Wildfires are reshaping air quality, ecosystems, and climate — but their emissions and atmospheric impacts remain one of the largest uncertainties in Earth system science. We are offering an exciting opportunity to join a leading consortium at the cutting edge of satellite remote sensing, high-resolution plume modelling (MicroHH), and atmospheric chemistry transport models (LOTOS-EUROS, ECHAM-HAM). The focus will be on better characterizing fire emissions, smoke plume injection heights, and in-plume pollutant transformations with new Dutch satellite instrumentation, including TROPOMI, EarthCare, and SPEXone.

In this role, you will:

Derive aerosol and trace gas emission factors from satellite fire observations (TROPOMI, SPEXone, EarthCARE, VIIRS).
Improve understanding of smoke injection heights and how they influence regional air quality and climate.
Investigate chemical and aerosol transformations inside fire plumes.
Explore the link between vegetation dynamics and fire emissions.

You will work at the intersection of satellite observations, modelling, and theory, and your results will directly feed into next-generation global fire emission inventories (GFED v5.2), with strong impact across Europe and beyond.

You will work here
The research is embedded within theNWO NFLAMES project, a Dutch consortium led by dr. Folkert Boersma. You will be supervised by Dr. Folkert Boersma, Dr. Chiel van Heerwaarden and Prof. Guido van der Werf within the chairMeteorology and Air Quality, which is led by Prof. dr. Maarten Krol .

Your qualities

You are/have:

A Master’s degree in atmospheric science, physics, environmental sciences, remote sensing, or a related field.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with interest in linking satellite data and atmospheric models.
Experience (or strong willingness to learn) in programming and data analysis (e.g. Python, MATLAB, R, Fortran, or similar).
Curiosity and motivation to work on fire emissions, air quality, and climate questions.
Ability to work independently as well as in an interdisciplinary team across modelling and observational groups.
Good communication skills in English (oral and written), with enthusiasm for scientific publishing and presenting.
A proactive, creative, and collaborative attitude — eager to contribute to a large national research project.

For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognised Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be foundhere.

We offer you

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

Partially paid parental leave;
working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
a fixed year-end bonus of 8.3%;
excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team.

The gross salary for the first year is € 3.059,- ,- per month rising to € 3.881,- in the fourth year in according to theCollective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU)(scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well.

Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the "best university" in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees.

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.
Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. We can assist you with any additional advice andinformationabout for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

Do you want more information?

For more information about the position, please contact Folkert Boersma, Associate Professor, via email: folkert.boersma@wur.nl.

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Jessa Rozema, Corporate Recruiter, via recruitment.support@wur.nl.

Ready to apply?
Click on the application button next to the vacancy on our website. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.

You can apply until October 20, 2025.

Additional information form
For this position, you must fill in a mandatory form which will allow us to have a comprehensive view of your qualifications and better assess your fit for it. You can access the form using the link below:

https://forms.office.com/e/rR9z9yvRqx

Your prompt response will ensure that your application continues to move forward in the evaluation process. We assure you that the information provided will be kept confidential and used solely for this application process.

Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone's unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.

We are

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is ‘To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life’.

We pursue this mission through a synergistic approach between Wageningen University and Wageningen Research Foundation (applied research). Our research focuses on questions within the domains of food, living environment, and society. With approximately 30 locations, 7,700 staff members, 2,500 PhD candidates, and over 13,000 students, Wageningen University & Research is among the world’s leading knowledge institutions in its domain. The integral approach to challenges and the collaboration across various disciplines form the core of the unique Wageningen approach.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR.