PhD Agro-ecological rice systems and wetland conservation in West Africa

Department

Faculty of Science and Engineering

Organisation

Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, University of Groningen, V25.0317

Job description

We are looking to hire one PhD student within the European Union Project LIFE IP GrassBirdsHabitats (www.grassbirdhabitats.eu) to work on a research project on Agro-ecological rice systems for wetland biodiversity conservation in Senegal, West Africa. This 4-year PhD position is embedded within a vibrant and internationally recognized academic environment at the University of Groningen (RUG), specifically within the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE), in the Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), and in collaboration with the interfaculty research centre BirdEyes Centre for Global Ecological Change.

Background
West African wetlands are critical ecosystems providing essential environmental and socio-economic benefits, while rice agriculture forms the backbone of food security and cultural practices across the region, exemplified by its staple role in Senegal. Historically, traditional rice farming often co-existed with wetlands, but increasing demand has led to agricultural intensification, notably in the Senegal River Delta, raising concerns about wetland degradation and biodiversity loss. This PhD project will investigate agro-ecological rice systems in the intensively farmed Senegal River Delta and the more traditional Casamance region of Senegal. By comparing these contrasting contexts, the research aims to identify and test nature-friendly farming strategies that can simultaneously conserve wetland biodiversity, particularly migratory waterbirds, and ensure sustainable livelihoods for local communities, contributing to a more harmonious nature-human relationship in future West Africa.

This PhD project is supported by the LIFE IP GrassBirdHabitats project, a 10-year (2020-2030), EU-funded initiative dedicated to the conservation of grassland birds and their habitats along the East Atlantic Flyway. The project focuses on creating and connecting optimal breeding and non-breeding areas for species like the Black-tailed Godwit. The project implements meadow bird-friendly measures in project areas in Lower Saxony, Germany, and Fryslân, Netherlands, and is developing a Strategic Conservation Plan for meadow bird habitats in Western Europe and West Africa, including habitat restoration plans and strategies for non-breeding areas. The main objective is to boost the populations of wet grassland breeding birds by increasing reproduction rates and improving return rates from wintering areas. This project directly contributes to the LIFE IP GrassBirdHabitats' broader goals by providing detailed insights into the rice agriculture systems and wetlands on which black-tailed godwits depend in Senegal, a critical non-breeding residency site.

Organisation
Established in 1614, the University of Groningen is a leading international research university with a rich academic tradition and a global outlook. It consistently ranks among the top 100 universities worldwide and is renowned for its high-quality research and education. Flexible study programmes and academic career opportunities in a wide variety of disciplines encourage the 34,000 students and researchers alike to develop their own individual talents. The RUG offers a diverse and stimulating environment for PhD students, characterized by excellence in research, an international community, comprehensive resources, and a strong reputation and network.

The Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) at the University of Groningen stands as a prominent institution in the Netherlands, offering a comprehensive educational portfolio with 14 Bachelor's and 26 Master's degree programs, catering to approximately 7,000 students, including a significant number of international students. Within FSE, around 1,200 PhD students are engaged in cutting-edge research across a wide array of disciplines. Emphasizing the importance of ecological studies, FSE is home to the Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), which conducts internationally recognized research in diverse areas relevant to ecology and evolution, including a dedicated Master's program in Ecology and Evolution that offers extensive fieldwork opportunities. Furthermore, the university-wide Rudolf Agricola School for Sustainable Development engages FSE members in research and education related to agroecology and sustainable food systems, reflecting a commitment to addressing pressing global challenges in these fields.

The BirdEyes Centre for Global Ecological Change is a science and creative hub that utilizes bird-borne tracking technology to generate and analyze vast datasets related to ecological change. By combining data from transmitters, loggers, and other high-tech devices with diverse information sources, BirdEyes aims to create a novel knowledge network. The centre, situated within the Faculties of Science & Engineering and Campus Fryslân, and affiliated with the Rudolph Agricola School for Sustainable Development, focuses on innovative approaches to data analysis and science communication. A PhD student at BirdEyes will gain expertise in cutting-edge ecological monitoring techniques, big data analysis, and creative science communication. The centre provides access to extensive global datasets, fostering collaboration across disciplines and offering opportunities to contribute to the understanding and communication of global ecological changes through the unique perspective of avian movement.

Job Description
This PhD project aims to explore and identify evidence-based agro-ecological rice farming strategies that can simultaneously conserve wetland biodiversity, particularly migratory waterbirds, and enhance the sustainable livelihoods of local communities in West Africa, focusing on the Senegal River Delta and Casamance regions of Senegal.

This research will build on a comparative framework, contrasting the rice agriculture systems of the intensively explored Senegal River Delta and the more traditional rice systems of Casamance, both in Senegal, to address the following primary objectives and tasks:

1. State-of-the-art and future directions of agro-ecological rice systems for wetland conservation in West Africa: literature review of scientific knowledge, case studies, and existing policies to develop a conceptual framework and a preliminary strategy for the adoption and scaling up of agro-ecological rice systems in West Africa.
2. Comparative socio-economic dimensions and stakeholder perspectives on rice systems, agro-ecology, and conservation in the Senegal River Delta and Casamance, Senegal
3. Contamination loads and economic assessment of different rice farming systems and natural wetlands in Senegal
4. Experimental evaluation of alternative agro-ecological rice farming practices for biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods
5. Develop concrete and actionable recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and local communities, and outline a potential roadmap for the wider adoption of agro-ecological rice systems in West Africa.

The selected candidate will be encouraged to integrate his own vision on the structure of the PhD and will have the freedom to reshape the research projects within the general boundaries of the subject of socio-economic and ecological aspects of rice systems for wetland biodiversity conservation in Senegal, West Africa.

