Research Officer in the Earth Simulation Lab

Join our team as a research officer to support scientists and students in experiments and measurements on the physical behaviour of the ‘solid Earth’.

The department of Earth Sciences has various world-class laboratory facilities that focus on the physical behaviour of the Earth. Our research contributes to a fundamental understanding of the dynamic processes that govern the evolution of Earth and other planets, as well as to a safe, responsible, and sustainable use of the subsurface, supporting the global energy transition. A significant part of these facilities are housed in the “Earth Simulation Laboratory (ESL)”.

Your job

As our new Research Officer, you support scientists and students in our department and visitors in simulation and characterisation of processes in the Earth. You will support data acquisition with existing equipment in the ESL, such as the Zeiss Versa microCT, the Siemens CT and various deformation apparatuses (triaxial, rotary shear).

Among your tasks, you will

• Communicate and interact with suppliers and ESL support technicians;
• Discuss experimental / data acquisition with visiting researchers;
• Interact / supervise PhD, MSc and BSc students while working in the labs;
• Promote the facilities for external access;
• Help in outreach activities, such as Open Days;
• Provide support for data processing / interpretation;
• Help in optimisation, development and testing of methods and data workflows.

With your knowledge and expertise you support and advise our scientists and help strengthening our research. You will not be asked to develop your own research line(s) or seek your own research funding. Support in education is expected to be limited to supporting practicals and/or student projects. Incidental expert (guest) lectures may be optional, whereas all primary teaching duties lie with our assistant, associate and full professors.

Your qualities

You hold a PhD degree in Earth Sciences or Material Sciences by the time that the position starts.

Further, you

• can demonstrate experience with CT data acquisition and/or deformation / fluid flow experimentation;
• have excellent verbal and oral communication skills in Dutch and English;
• can demonstrate good time management and planning skills;
• are skilled in data processing / visualisation;
• have strong teamwork affinity to work in a diverse environment of junior and senior scientists, as well as students and technicians.

The ideal candidate is a jack-of-all-trades in this field of expertise who possesses vast and diverse knowledge and skills. However, we recognise that it is more realistic that the new Research Officer demonstrates solid grasp of one or more specific technique(s), and demonstrates curiosity intellectual versatility, and a deep interest in exploring and mastering other techniques.

Our offer

We offer:

• a position (0.8 – 1.0 FTE) as Research Officer for one year. After a positive evaluation the position will be made permanent;
• a working week of 32- 40 hours and a gross monthly salary between € 3.873 and €5.264 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale 9, 10 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University also offers a range of its own schemes for employees. This includes arrangements for professional development, various types of leave, and options for sports and cultural activities. You can also tailor your employment conditions through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage you to keep investing in your personal and professional development. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

About us

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

Utrecht University’s Faculty of Geosciences studies the Earth: from the Earth’s core to its surface, including man’s spatial and material utilisation of the Earth – always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organised in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development.

The Department of Earth Sciences conducts teaching and research across the full range of the solid Earth and environmental Earth sciences, with activities in almost all areas of geology, geochemistry, geophysics, biogeology and hydrogeology. The department hosts a highly international tenured staff of over 50 scientists and more than 110 PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers. We house or have access to a wide variety of world-class laboratories, among which are the Electron Microscopy Centre, the Geolab, and the Earth Simulation Lab.

About Utrecht

The department and its facilities are located at Utrecht Science Park. Utrecht is the fourth largest city in the Netherlands with a population of nearly 360,000 and forms a hub in the middle of the country. Its historical city centre and its modern central station can easily be reached from the Science Park by public transport or by a 15-minute bicycle ride. Utrecht boasts beautiful canals with extraordinary wharf cellars housing cafés and terraces by the water, as well as a broad variety of shops and boutiques.

More information

For more information about this position, please contact Dr André Niemeijer at a.r.niemeijer@uu.nl

Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.

Apply now

At Utrecht University, we strive to be a place where everyone feels at home. We value colleagues with different backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including differences in culture, religion or ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, neurodiversity, disability and age. We are committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive and contribute. Read more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion. If you have any questions about accessibility, for example regarding your workplace Earth Simulation Laboratory, the application process or your work, please contact us via our HR contact page.

Knowledge security screening can be part of the selection procedures of academic staff. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology.

To apply, please send your curriculum vitae, including a letter of motivation via the 'apply now' button. Also, please indicate your earliest possible starting date, should you be offered the position in October. The application deadline is August 30th, 2026, and we aim for the first round of interviews to take place within the next four weeks. We hope to be able to fill the position a.s.a.p. thereafter. Your availability to start the position may be incorporated in our decision.

Note that international candidates that need a visa/work permit for the Netherlands require at least four months processing time after selection and acceptance. This will be arranged with help of the International Service Desk (ISD) of our university. Finding appropriate housing in or near Utrecht is your own responsibility, but the ISD may be able to advise you therewith. Unfortunately, we must warn that it is a tight market at the moment. In case of general questions about working and living in The Netherlands, please consult the Dutch Mobility Portal.