The Institute of Environmental Sciences CML and Faculty of Science is looking for:
Postdoctoral Researcher on Actor-level Food System Footprinting for a sustainable food transition
Vacancy number: 15631
Overview
We are seeking a highly motivated scientist to join our team as a Postdoctoral Researcher at Leiden University's Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) to work in the Horizon Europe ‘Greengrocer' project, a new interdisciplinary research programme of 20+ partners (2025-2029), advancing food footprinting models and solutions to accelerate a sustainable EU food transition. The postholder will develop models to distinguish the contribution of consumer groups and farmer types to the socio-economic and environmental impacts of the EU’s food system and their effective management.
Food system models lack detail of food system actors and their uneven influence on environmental risks. Microdata on food consumers, producers, and companies offers tremendous potential to pinpoint high-impact actors and distinguish their roles in sustainable food futures. Yet, enriching food system models with actor-level data remains hindered by technical demands of linking disparate, unaligned, and conflicting information, using methods from macroeconomic, environmental, and nutritional modelling. This project will develop and implement innovative methods to couple food system actor data on consumers and farmers with macroeconomic models, to assess the socio-economic and environmental impacts of EU food system transitions from a multi-actor perspective.
Key tasks:
- You will work in an interdisciplinary setting, alongside a postdoctoral and PhD researcher, to integrate models and data from different fields (e.g. economics, public health, environmental science). Specifically, you will:
- Further extend an integrated food system model with microdata on consumer diets and farmer practices to better attribute socio-economic and environmental impacts of EU food systems to consumer groups and farmers within the EU.
- Perform several detailed analyses on the environmental and socio-economic impacts of EU food systems and food system transitions from a multi-actor perspective.
- Disseminate scientific findings via high-impact scientific publications, international conferences, and stakeholder exchanges.
- Within the project, you will work closely with Assistant Professor Oliver Taherzadeh, Associate Professor Laura Scherer and others to develop the methods, data, and analytical frameworks to overcome the limited actor-level detail of food system sustainability models. We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and open research environment which nurtures critical scholarship and mentoring of early-career researchers from a diversity of backgrounds. In our research group, we strongly value a collaborative approach to problem-driven research in which we help one another thrive. You will work in Leiden, a vibrant city known for its rich scientific heritage. The role will involve international travel for research to present research findings and collaborate with leading experts in this field.
Selection Criteria
The following criteria are essential:
- PhD degree (or about to receive one) focused on environmental footprinting and/or socio-economic impact analysis of food consumption and production systems.
- Well-developed analytical and programming skills.
- Publications in respected scientific journals related to the topics above.
- Great interpersonal and communication skills, and excellent English language proficiency.
Any of these criteria are highly valued:
- Expertise modelling the global impacts of food system transitions across multiple impacts (e.g. climate, biodiversity, deforestation, water, nutrition, and food insecurity).
- Experience with one or more of the following methods: Geographic Information Systems (GIS), machine learning, network analysis, and econometrics.
- Proven ability using industrial ecology methods, such as LCA, MFA, and (MR)IOA to assess the scale and drivers of social, economic and environmental impacts.
- Use of microdata related to food consumption (e.g. food intake surveys) and/or production (e.g. farmer surveys).
- An interdisciplinary knowledge of the societal and policy levers related to food system sustainability challenges.
- Interest and experience in teaching related to environmental change and food system sustainability.
- Experience communicating scientific findings to a wide audience (e.g. policy makers, industry and the general public).
We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team, welcoming applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. Applications are particularly welcome and encouraged from women and minority candidates, who are under-represented in posts in the CML.
Research at our faculty
Leiden University is situated between Amsterdam (36 km) and The Hague (15 km) and was founded in 1575, making it the oldest university in the Netherlands. It houses around 35,000 students originating from 112 nationalities, facilitated by approximately 8,000 staff.
The Institute of Environmental Science (CML) at Leiden University offers a vibrant and supportive community of scientists committed to the challenges of sustainability, with a multidecade record of leading the field of industrial ecology in Life Cycle Assessment, Material Flow Analysis, and Environmental Input-Output Analysis. CML distinguishes itself for its attention to professional development in coordination with the interests of its scientists. As such, there are plenty of opportunities to learn new skills, expand your knowledge, collaborate across disciplines, and experiment in a friendly environment fully embodying academic freedom across all career levels.
The core focus of CML is to perform research and education in the interdisciplinary field of Environmental Sciences. CML focuses on the sustainable use of natural resources and preservation of natural capital and biodiversity. CML has a culture of mutual support and collaboration between researchers. CML has two Departments: Industrial Ecology (CML-IE) and Environmental Biology (CML-EB). Presently, about 140 fte (including postdocs and PhDs) are employed at CML. CML further collaborates with TU Delft and Erasmus University in the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Centre for Sustainability (LDE-CfS), and with the Naturalis Biodiversity Centre.
The Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) is positioned in the Faculty of Sciences. The Faculty of Science is a world-class faculty where staff and students work together in a dynamic international environment. It is a faculty where personal and academic development are top priorities. Our people are committed to expanding fundamental knowledge by curiosity and looking beyond the borders of their own discipline; their aim is to benefit science and to make a contribution to addressing the major societal challenges of the future. The research carried out at the Faculty of Science is very diverse, ranging from mathematics, information science, astronomy, physics, chemistry and bio-pharmaceutical sciences to biology and environmental sciences. The research activities are organized in eight institutes. These institutes offer eight bachelor’s and twelve master’s programs. The faculty has grown strongly in recent years and now has more than 2,800 staff and almost 6,000 students. We are located at the heart of Leiden’s Bio Science Park, one of Europe’s biggest science parks, where university and business life come together.
For more information, see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/science. Information about CML can be found at https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/science/environmental-sciences.
Terms and conditions
We offer a 1-year position with the possibility of extension by 3 years based on performance and following the pay scale 10 in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. Salary ranges from € 3,378.00 and € 5,331.00 gross per month based on a full-time position. Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3%), training and career development. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. For international spouses, we have set up a dual career programme. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break (“30% rule”).
Diversity
At the Faculty of Science, we value inclusiveness and strive for a diverse community with equal opportunities for all. We give full support to our staff in achieving their potential to become independent academic researchers and teachers. For more information about our policy on diversity and equality, please go to the diversity page on our website. Female researchers are also welcome to join the Researchers In Science for Equality network of the Faculty of Science (rise.nu).
Information
Enquiries can be made to Dr. Oliver Taherzadeh ([email protected]).
Applications
Please submit your application via the online recruitment system, via the blue button at the top or bottom of this page. Applications received via e-mail will not be taken into consideration. Please ensure that you upload the following additional documents quoting the vacancy number:
- A CV (including a list of publications).
- A motivation letter.
- Name and contact details of at least two referees.
Only applications received before the 22nd of May 2025 will be considered.
The 1st round of interviews will take place in late May.
The 2nd round of interviews will take place in early June.
