PhD 'Improving food bank supply chains to minimize food loss and waste'

 

Are you interested in working with food banks to improve their supply chains? Do you have experience with quantitative analysis and optimization of operations and supply chains and with the actual implementation of the results of such analyses? And do you want to be part of a large new European initiative to reduce food loss and waste and work towards a more sustainable food system? Then this PhD position focused on improving the operations in food bank supply chains might be something for you.

This PhD project is part of a large European research project focused on the reduction of food loss and waste. Together with industry partners from across Europe and in close collaboration with project partner Tilburg University, the goal is to identify, study, demonstrate and implement a variety of food system innovations that support ambitious goals in food loss and waste reduction. In this PhD project, the goal is to improve the way we deal with surplus food in food bank supply chains and support implementation in practice of the improvements. This should help decrease food waste (at, amongst others, retailers, distributors, processing companies or farmers), while at the same time addressing societal food poverty concerns. Building on operations and supply chain analytics methods, the research should develop decision support methods and tools that food banks and retailers can use to efficiently and effectively reallocate surplus food.

The research is embedded within the Operations Research and Logistics group at Wageningen University. The group consists of 20 academics focusing on operations and supply chain issues in food and bio-based supply chains. Within this scope, the core research areas are:

• operations and supply chain performance analysis;
• the strategic configuration of network structures;
• the tactical and operational planning of material flows.

In addition to traditional efficiency goals, the research also aims to improve sustainability, product quality and safety, as well as health and nutrition. Current examples of research are the design and operation of circular supply chains, the management of disruptions in food supply chains, the connection between changing diets and sustainable supply chain design, the operations in omni-channel retail, the management of not-for-profit supply chains, and supply chain planning to minimize waste.

We ask

You have:

• a successfully completed MSc degree in Operations Research, Operations Management, Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, or related fields;
• a proven interest in implementing operations and supply chain innovations in practice;
• experience in developing and applying data-driven quantitative modelling approaches to address important societal concerns;
• excellent English language proficiency (a minimum of CEFR C2 level). For more information about this proficiency level, please visit our special language page;
• excellent written and oral communication skills, supporting the collaboration with food banks and other actors in the food bank supply chains.

We offer

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• the option to accrue additional holiday hours by working more, up to 40 hours per week;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed December bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team. The gross salary for the first year is € 2.395,- per month rising to € 3.061,- in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well.

There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a unique position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the “Best University” in the Netherlands for the 16th consecutive time.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees. Applicants from abroad moving to the Netherlands may qualify for a special tax relief, known as the 30% ruling. Our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.
Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees and students coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, we can assist you with any additional advice and information about helping your partner to find a job, housing, schooling, and other issues.

More information

For more information about this research project and the PhD position, please contact Dr. Renzo Akkerman at renzo.akkerman@wur.nl.

For more information about the procedure, please contact Sandra Willemsen, Corporate recruiter or Bianca Aversteeg, recruitment support via recruitment.ssg@wur.nl.

Do you want to apply?
You can apply directly using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval.

This vacancy will be listed up to and including the 1^st of August, 2021. We hope to schedule the first job interviews in the second half of August, 2021.

The preferred starting date for this position is the 1^st of October, 2021.

Equal opportunities
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) employs a large number of people with very different backgrounds and qualities, who inspire and motivate each other. We want every talent to feel at home in our organisation and be offered the same career opportunities. We therefore especially welcome applications from people who are underrepresented at WUR. For more information please go to our inclusivity page. A good example of how WUR deals with inclusiveness can be read on the page working at WUR with a functional impairment.

We are

The mission of Wageningen University and Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment.

With its roughly 30 branches, 6.800 employees and 12.900 students, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. An integrated approach to problems and the cooperation between various disciplines are at the heart of Wageningen’s unique approach. WUR has been named Best Employer in the Education category for 2019-2020.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch this video to get an idea of our green campus!

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