Postdoctoral Researcher in Chemical Ecology

Welcome to Maastricht University!
Are you excited by how chemicals are used by organisms to communicate within and across species? At Maastricht University, we are interested in how animals use chemical and physiological mechanisms to interact with each other and their environment, including how human impact on the environment shapes these mechanisms. We particularly focus on insects, notably ladybird beetles. 

 

• Our goal: We aim to unravel the chemical defence mechanisms of ladybird beetles and understand how their alkaloid profiles vary across species and environments. By combining analytical chemistry and ecological insight, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of adaptation, biodiversity, and evolution.
• Your colleagues: You will join a small team  dedicated to chemical ecology and ecophysiology. The group includes expertise in chemistry, ecology, and evolutionary biology. You will mainly work with  enthusiastic undergraduate and graduate students.

What you will do
As a postdoctoral researcher, you will take the lead in designing, conducting, research on chemical defence in ladybird beetles. Your main responsibilities include:

• Investigating qualitative and quantitative variation in alkaloids of Adalia and other ladybird species.
• Conducting analytical work using GC-MS and LC-MS, and potentially supporting field-based data collection.
• Supervising undergraduate and graduate student research projects.
• Contributing to teaching in chemical ecology, including the development of a new undergraduate skill module.
• Taking a lead or supporting role in writing research grant applications.

 Are you ready to set the course for the years ahead? Then we’d love to meet you. 

What you bring
We’re not looking for checkboxes—we’re interested in who you are and what you bring. Do you recognize yourself in this?

• You hold a PhD in chemical ecology or a closely related field.
• You have experience in research involving live insects and chemical analyses (e.g., GC-MS, LC-MS).
• You are skilled in designing and conducting experiments, analysing data, and publishing scientific results.
• You have a collaborative attitude and enjoy mentoring students.
• You are fluent in English (spoken and written) and, if not already Dutch-speaking, willing to learn the language.

What we offer
As a Postdoc at Faculty of Science & Engineering, you will be employed by the most international university in the Netherlands, located in the beautiful city of Maastricht. In addition, we offer you:

• Good employment conditions. The position is graded in scale 11 according to UFO profile Researcher, with corresponding salary based on experience ranging from € 4.728 to € 6.433 gross per month (based on a full-time employment of 38 hours per week). In addition to the monthly salary, an 8.0% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus apply.
• An employment contract for a period of 12 months with a scope of 0.8-1.0 FTE. Upon a positive evaluation, an extension of up to 18 months will follow. 
• At Maastricht University, the well-being of our employees is of utmost importance, we offer flexible working hours and the possibility to work partly from home if the nature of your position allows it. You will receive a monthly commuting and internet allowance for this. If you work full-time, you will be entitled to 29 vacation days and 4 additional public holidays per year, namely carnival Monday, carnival Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day. If you choose to accumulate compensation hours, an additional 12 days will be added. Furthermore, you can personalize your employment conditions through a collective labor agreement (CAO) choice model. 
• As Maastricht University, we offer various other excellent secondary employment conditions. These include a good pension scheme with the ABP and the opportunity for UM employees to participate in company fitness and make use of the extensive sports facilities that we also offer to our students. 
• Last but certainly not least, we provide the space and facilities for your personal and professional development. We facilitate this by offering a wide range of training programs and supporting various well-established initiatives such as 'acknowledge and appreciate'. 

The terms of employment at Maastricht University are largely set out in the collective labor agreement of Dutch Universities. In addition, local provisions specific to UM apply. For more information, click here.

Maastricht University
Why work at Maastricht University?

At Maastricht University (UM), everything revolves around the future. The future of our students, as we work to equip them with a solid, broad-based foundation for the rest of their lives. And the future of society, as we seek solutions through our research to issues from all around the world. Our six faculties combined provide a comprehensive package of study programmes and research.

In our teaching, we use the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method. Students work in small groups, looking for solutions to problems themselves. By discussing issues and working together to draw conclusions, formulate answers and present them to their peers, students develop essential skills for their future careers.

With over 22,300 students and more than 5,000 employees from all over the world, UM is home to a vibrant and inspiring international community.

Are you drawn to an international setting focused on education, science and scholarship? Are you keen to contribute however your skills and qualities allow? Our door is open to you! As a young European university, we value your talent and look forward to creating the future together.

Click here for more information about UM. 

Faculty of Science and Engineering  
At the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE), we focus on themes such as circularity and sustainability, future farming, digitisation and (scientific) instrument development.  FSE's leading projects, like the Einstein Telescope Pathfinder, are sure to grab anyone's attention.  The faculty is a vibrant hub of education and research in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS).  At FSE, over 450 staff members and 3700 students gather to explore e exciting interdisciplinary research and educational programmes. Feel welcome, be part of our team and put your brilliant mind to work!  
 

FSE at the Brightlands Campuses  
Maastricht, Sittard-Geleen, Heerlen, and Venlo, the home of four creative Brightlands campuses, are bustling with 30,000 entrepreneurs, researchers, and students working diligently to solve global challenges. The Faculty of Science and Engineering is active on all four Brightlands campuses, and this is where our impact reaches its peak. To give you an idea of what is happening at each campus: Sittard-Geleen is home to the largest chemical site in the Euregion, while Venlo is a large hub for agri-food innovation. Maastricht is the site of the Health Campus, and Heerlen is the place to be for Smart Services. 

Curious?
Are you interested in this exciting position but still have questions? Feel free to contact contact John Sloggett at j.sloggett@maastrichtuniversity.nl for more information.  

Applying?
Or are you already convinced and ready to become our new Postdoc? Apply now, no later than 2 November, for this position.

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.