PhD candidate: Economic Modelling of EU agricultural policies

 

Are you concerned about the long-term environmental impact of human activities and agriculture, the trade-offs with food security and the role of EU Green Deal policies? Are you interested in exploring how promising new technologies in agriculture could contribute to more safe and equal world in the future? Are you motivated to work with an established international team of researchers?

Wageningen University and Research is hiring a PhD candidate (4 years, full-time employment) to become part of a large international and multi-disciplinary project funded by the EU that aims to develop new models and tools to assess the future development of the EU agricultural landscape.

The PhD candidate will gain research experience in a variety of economic disciplines, from microeconomics, regulatory economics, to a macro-level (Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) modelling). The candidate will contribute to the identification of the promising technologies relevant for Green Deal in agriculture, for instance Gene technologies and organic farming. Upon the collection of field-level data, the candidate will analyse the economics of the different production technologies in agriculture such that they can be implemented in the internationally established global CGE model MAGNET for long-term projections and scenario analysis (magnet-model.netlify.app). The MAGNET model is used for policy analyses and advice by the European Commission, FAO and OECD.
In the course of the elaboration of the thesis the candidate will gain experience by interacting with leading researchers in agricultural economics, stakeholders groups, international research teams and policy makers.

The research is embedded within the chair Agricultural Economics and Rural Policy at Wageningen University and within Wageningen Economic Research institute. The PhD project is part of the Horizon Europe BrightSpace project, in which 14 leading European research institutes are developing and applying models to analyse the synergies and trade-offs between socio-economic and environmental development of the EU agricultural sector in the coming decades.

The overall objective of the BrightSpace project is to design effective and sustainable strategies for assessing and addressing the challenges of EU agriculture to navigate within a safe and just operating space, including planetary boundaries as required by the European Green Deal. BrightSpace provides a set of analytical instruments to experiment, analyse, and coordinate the effects of innovative governance structures and policies related to agriculture to navigate within a safe and just operating space.

The candidate will be co-supervised by Prof. Hans van Meijl, Prof, Justus Wesseler and Dr. Zuzana Smeets Kristkova.

We ask

• a successfully completed MSc degree in agricultural, environmental or applied economics;
• strong quantitative background: knowledge of econometric methods and economic modelling, previous knowledge of CGE modelling is an advantage;
• for this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level;
• the ability to work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary and multi-national team;
• the ability to think critically and the ambition to publish the results of your work in top economics and interdisciplinary journals.

We offer

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

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially 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 compensation / 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 € 2.434,- per month rising to € 3.111,- 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 17th 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.

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.

More information

Do you want more information?
For more information about this position, please contact Dr. Zuzana Smeets Kristkova by e-mail zuzana.kristkova@wur.nl.

For more information about the procedure, please contact: Jeanine van ‘t Veer, Corporate Recruiter, 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 1 June 2022. We hope to schedule the first job interviews on 13 June 2022. The preferred starting date for this position is 1 November 2022.

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!

Apply now

PhD candidate: Applied Microeconomics

 

Do you want to contribute to EU Green Deal policies that result in a more equitable and sustainable farming systems in Europe? Are you interested in applying micro-econometrics and micro-simulation techniques, and working with large household surveys and demographic projections? Are you motivated to work with an established international team of researchers?

Wageningen University and Research is hiring a PhD candidate (4 years, full-time employment) to become part of a large international and multi-disciplinary project funded by the EU that aims to develop new models and tools to assess the future development of the EU agricultural landscape.

The selected candidate will analyse large representative EU budget, income and labour force surveys and contribute to the creation of an EU NUTS2 level database that combines demographic, labour and population projections with detailed information about economic sectors, income structure, and consumption patterns.
The candidate will also develop and apply spatial micro-simulation methods to assess the impact of EU agricultural policies on household incomes and food consumption at the small area level, and conduct econometric analyses that provide deeper insights into European regional structural change.

The research is embedded within the chair Agricultural Economics and Rural Policy at Wageningen University and within Wageningen Economic Research. The PhD project is part of the Horizon Europe BrightSpace project, in which 14 leading European research institutes are developing and applying models to analyse the synergies and trade-offs between socio-economic and environmental development of the EU agricultural sector in the coming decades. The final aim of Brightspace is to design a roadmap for effective and sustainable strategies for assessing and addressing the challenges of EU agriculture to navigate within a safe and just operating space. This PhD position contributes especially to assess and address the just dimension by uncoverring distributional issues.

