and bacteria.
   • Conducting microbiome analysis.
   • Employing molecular microbiology techniques, including genetic engineering of bacteria.
   • Using fluorescence microscopy.
3. Knowledge in microbial ecology and evolutionary theory, which will be considered beneficial.
4. Proficiency in teamwork, along with excellent communication skills.
5. A critical and analytical mindset, particularly regarding host-bacteria genetics in plant-microbiomes.

This PhD position, under vacancy number 14437, offers a challenging and innovative research environment for a candidate keen on pioneering in the field of plant microbiomes.

More Details and Apply.

Title: PhD candidate related to Infrastructure Dynamics and Sustainability (Leiden University Vacancies)

Job Type: PhD positions

External/ internal: External

Location: The Faculty of Science and Institute of Environmental Sciences

Deadline: 30.04.2024

Summary:

Leiden University seeks a PhD candidate for a project on Infrastructure Dynamics and Sustainability. This role involves economy-wide analysis of production, asset stock, infrastructural service needs, and investment, focusing on sustainable and resilient infrastructure development. The project includes enhancing the Input-Output Analysis model and conducting an empirical study on EU infrastructure from 2020 to 2050.

Requirements:

Candidates for this vacancy, numbered 14435, should meet the following criteria:

1. Educational Background: A Master’s degree in a relevant field such as environmental or sustainability science, industrial ecology, or environmental engineering.
2. Mathematical Skills: A strong foundation in mathematics.
3. Knowledge and Interest: A keen interest in macroeconomics, input-output analysis, and infrastructure sustainability research. Familiarity with data science, national accounts, finance, and programming will be advantageous.
4. Language and Communication Skills: Proficiency in both spoken and written English, with excellent communication skills.
5. Responsibilities:
   • Model Development: Enhance the IOA model for dynamic adaptability to infrastructural changes.
   • Data Collection: Perform thorough data collection to support the model.
   • Publishing Findings: Publish research outcomes in high-impact scientific journals.
   • Proactive Research Initiatives: Identify and undertake additional research tasks.
   • Outreach and Teaching: Engage in outreach programs and contribute to teaching responsibilities.

More Details and Apply.

Title: PhD candidate on developing biodiversity-inclusive strategies for the energy transition. (Leiden University Vacancies)

Job Type: PhD positions

External/ internal: External

Location: The Faculty of Science and Institute of Environmental Sciences

Deadline: 07.02.2024

Summary:

The Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) and the Faculty of Science are seeking a PhD candidate to develop strategies for biodiversity-inclusive energy transition, focusing on the impact of mining on freshwater ecosystems. The role involves creating predictive models for assessing these impacts and contributing to sustainability tools like Life Cycle Assessment (LCA).

Requirements:

Qualifications and Skills

• Educational Background: An MSc degree in Environmental Science, Biology, Industrial Ecology, Sustainability, or a related field.
• Technical Expertise: Experience in spatial data analysis using GIS software or programming environments like R or Python. Big data experience is a plus. Skills in mechanistic and/or statistical modeling, with a preference for those familiar with regression modeling.
• Research Skills: Prior experience in conducting systematic reviews or meta-analyses is beneficial.
• Soft Skills: A proactive and flexible approach, excellent communication abilities, and a collaborative nature. The candidate should be able to communicate effectively in English and work well in a multi-disciplinary team.

More Details and Apply.

Title: PhD position for “Claiming Beowulf as a European Epic” (Leiden University Vacancies)

Job Type: PhD positions

External/ internal: External

Location: Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society (LUCAS)

Deadline: 01.03.2024

Summary:

Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society (LUCAS) is offering a four-year, full-time PhD position within the ERC Starting Grant project “Early Medieval English in Nineteenth-Century Europe [EMERGENCE],” directed by Dr. Thijs Porck. The PhD project titled “Claiming Beowulf as a European Epic” focuses on the 19th-century European reception of Old English, particularly the epic poem Beowulf. This multi-disciplinary, multilingual project aims to explore Romantic Nationalism’s influence on scholarly and creative responses to Beowulf across Europe, cataloguing and analyzing various interpretations and adaptations of the poem.

