Postdoctoral fellow in Machine Learning & Butterfly Ecology

Are you looking for a new opportunity to contribute to the science that is needed to understand the state of biodiversity and help develop tools that can be used to inform conservation strategy and policy?

About the company

Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden is the Dutch national research institute for biodiversity and systematics. With our collection of 42 million specimens, one of the world’s largest natural history collections, and our state-of-the-art research facilities we offer the (inter)national research infrastructure for species, identification and monitoring (for example in the ARISE and DiSSCo projects). We closely collaborate with many Dutch universities, research institutes, industry, and government. We host over 120 researchers including 15 academia embedded professors, 30 postdocs and 50 PhD students. We present the history of our planet, and the diversity of life on Earth, through permanent and temporary museum exhibitions, educational programmes, and online presence, with more than 400,000 visitors per year. All in all, a unique combination of science and culture in the Netherlands and elsewhere in the world!

Job description:

Are you looking for a new opportunity to contribute to the science that is needed to understand the state of biodiversity and help develop tools that can be used to inform conservation strategy and policy? Would you like to join a friendly and open environment where you can develop your skills and learn new things? Then this vacancy may be for you.

Applying AI, data analysis, and ecological modeling to enhance knowledge and conservation of Southeast Asian butterflies, 32-36 hours/week

Position

Naturalis possesses one of the largest collections in the world of butterfly specimens from South East Asia, and this collection has been the focus of concentrated digitisation efforts during the past eight years, including specimen photography. This new project seeks to harness this dataset using machine learning in order to release this information and make it available for scientists and conservation biologists around the world. The project aims to accelerate the identification and ecological analysis of museum specimens, to integrate our collections with existing global knowledge, to produce a novel synthesis of available information, and to develop new tools that will facilitate modern day research in this biodiversity hotspot.

You will take the lead in developing AI-driven methods to enhance the identification and ecological analysis of Southeast Asian butterflies. The role involves five key components:

• Machine-learning development – creating image recognition models to identify photographed butterfly specimens, integrating unidentified samples with validated references in collaboration with taxonomic experts.
• Model implementation – producing a robust identification tool suitable for academic research worldwide.
• Data integration – combining Naturalis and external datasets to map biodiversity gaps, highlighting priority species and regions for further study.
• Ecological modeling – analyzing butterfly communities and population trends to inform conservation strategies.
• Scientific communication – publishing findings to share insights with the global research community.

You will become part of the NL Biodiversity and Society research group (led by Prof. Dr. Koos Biesmeijer) which works at the interface of ecological research, policy, and public/private initiatives, including biodiversity monitoring and developing solutions to the ongoing biodiversity crisis. Daily supervision will be provided by Dr. Thomas Wood and Dr. Leon Marshall.

General requirements and skills

Do you have a PhD in a relevant field (such as AI, biology, or environmental science) and a keen interest in ecology? If so, we’d love to hear from you! The ideal candidate will have:

• Meaningful experience working with machine-learning image recognition models, including both academic study and practical application using real-world datasets
• A strong analytical background and experience with software to analyse ecological data (e.g. R, Python)
• The ability to coordinate and mobilise people (including volunteers) to work towards the project objectives

It would be an asset if you have a personal interest in butterflies, their ecology, and their conservation. We expect a scientific and critical attitude, good time management skills, and the ability to work independently. Excellent knowledge of the English language (written and verbal) is essential, as this will be the main working language of the project.

We offer

A contract (32-36 hours per week) for a period of one year, with the expectation of extension for a second year after successful evaluation. The desired start date is 1 April 2025, but flexibility is possible. The monthly starting salary is between € 3,641.- and € 4,731.- gross, depending on relevant experience. The successful candidate will be employed by Naturalis in Leiden. Naturalis Biodiversity Center offers an inspiring working atmosphere with career development support. Our Research Coordination Office also provides ample support to our scientific staff. Our institute promotes gender equality and wants to enhance the diversity of staff members. Feel free to contact Dr. Thomas Wood (thomas.wood@naturalis.nl) or Dr. Leon Marshall (leon.marshall@naturalis.nl) with questions about the position. For procedural questions related to the application please contact HR: sollicitaties@naturalis.nl.

Procedure

Please submit your application through this application form no later than 3 March 2025. Interviews are expected to be held either in person or online on 10-14 March. Applicants are invited to submit their application in one pdf, including:

Motivation letter (max 2 pages), explaining your motivation for the position and your competences
CV highlighting your education, skills, and relevant work experience, along with the names and contact details of two professional references to support your application.

Naturalis endorses the Cultural Diversity Code. In the case of equal suitability, preference is given to the candidate who reinforces diversity within the team.

If you are a recruitment agency, please do not contact us.

Link to vacancy:

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