The candidate will be co-supervised by Prof. Hans van Meijl, Dr. Michiel van Dijk and Dr. Esther Gehrke.

We ask

You have:

• a successfully completed MSc degree in Economics (or close to completion); with specialization in applied microeconomics, micro/macro-simulation, regional economics or labour economics;
• for this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level;
• strong quantitative and programming skills and experience with statistical software (preferably R);
• the ability to work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary and multi-national team;
• the ability to think critically and the ambition to publish the results of your work in top economics and interdisciplinary journals.

We offer

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

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially 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 compensation / 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 € 2.434,- per month rising to € 3.111,- 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 17th 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.

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.

More information

Do you want more information?
For more information about this position, please contact Dr. Michiel van Dijk, e-mail Michiel.vandijk@wur.nl.

For more information about the procedure, please contact: Jeanine van ‘t Veer, Corporate Recruiter, 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 1 June 2022. We hope to schedule the first job interviews on 13 June 2022. The preferred starting date for this position is 1 November 2022.

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!

Apply now

Senior Researcher Marine Mammals

 

Do you want to play a central role in research into the effect of human activities on seals and porpoises? Do you find it challenging to further strengthen this knowledge position with the team? Is paying attention to the contact and relationship with the client a no-brainer for you? Then we have an interesting vacancy for you at Wageningen Marine Research as a senior researcher on marine mammals.
 

A successful candidate:

• Directs medium-sized research projects, aimed at possible disruptive effects of human actions on seals and other marine mammals, advise on this and maintain active contacts with clients.
• Acquires new research projects within the described area of expertise, actively seek contact with our customers and actively anticipate market opportunities.
• Takes the field of research, together with your colleagues, to a higher level. Play a proactive role in this based on your specific knowledge and expertise.
• Contributes to a long-term vision to support national and international research agendas.
• Publish your research regularly in the scientific literature and present research results and participate in national and international conferences, symposia and meetings.
• Actively seek out collaboration with other researchers within the institute where there is overlap. Where application of acoustic or other techniques are used.

We ask

• You have completed a relevant academic study in Natural or Life Sciences with a focus on marine ecology. You have a PhD in a field relevant to this position.
• You have broad experience in conducting ecological research on marine mammals independently and expertise in the effects of disturbance on seals and other marine mammals, especially noise. You have basic knowledge of and experience in the use of (bio)acoustics.
• You have experience in acquiring new research and you have a relevant network.
• You have experience with project management.
• You have quantitative skills and experience with R.
• You can describe research in clear and high-quality reports and you can translate results into concrete advice to government, users and other stakeholders.
• You publish in scientific journals.
• You are customer-oriented, enterprising, result-oriented, strong in communication, flexible and stress resistant.
• You can balancing the role of science versus the consequence for society and policy.
• You like to work in a team, you dare to be critical and you can work under time pressure.
• Your level of communication skills in English is at least C1. If you speak a foreign language, it is a requirement that you have enough knowledge of the Dutch language. 

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. 
• the possibility of partially paid parental leave; 
• the opportunity to work part-time.

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 max € 5.268,- for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CAO Wageningen Research (scale 11/WO-researcher 3).
 

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. 

More information

For more information about this position, please contact Tammo Bult, tel.0317-487162, e-mail tammo.bult@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 May 31th, 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 with us and be offered the same career opportunities. We therefore especially welcome applications from people who are underrepresented within WUR. For more information, please visit our inclusivity page, inclusiviteits pagina.

A good example of how WUR deals with inclusivity 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, 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!

Wageningen Marine Research (WMR) is a leading, independent research institute that focuses on strategic and applied marine ecological research. The institute was established in 2006. Products and services are executed on a project basis (more than 400 research projects) and show a wide diversty: field research, experiments on a realistic scale, on lab scale, data management and modelling. The institute has modern research facilities and is ISO 9001 certified. One of the research focuses in our organization is understanding the ecology of marine mammals, including harbour and grey seals and harbour porpoise in the North Sea, one of the busiest seas in the world. Human activities in the area include shipping, underwater explosions, seismic surveys, sand mining, fisheries and the construction and exploitation of offshore wind farms all potentially affecting these marine mammals or their environment. Research is being conducted into the effects of these activities and how these can be mitigated or reduced. Airial surveys, acoustic monitoring and telemetry and biologging are used for this, among other things. Based on our expertise, modelling and study results, policy and management advice on sustainable use of the North Sea is provided to our clients, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Rijkswaterstaat and private companies. The increasing interest in further developing the North Sea for human use is leading to a growing demand for applied research and expertise.

