[ES_JOBS_NET] PHD IN SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT ON THE DUTCH CARIBBEAN TO PROTECT CORAL REEFS

[Malek, Z.]

Dear colleagues,

We have a PhD position in sustainable land management and coral reef protection in the Dutch Caribbean at the Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Besides working at a nice interdisciplinary group, this position includes some amazing fieldwork in the Dutch Caribbean Islands!

Can sustainable land use save the Caribbean coral reefs? How can do coastal activities relate to the dynamics of the reefs of the Dutch Caribbean? Help answering these questions in the SEALINK project https://www.sealinkcaribbean.net/  with a PhD at IVM at VU Amsterdam

Water quality is among the key drivers of coral reef health. In coastal waters, the origin, abundance, and distribution of pollutants and other compounds can positively or negatively affect the survival of coral reef communities. These inputs are influenced by terrestrial processes, particularly human activities in the form of the use and management of the land. In this PhD position, the student will look into the trends in land use change in the coastal zone and how more sustainable land management can be achieved. This will be studied together with other PhD students in the project that focus on the flow of possible pollutants to the ocean and the impacts on the reef will be assessed.
The PhD student will use an innovative scenario approach combining field work in the Dutch Caribbean with advanced simulation models to (1) assess how uncertain developments like tourism and urbanization will impact the land-water system and, (2) co-design solutions (using optimization models and a participatory process with stakeholders) to navigate tradeoffs between environmental and development objectives within a context of feasibility and willingness. Methods will include the development of land use scenarios and activity models in collaboration with local stakeholders in the Dutch Caribbean to simulate potential future developments, while optimization models will serve to back-cast optimized land use and activity configurations accounting for the variability in the coastal system and the land-sea transport of pollutants, ensuring healthy marine ecosystems. This PhD position aims at transforming thinking among stakeholders and delivering a range of clear management options for sustainable coastal use under different, uncertain, future contexts.


Apply until March 15 at https://workingat.vu.nl/ad/sealink/hgj8hl

Kind regards,
Met vriendelijke groeten,

Žiga


Dr. Žiga Malek
Assistant Professor in Land Use and Ecosystem Dynamics

Instituut voor Milieuvraagstukken (IVM) - Institute for Environmental Studies
[cid:image003.png at 01D2F1A1.DA341240]
T +31 20 59 85 670 | z.malek at vu.nl<mailto:z.malek at vu.nl>
ADDRESS: De Boelelaan 1111, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
ROOM: NU-8A65
www.ivm.vu.nl<http://www.ivm.vu.nl/>
http://research.vu.nl/en/persons/žiga-malek

VU University - Looking further

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