This position is one of two PhD positions hired on this project, and therefore, collaborative work between the two successful candidates is expected.

The candidate is also expected to contribute to teaching for the MSc course in ornithology of the University Gaston Berger, in Senegal, by dedicating up to 2-weeks per year of their time. In addition, the candidate is expected to offer MSc student project supervision both in The Netherlands and in Senegal, integrated in the student’s work plan and research objectives.

Requirements

- A master’s degree in agronomy, ecology, agro-ecology, socio-economy, or related fields.
- A strong interest in research, nature conservation, ecology, and sustainable and ecological development.
- Practical background knowledge on farming practices in West Africa is a major advantage.
- Affinity with critical data studies and willingness to reflect on data use and circulation.
- Demonstrable skills in scientific writing and data analysis.
- Experience in socio-ecological, and socio-economical surveys and work is an advantage.
- Knowledge of R and/or Python as a tool for data analysis, statistics, and visualization is an advantage.
- Experience with work within local communities in West Africa is an advantage.
- Cross-cultural sensitivity and a team player willing to be part of a large international project.
- Willingness to comply with ethical standards of the University of Groningen and of the LIFE IP GrassBirdHabitat consortium partners.
- Good command of spoken and written English and French (Standard English proficiency test will be required by the University of Groningen).
- Knowledge of local languages, culture, agricultural practices and landscapes of Senegal is an advantage.
- A driving license.
- Willingness to learn new analytical and scientific skills.
- Willingness to communicate and interact with partners in Senegal and from the consortium project.

We encourage candidates of all backgrounds, gender identities, and experiences to apply for this position. West African candidates and candidates holding an MSc degree in Biology or Ecology from a West-African university are specifically encouraged to apply for this position.

Conditions of employment

Contract length: 48 months.

This PhD position offers a unique opportunity to join a world-renowned university within an innovative and interdisciplinary faculty, and to contribute to cutting-edge research within a specialized and dynamic department and research centre. The successful candidate will benefit from the comprehensive resources, expert supervision, and collaborative environment offered by the University of Groningen, Faculty of Science and Engineering, within the GELIFES institute and the BirdEyes research centre, providing an excellent platform for their academic and professional development.
The successful candidate will be hired under the following conditions:

- This position is fully based in The Netherlands, at the Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen. The successful candidate will be based at the offices of GELIFES, in Groningen, and at the offices of BirdEyes Centre for Global Ecological Change, in Leeuwarden.
- The candidate is expected to spend significant periods in the field, in West Africa, mostly in Senegal, doing field work. During these periods, the candidate will have the possibility of using the premisses of the University Gaston Berger (UGB, St Louis, Senegal) and the offices of the NGO NCD - Nature, Community, and Development, both in Dakar and in St. Louis.
- We offer a progressive 2-stage contract composed of the following: in the first 2 years the candidate will receive a 2-year scholarship, granted through Senegal by the local partner NCD and complemented by the RUG, to study in The Netherlands, amounting to a stipend of 1800 EUR per month; for the last 2-years the selected candidate will be employed by the RUG from the Netherlands, following the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, with a gross salary of 3537,00 EUR per month, a holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income, and an 8,3% end-of-the-year allowance..
- The successful candidate will closely collaborate with the University Gaston Berger (St Louis, Senegal) and the Lower Saxony Agency for Nature Conservation (NLWKN, Germany), primarily on the different aspects of developing the West African transnational conservation plan. NLWKN is the lead beneficiary of the EU LIFE IP GrassBirdsHabitats and currently developing a European plan for the conservation of grassland breeding birds. NLWKN offers an opportunity to collaborate with a wide network of stakeholders working on bird conservation and wetland and wet-grassland restoration along the East Atlantic Flyway.

Start Date:
The successful candidate is expected to start on 1 September 2025.

Job Application

All the documents are required to be submitted in English with exception to degree certificates – see below. Applications should include: - Letter of motivation - CV - Reference letters from at least two academic referees - A copy of your bachelor’s and master’s diplomas with a list of course grades. If the certificates or transcripts are not in English or Dutch a translation into English must also be provided. - Optional but recommended: PDF copies of up to 2 publications or thesis that the candidates (co)authored and that represent the candidate’s experience and interests. You may apply for this position until 2 June 11:59pm / before 3 June 2025 Dutch local time (CEST) by means of the application form (click on "Apply" below on the advertisement on the university website). Applications received by 2 June 2025 will be given full consideration; however, the position will remain open until it is filled. The University of Groningen strives to be a university in which students and staff are respected and feel at home, regardless of differences in background, experiences, perspectives, and identities. We believe that working on our core values of inclusion and equality are a joint responsibility and we are constructively working on creating a socially safe environment. Diversity among students and staff members enriches academic debate and contributes to the quality of our teaching and research. We therefore invite applicants from underrepresented groups in particular to apply. For more information, see also our diversity policy webpage: https://www.rug.nl/about-ug/policy-and-strategy/diversity-and-inclusion/ Our selection procedure follows the guidelines of the Recruitment code (NVP): https://www.nvp-hrnetwerk.nl/nl/sollicitatiecode and European Commission's European Code of Conduct for recruitment of researchers: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/charter/code We provide career services for partners of new faculty members moving to Groningen. Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated.

Additional information

For additional information, please contact:

Mohamed Henriques, for information on the project and research scope of the position
[email protected]

HR Services of FSE, for additional information on the application procedures
[email protected]

In your application, please always include the job opening ID V25.0317

Digital application form