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

Apply now

PhD position in Cellular Proteins

 

Are you interested in novel food proteins derived from bacteria, yeast, fungi, and microalgae? Are you ready for your next step in academia? Are you ambitious and do you want to perform research on the extraction and functionality of the next generation of alternative food proteins? We have a PhD position in Cellular Proteins. Will you join us?

We are looking for an enthusiastic PhD student to develop downstream processes for the extraction of crude and purified protein ingredient fractions from microbial biomass (yeast, fungi, bacteria, microalgae). The research will involve structure-function studies of the extracted proteins to enable targeted modifications of the fractionation process leading to highly functional ingredients for the next generation of meat and dairy alternatives. This PhD position will be based in the Food Process Engineering group at Wageningen University (http://www.WageningenUR.nl/fpe).

Your task is to
1. develop downstream processes to obtain raw and purified protein components with high techno-functionality and
2. investigate protein structure-function relationships of cellular proteins in the obtained fractions in order to target highly functional ingredients for milk or dairy alternatives.

The position is funded by the TKI Agrifood project: Cellular proteins - a sustainable source of food proteins, with co-funding from a large number of international companies. The aim of this project is to investigate sustainable production chains for cellular proteins based on the interrelationship between growth conditions, downstream processing and functionality for a range of selected microorganisms, including microalgae, bacteria, fungi and yeast. For each organism, three main areas will be investigated: Growing conditions, downstream processing and structure-function relationships.

This project is a collaboration with Wageningen University, NIZO and Wageningen Food and Biobased Research (WFBR) and will provide insights into the applicability, sustainability and feasibility of using microbial biomass and/or its fractions as functional protein-rich ingredients in food applications.

The research is embedded within the chair of Food Process Engineering (Chairholder Prof. Remko Boom), and member of the Protein Functionalization team (https://www.wur.nl/en/Research-Results/Chair-groups/Agrotechnology-and-Food-Sciences/Food-Process-Engineering/Protein-functionalization.htm), which is led by Associate Prof. Julia Keppler.
 

We ask

You have:

• have a successful master’s degree in food science, biotechnology, chemical technology, or equivalent;
• are a team player and passionate about working in a collaborative project;
• have good communication and organizational skills and are able to work both independently and in a team environment;
• are fluent in English at C1 level.

We offer

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

• study leave and partially 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 compensation / 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 € 2.443,- per month rising to € 3.122,- 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 17th 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

Do you want more information?
For more information about this position, please contact Dr. Julia Keppler, Associate Professor (julia.keppler@wur.nl).
For more information about the procedure, please contact Rutger Voorrips, recruiter, by email: rutger.voorrips@wur.nl.  

Do you want to apply?
You can apply directly by uploading your CV and motivation letter, 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 May 23^rd 2022. We hope to schedule the first job interviews at the beginning of June 2022. The preferred starting date for this position is August/September 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 pleasego 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 the best university of the Netherlands by students for the 17^th time in a row.

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

The laboratory of Food Process Engineering (FPE) is strongly internationally oriented and widely recognised and works together with scientific groups and industries from all over the world.  We work as team on finding new ways to prepare foods in much more sustainable ways, keeping them fresher and tastier, and healthier for the consumers. As foods are very complex products, we need to obtain deeper insight of their response to treatment, to understand how we could keep them in a fresher state, and how we could help people having a healthier diet. We aim for this at truly new principles for processing, not at improving existing processes. And we have found that there is a lot to explore. We therefore have the ambition to grow further scientifically by investing in better understanding in ‘multi-scale’ phenomena, combining phenomena from (supra)molecular properties, mesoscale interactions, towards the prediction of macro-scale properties of foods or food components, under conditions of processing. We have a long tradition of collaboration with people in other academic groups over the world, within our own University, and with our group.
 

Apply now

PhD in consumer behavioural change towards no food waste

 Do you want to lead innovative research contributing to a mindset change that leads to less food waste? Do you want to clarify how conditions internal to individuals and in their social and physical environment affect behaviour change? Then you might be the PhD candidate (in the area of consumer behaviour change with respect to food waste reduction) we are looking for!