Requirements:

• Academic Qualifications: Candidates should possess a ResMA/MRes or MA in Old English language and literature with an average grade of at least 8.0 on a ten-point scale or equivalent, by the time of appointment.
• Research Skills: Applicants must demonstrate well-developed research abilities, including formulating creative questions, strong descriptive and analytical skills, and clear, persuasive writing.
• Special Interests: A personal affinity for Old English philology, Beowulf, literary analysis, adaptation/translation theory, and medieval literature reception is essential.
• Technical Skills: Experience with or willingness to learn about relational databases and Linked Data is required.
• Language Proficiency: Full professional proficiency in English (speaking, writing, reading) is mandatory, along with professional reading skills in German. Knowledge of Latin or other European languages is beneficial.
• Project Contributions: The candidate is expected to complete a PhD thesis in English, contribute to a bibliographical and relational database, publish scholarly articles, participate in research group meetings, present papers at conferences, and engage in training programs.
• Community Involvement: Active participation in the PhD community and the Institute’s intellectual life is necessary. The candidate may also contribute to organizing events and outreach activities within the project.
• Teaching Responsibilities: Depending on progress and demand, there may be opportunities to teach in the English department during the second and third years.
• Time Management and Collaboration: Proven time-management skills and the ability to work both independently and as a team member are crucial.
• Project Completion: The candidate must be able to complete the proposed research within four years.
• Relocation: International candidates are welcome but must be willing to relocate to the Netherlands for the project’s duration.

More Details and Apply.

Title: PhD Candidate, Generative Information Retrieval (Leiden University Vacancies)

Job Type: PhD positions

External/ internal: External

Location: The Faculty of Science and the Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS)

Deadline: 03.02.2024

Summary:

The Faculty of Science and Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS) are seeking a PhD candidate for a fully-funded position in Generative Information Retrieval (GenIR). This role focuses on developing new paradigms in GenIR, leveraging the capabilities of large language models (LLMs) to improve document retrieval and ranking systems. The candidate will address challenges such as integrating semantic insights from new documents, mitigating biases, and overcoming the limitations of LLMs in GenIR. The research will cover three areas: enhancing model generalization, aligning knowledge for LLMs, and implementing GenIR algorithms in various applications. The projects will be shaped around the student’s interests and under the supervision of Dr. Zhaochun Ren.

Requirements:

• Educational Background: Master’s degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Applied Mathematics, or a related field.
• Technical Skills: Strong foundation in Computer Science and Mathematics, with excellent programming abilities in languages like Python, C, C++.
• Machine Learning Experience: Prior experience in Machine Learning is essential.
• Communication Skills: Exceptional written and oral proficiency in English.
• Desirable Expertise: Prior knowledge in information retrieval, recommender systems, or natural language processing is beneficial.

The role involves conducting novel research, publishing and presenting findings, collaborating with peers, and engaging in relevant teaching activities. This position presents an opportunity to work at the forefront of GenIR, contributing to the evolution of information retrieval systems.

More Details and Apply.

Title: PhD position for “The Search for Anglo-Saxon Christianity in 19th-century Europe” (Leiden University Vacancies)

Job Type: PhD positions

External/ internal: External

Location: The Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society (LUCAS)

Deadline: 01.03.2024

Summary:

Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society (LUCAS) is seeking a PhD candidate for the project “The Search for Anglo-Saxon Christianity in 19th-century Europe”, a segment of the larger ERC Starting Grant project “Early Medieval English in Nineteenth-Century Europe [EMERGENCE]”. This project, led by Dr. Thijs Porck and funded for 2024-2028, focuses on the impact and interpretation of Old English during the 19th century. The candidate will be tasked with completing a PhD thesis within four years, contributing to a bibliographical and relational database, researching the 19th-century reception of Old English, and publishing scholarly articles. Participation in various academic programs, conferences, and project-related activities is expected, with potential teaching opportunities in the English department during the second and third years.

Requirements:

The ideal candidate must possess a ResMA/MRes or MA with a focus on Old English, cultural history, religious studies, or a related field, with an outstanding academic record. Key competencies include excellent research skills, a deep interest in Old English philology, and an affinity for the history of humanities or medieval literature reception. Proficiency in English and German, with additional European language skills being advantageous, is required. The candidate should also demonstrate the ability to engage with relational databases and archival materials. Essential personal qualities include strong time-management skills, the ability to work independently and as part of a team, and the commitment to complete the PhD research within the stipulated four-year period.

More Details and Apply.