The Coastal Systems department of the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) is looking for a highly motivated database manager with a background in biology and a particular interest for benthic animals in the Wadden Sea.
THE DEPARTMENT
The NIOZ Department of Coastal Systems (COS) studies key physical, chemical and biological processes that determine the productivity and ecological functioning of coastal and open sea areas. COS studies coastal systems as a whole by considering the main ecosystem compartments (water, sediment, microalgae, macrozoobenthos, parasites, fish, birds and marine mammals) in relation to one another. Studies are conducted in various parts of the world with special emphasis on the Wadden Sea and North Sea.
BACKGROUND
At COS, many ecological time series are maintained such as the Synoptic Intertidal Benthic Survey (SIBES). This annual sampling program was started in 2008 and is aimed at quantifying the abundance, biomass, and biodiversity of macrozoobenthic species, and examines sediment characteristics across the entire intertidal Dutch Wadden Sea. Yearly, approximately 4,500 stations are sampled. The data are used to gain a fundamental understanding of how the Wadden Sea ecosystem functions and how animals react to change, such as climate-driven warming and sea level rise. This knowledge is applied to allow a more effective management of the Wadden Sea, a UNESCO world heritage site.
THE VACANCY
The core task of the database manager is to curate, manage and make available the data from SIBES, but also data from other ecological time series, such as the long-term data collected on coastal fishes. The database manager needs to work closely with the field workers who collected the data, with the taxonomists in the benthic laboratory that entered the data, as well as the scientists who analyze and report on the data. With the largest benthos laboratory and macrozoobenthic time-series in the world, the position offers a stimulating environment, where researchers and technicians work closely together to prepare and execute cutting-edge science.
JOB REQUIREMENTS
The Candidate
Here are some features that make you the ideal candidate for this Database Manager position:
- At least a WO (academic) education at the BSc level with MSc level preferred
- At least four years of experience on data base curation according to ISO standards
- Experience with SQL and Python or other relevant software language
- Basic ecological knowledge on Wadden Sea benthic invertebrates and fish
- Basic taxonomic knowledge on Wadden Sea macrozoobenthos is preferred
- Familiarity with the mission of NIOZ and COS and its sampling programs is a plus
- The maturity to work independently but also to be an effective team player.
The Conditions
We offer a pleasant and collegial working environment in which development, safety and health are central. This position is appointed at the Royal NIOZ by NWO-I (Netherlands Scientific Research Institutes Foundation). We offer a position for 4 years at 0.6 fte, with an excellent salary. The salary is compliant to the CAO-OI (Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Research Institutes) with a scale 8 or 9, depending on the candidate's education and experience, a pension scheme, a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary, an end-of-year bonus and flexible work arrangements. You can expect attractive fringe benefits. We offer generous relocation costs for employees from abroad and support in finding accommodation.
