Researcher Crop Physiology and Data

 As a researcher, do you want to use your passion for plant cultivation in the greenhouse horticulture sector? Do you want to investigate how, with the help of the knowledge and all the possibilities that glasshouse horticulture offers, you can get everything out of the plant for a sustainable, advanced and realized glasshouse? Then we are looking for you at Wageningen Plant Research!

As a Researcher Crop Physiology and Data you will be responsible for the following:

• You will execute, or be involved with, projects in the field of greenhouse horticulture and vertical farming, aimed at optimizing environmental conditions for crop growth, development and production.
• You will translate research questions into experimental designs and protocols for observations on crop growth and development, and for advanced measurements such as photosynthesis, transpiration, light interception, spectral composition of the light, etc.
• You will process and analyse the experimental data, using statistical packages (R, Genstat), suitable programming languages (e.g., Matlab, Python) and our crop simulation model.
• You will describe the results in reports and present them.
• You will cooperate with colleagues from different expertise within and outside the Business Unit, including big data and AI experts.
• You will consider opportunities for new projects and be involved in acquisition.
• You will maintain contact with clients, (local) governments, greenhouse suppliers, growers and other (international) knowledge institutions.

This position is part of the Physiology and Product Quality team, in which approximately 20 researchers work on all kinds of aspects of the quality and crop physiology of horticultural crops. Research is being conducted into the development of sustainable cultivation systems in greenhouses and vertical farms, and into various quality aspects in the chain. Experts in the field of crop physiology, experimental research, crop growth models, sensors and data work together in multidisciplinary projects.

We ask

For an enthusiastic and ambitious researcher with:

• Relevant education at BSc or MSc level in plant sciences, applied biology or another relevant education;
• Experience in the design and execution of greenhouse trials, and/or advanced data processing and reporting;
• Knowledge of physiological and morphological processes, their interaction with greenhouse climate, and the technical design of cultivation systems;
• Experience with programming languages (e.g., Matlab, Python, Java, C#) and data processing and analysis.
• Knowledge of and experience in greenhouse horticulture;
• Interest to work in project teams with colleagues and stakeholders, such as growers, horticultural supply companies or government;
• Affinity with working in a contract research organization;
• Fluent in Dutch and English;
• A driver’s license B;
• Good communicative skills, team spirit, and client oriented.

Voor deze functie is beheersing van de Engelse taal noodzakelijk. Het gewenste taalniveau is minimaal B2. Meer informatie over dit niveau is te vinden in het document Taalniveau.

We offer

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

• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• the option to accrue additional compensation hours by working more, up to 40 hours per week;
• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• 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 4%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. We offer, depending on your experience, a competitive gross salary of between € 3.024,-  and € 4.317,-  for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale 9). Additionally, a contract for 32 FTE can be discussed

Wageningen University & Research encourages internal advancement opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a multi-faceted 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 17^th 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 position, please contact Anne Elings, Teamleader Physiologiy anden Productquality, phone +31 (0)317-483250 of by e-mail anne.elings@wur.nl; or with Anja Dieleman, Senior Researcher Crop Physiology, +31 (0)317-483203 or by e-mail anja.dieleman@wur.nl.
For more information about the procedure, please contact Ine van’t Land, corporate recruiter by e-mail: vacaturemeldingen.psg@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 21 August 2022. We hope to schedule the first job interviews on 29 August 2022.

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

Wageningen University & Research
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, 7.200 employees and 13.200 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!

Greenhouse Horticulture & Flower Bulbs
The business unit Greenhouse Horticulture & Flower Bulbs of Wageningen University & Research is the internationally leading research institute for greenhouse horticulture and flower bulbs. We focus on innovations in greenhouse horticulture. Together with the business community, government and other research institutes, we work on issues related to greenhouse design, optimization of production systems, new crops, crop protection and the quality of the harvested product. We translate this into innovations for the sector. In the Greenhouse Horticulture & Flower Bulbs business unit, we work with 120 colleagues at two locations, Wageningen and Bleiswijk in the Netherlands.

Check our website for more information. 

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.
 

Apply now