Utrecht University Announces 23 New PhD, Postdoctoral and Academic Positions for 2025-2026

Utrecht University in the Netherlands invites applications for 23 vacant PhD, Postdoctoral and Academic positions — a golden chance for ambitious scholars around the world. If you’ve ever imagined doing research at a top European university, this could be the moment that changes your path.

Why This Feels Special

I remember the night I first discovered a scholarship listing — I was wide-eyed and hopeful, imagining what life might look like if I landed something abroad. There’s something about seeing your name under “admitted” that turns dreams tangible. That’s exactly what these 23 openings from Utrecht University offer — a doorway, not just to study, but to contribute meaningfully in fields that shape our future, from climate science to neuroscience, from urban health to fundamental mathematics.

What Positions Are On Offer

Here’s a look at some of the exciting PhD, Postdoc and Academic jobs open now at Utrecht University (with direct apply links):

PhD: Unravelling Clogging Mechanisms in Porous and Fractured Rocks — explore subsurface processes using 4D X-ray imaging, Faculty of Geosciences, Earth Sciences. Application deadline: 14 December 2025. Apply here: https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/working-at-utrecht-university/jobs

PhD: Land-ocean interaction across the K/Pg boundary — reconstruct climate and sediment dynamics during a pivotal extinction event, Faculty of Geosciences, Earth Sciences. Deadline: 4 January 2026. Apply here: https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/working-at-utrecht-university/jobs

PhD: Novel experimental turbidity currents in the TurbiFlume — study submarine canyon processes and ocean-shelf dynamics, Faculty of Geosciences, Earth Sciences. Deadline: 5 January 2026. Apply here: https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/working-at-utrecht-university/jobs

PhD Candidate in Exposomics, Machine Learning and AI — merge computational modeling with public health to study environmental exposures and biological outcomes, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Population Health Sciences. Deadline: 5 January 2026. Apply here: https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/working-at-utrecht-university/jobs

PhD Position: Unlocking the potential of after-school care — research experiences of over 500,000 children attending after-school care weekly in the Netherlands, Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences, Education & Pedagogy. Deadline: 30 November 2025. Apply here: https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/working-at-utrecht-university/jobs

PhD in Neuroscience — reveal neuronal circuits underlying innate fear using brain imaging in larval zebrafish, Faculty of Science, Biology. Deadline: 15 December 2025. Apply here: https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/working-at-utrecht-university/jobs

PhD: Integrated Assessment Modelling of Climate Feedbacks and Tipping Points — contribute to the EMBRACER project focused on climate tipping points and uncertainty modelling, Faculty of Geosciences, Sustainable Development. Deadline: 19 December 2025. Apply here: https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/working-at-utrecht-university/jobs

Postdoc: Integrating biodiversity data into spatial energy planning — help align energy transition with biodiversity protection in an international research context, Faculty of Geosciences, Sustainable Development. Deadline: 14 December 2025. Apply here: https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/working-at-utrecht-university/jobs

PhD in Polymer-Extracellular Vesicle (EV) Hybrids — design next-generation advanced therapy medicinal products, Faculty of Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences. Deadline: 4 December 2025. Apply here: https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/working-at-utrecht-university/jobs

PhD Candidate in Agent-Based Modelling and Urban Health: Designing for Movement — use simulation models to design healthier, more active cities, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Population Health Sciences. Deadline: 31 December 2025. Apply here: https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/working-at-utrecht-university/jobs

Postdoc in Proteomics and Immuno-Oncology — study immune–tumor communication through advanced proteomics, Faculty of Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences. Deadline: 8 December 2025. Apply here: https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/working-at-utrecht-university/jobs

Assistant Professor in Algebraic Geometry & Number Theory — for mathematicians passionate about research and teaching, Faculty of Science, Mathematics. Deadline: 8 December 2025. Apply here: https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/working-at-utrecht-university/jobs

Assistant Professor in Mathematical Modelling — ideal for mathematicians interested in applying modeling to real-world problems, Faculty of Science, Mathematics. Deadline: 4 January 2026. Apply here: https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/working-at-utrecht-university/jobs

PhD in Chemical Proteomics — study protein-lipid interactions and drug–protein binding, Faculty of Science, Chemistry. Deadline: 24 November 2025. Apply here: https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/working-at-utrecht-university/jobs

PhD in Paleoclimatology — join a multidisciplinary effort to decipher ancient sea-level changes, Faculty of Geosciences, Earth Sciences. Deadline: 19 December 2025. Apply here: https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/working-at-utrecht-university/jobs

PhD: Feedbacks and Agency in Future Water Use — research human impacts on global water cycles, Faculty of Geosciences, Physical Geography. Deadline: 19 December 2025. Apply here: https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/working-at-utrecht-university/jobs

PhD: Scalable Offshore Floating PV Systems — work on physics-based modelling for future offshore solar energy platforms, Faculty of Geosciences, Sustainable Development. Deadline: 30 November 2025. Apply here: https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/working-at-utrecht-university/jobs

Postdoc in Children’s Active Mobility and Urban Environments — explore why children walk or cycle less and help design 15-Minute Cities to encourage mobility, Faculty of Geosciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning. Deadline: 30 November 2025. Apply here: https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/working-at-utrecht-university/jobs

Assistant Professor in Theoretical High Energy Physics — lead ambitious research and mentor future physicists, Faculty of Science, Physics. Deadline: 7 December 2025. Apply here: https://www.uu.nl/en/organisation/working-at-utrecht-university/jobs

Who Should Look Into These Opportunities

If you’ve ever felt a tug — a curiosity about how the world works, a desire to build solutions, or a wish to teach and inspire — then at least one of these positions might be for you. The diversity here is wide: maybe you’re a mathematician who loves the abstract, a climate-conscious scientist worried about Earth’s future, or someone drawn to social science and public health. Utrecht University seems to value that blend of curiosity, rigor, and passion.

Helpful Tips for Applying

Because many of these positions are highly competitive, take time in preparing your application. A good CV and motivation letter can set you apart. For research roles, try to outline how your background fits the project and what unique perspective you bring. Applying early — well before deadlines — helps too, especially if you need time for transcripts, recommendation letters or visa documents.

Final Thoughts

I still remember staring at my laptop, reading about PhD options and thinking: “Could I really leave home and build something new, somewhere far away?” If you apply to Utrecht University, you might just give yourself that chance — a chance to grow, discover, and contribute. And sometimes, that kind of leap changes everything.