Your capabilities
Requirements
- You hold a Master's degree in a specialization such as Biology, IMBRSea, Marine and Lacustrine Science and Management, or equivalent. If you hold a foreign degree, you will be required to obtain a recognition of equivalence upon employment, which can be requested through NARIC Flanders.
- You have a good knowledge of marine fauna.
- You have demonstrable experience in analyzing research data and presenting research results clearly.
- You speak and write fluent English.
Personal competencies
- Meticulous and critical: You work carefully, double-check your work, and maintain a clear overview even when dealing with large quantities of samples and data.
- Proactive and responsible: You take up tasks independently, show initiative, and feel responsible for their proper execution.
- Team-oriented and helpful: You collaborate smoothly with colleagues and step in to help where needed.
We offer
We offer you an open-ended contract. You will be appointed in salary scale A165. You can make a calculation of your monthly salary, a holiday bonus and your end-of-year allowance via the Salarissimulator (note, under salary system select "volgens anciënniteit - according to seniority” as your relevant experience may be taken into account).
At ILVO, you step into a research environment where real progress is being made. You contribute to innovative research with clear societal impact, while at the same time being given the opportunity to further develop your own talents. Thanks to flexible working hours and the possibility of hybrid working (where the function allows), we work together to ensure a healthy work–life balance. We offer an attractive leave scheme, allowing you to enjoy 35 days of annual leave based on last year’s performance (private system). In addition, you do not have to work between Christmas and New Year: during this period, we close our offices so you can enjoy a well-deserved break.
Additional benefits include hospitalisation and group insurance, reimbursement of commuting costs (bicycle and public transport), meal vouchers (€8 per day) and the possibility of bicycle leasing.
As a Marine Taxonomist (Benthos), you will contribute to research on North Sea biodiversity and benthic life. Specifically, this role investigates the ecological impact of cable installations between the Princess Elisabeth Island and the mainland, as well as the disposal of additional sediment, on the marine benthic ecosystem. This research is based on seabed samples collected using a Van Veen grab and Sediment Profile Imaging (SPI). By doing so, you will generate valuable knowledge to evaluate the impact of these activities on the North Sea. The role offers a great deal of variety and responsibility, allowing you to oversee the entire research process from A to Z by combining work at sea and in the lab with data analysis and reporting.
You will carry out the project independently while working closely with your colleagues for sampling, analyses, and laboratory tasks. You will have the opportunity to build broad expertise in identifying 300 to 400 benthic species living in and on the sediment within an accredited laboratory. Experienced colleagues will guide you through a step-by-step training program. Furthermore, you can develop your career further within our marine biodiversity research unit and have the opportunity to present your work at conferences, potentially abroad.Â
