To turn ecology in a predictive science and start building digital twins in a virtual research environment (VRE), the data and models that form the very foundation of digital twins and other innovative digital ecological research need to be made FAIR, digital twin- and VRE-ready. This is not an easy task. For data, this is because of several reasons: 1) there is no clear overview of the ecological data landscape in the Netherlands, 2) data exist in a wide variety of formats and structures, and 3) the volume of possibly relevant datasets is enormous. Some developments and tasks within LTER-LIFE are trying to help overcome these constraints (e.g., the development of the Veluwe Metadata Portal) or direct attention and/or priority to relevant datasets (e.g., the co-development of scientific use cases with researchers), but there is still a lot of ground to cover.
What you will be doing
As FAIRification steward you have a dynamic role with the sole purpose to help overcome the FAIR data bottleneck and support researchers in making their data FAIR. In collaboration with the relevant partners in WP2 and WP4 of LTER-LIFE, the tasks of the FAIRification steward include:
As FAIRification steward you have a dynamic role with the sole purpose to help overcome the FAIR data bottleneck and support researchers in making their data FAIR. In collaboration with the relevant partners in WP2 and WP4 of LTER-LIFE, the tasks of the FAIRification steward include:
Creating a data longlist
You will scout the data landscape and contact researchers and data organisations to find and learn about relevant datasets. They will ask data holders to register their datasets in the appropriate platforms (e.g., Waddenregister or Veluwe Metadata Portal) themselves or help them if necessary.
You will scout the data landscape and contact researchers and data organisations to find and learn about relevant datasets. They will ask data holders to register their datasets in the appropriate platforms (e.g., Waddenregister or Veluwe Metadata Portal) themselves or help them if necessary.
Making data FAIR
You will create reproducible workflows to make datasets FAIR. These may include datasets that have a direct use through scientific use cases, datasets registered via metadata platforms such as the Veluwe Metadata Portal, or other datasets marked as high priority by the data rescue protocol.
You will create reproducible workflows to make datasets FAIR. These may include datasets that have a direct use through scientific use cases, datasets registered via metadata platforms such as the Veluwe Metadata Portal, or other datasets marked as high priority by the data rescue protocol.
The setting in which the FAIRification steward works on these tasks will depend on the dataset involved; this could be as consultant for a data owner, as data manager at the data owner’s premises or at the LTER-LIFE offices at NIOO-KNAW in Wageningen.
What you will be contributing
We are looking for applicants that are well-versed in quantitative/technical skills, such as programming (preferable R), data management, FAIR principles, as well as interpersonal skills to help lower the threshold for researchers and data holders to start using FAIR practices when working with data.
Desired qualifications, skills and competencies:
- Experience with script-based data wrangling, standardisation, and validation, with a preference for the R programming language
- Basic knowledge of or strong interest in data standards and metadata schema relevant in ecology and related disciplines (e.g., DarwinCore, Ecological Metadata Language)
- Background and strong interest in Open and FAIR research practices, and transparent and reproducible science
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Proficiency in Dutch and English, both written and verbal
What do we offer?
We offer an interesting position for 4-5 days per week (0.8 -1.0 fte), initially for 1 year, with the possibility of extension.
Please see general information about the salary and benefits in the section below on Terms of employment.
More information
Questions regarding this position can be directed to Dr. Geerten Hengeveld ([email protected]), Executive Manager of the LTER-LIFE infrastructure project.
Application procedure
For the application, please provide a curriculum vitae and cover letter summarizing motivation and experience. The deadline for applications is 26th of September 2025.
About NIOO
The Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO) is a national research institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). At NIOO we perform ecological research on biodiversity, climate change and sustainable use of land and water. We stimulate ecological research in the Netherlands and share our ecological knowledge with society. Everyone in our organisation is passionate about contributing to a sustainable world from their own area of expertise.
Terms of employment
Depending on education and experience the minimum salary is €3.218 and the maximum salary is €4.298 gross per month for a full-time appointment (scale 8 cao Nederlandse Universiteiten/KNAW). This is exclusive of 8% vacation allowance, 8.3% year-end bonus, travel allowance, internet allowance, home working allowance and pension accrual with ABP.The KNAW offers its staff an excellent package of secondary benefits. A package that meets the different needs of employees depending on their stage of life, lifestyle or career ambitions. For example, by working an extra two hours a week, it is possible to increase the number of days off from 29 to 41 days a year (with full-time employment). For a complete overview of the terms of employment, please refer to the web page: werken bij de KNAW.
Applying for a Certificate of Good Conduct can be part of the employment procedure.
Diversity & Inclusion
The KNAW considers a working environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated of great importance. A working environment in which attention is paid to individual quality and where development opportunities are paramount. Together we strive for an inclusive culture in which we embrace differences. We would therefore like to invite candidates who want to contribute to this through their background and experience. In the event of equal suitability, preference will be given to the candidate who thus enhances diversity within the Academy.
We will not respond to any supplier enquiries based on this job advertisement.
Report job