This PhD project is positioned within the European Project ToNoWaste, aiming towards a new zero food waste mindset along the food chain. The aim of ToNoWaste is to equip market actors with scientific and evidence-based assessment tools and data to make better decisions towards a more sustainable food production and consumption patterns. The unique feature of the project is that there is room for several behaviour change interventions to be developed, implemented and validated  in two cities in Europe (Valencia, Spain and Vienna, Austria).

The focus of this PhD project is particularly on consumer-level behaviour change. Your responsibility will be to develop the theoretical framework from which potential (multifaceted) interventions are being informed, validated and tested in real life situations with a longitudinal focus across the four years of PhD research. Our aim is to study three types of interventions in detail, in three empirical papers, with a final analysis to assess the overall effectiveness of the project as a whole.
Consumer responses will be assessed using measures collected before and after the period of implementation of these interventions. In addition, these can be supplemented with lab / online experiments. It is expected that you will not only develop research skills and competences for the PhD project but that you will also contribute and learn from actively participating in the ToNoWaste project.

General information about the Marketing and Consumer Behavior Group can be found on https://www.wur.nl/en/Research-Results/Chair-groups/Social-Sciences/Marketing-and-Consumer-Behaviour-Group.htm
Your main supervisors for the PhD project will be Betina Piqueras Fiszman and Erica van Herpen.

We ask

Eligible candidate need to have:

• Completed a MSc University degree;
• Background in consumer behavior (e.g. consumer science, marketing, social psychology, behavioral economics). Other backgrounds will not be considered.;
• A high level and interest in marketing/consumer behavior, with a focus on behaviour change;
• Statistical/ modelling skills (R or SPSS);
• Openness and willingness to collaborate with people from other scientific disciplines;
• Clear scientific ambition in the conduct and publication of research work;
• For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level;
• A group-social, critical and positive learning attitude towards achieving excellence.

As the project would involve travelling (mostly within Europe), it is a plus if the candidate has:

• Knowledge of Spanish and/or German
• Availability to travel

We offer

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

• study leave and partially 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 compensation / 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 € 2.443,- per month rising to € 3.122,- 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 17th 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.

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.

More information

Do you want more information?
For more information about this position, please contact Betina Piqueras-Fiszman and Erica van Herpen, Associate Professors, Marketing and Consumer Behavior Group, Betina.piquerasfiszman@wur.nl; Erica.vanherpen@wur.nl.

For more information about the procedure, please contact: Jeanine van ‘t Veer, Corporate Recruiter, recruitment.ssg@wur.nl

Do you want to apply?
Interested candidates must submit their CV and motivation letter by June 9^th 2022.

A first round of interviews is expected on June 20. Selected candidates will have to prepare a short assignment for the second and last round of interviews, expected to be held on the week of the 4^th July (with some flexibility).

The preferred starting date for this position is September 1.

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 the best university of the Netherlands by students for the 17^th time in a row.

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

Apply now

PhD project: Green light signalling in plants

 

Are you looking for an exciting PhD project to tackle fundamental questions in plant science? Are you interested in exploring how plants perceive and respond to their environment? Do you have affinity with plant physiology and molecular biology? And do you want to do research in a multicultural and stimulating academic environment?

We are looking for a motivated PhD candidate to work on an NWO-funded project to study the mechanisms underlying green light sensing in plants. The selected candidate will work in close collaboration with a postdoctoral researcher on this project. They will become a member of the Retrograde Signalling team, which is embedded in the chair group of Plant Physiology.
Project description: Plants dynamically respond to their light environment, to optimize light capture for photosynthesis. The means by which blue, red and far-red light are perceived by different plant photoreceptor proteins are well-understood. However, it remains unknown how plants sense green light. In this project, we aim to find out how plants perceive and respond to green light, and how this helps them to survive (shaded) environments where light quality fluctuates. The work will be performed in model species Arabidopsis thaliana and follows a multidisciplinary approach using physiological, molecular, and modelling techniques.

The research is embedded within the chair Plant Physiology, and part of the Retrograde Signalling team, which is led by Dr. Charlotte Gommers. The selected candidate will be co-supervised by Prof. Christa Testerink.

We ask

You:

• Have a successfully completed MSc degree in Plant Sciences, Molecular Biology, (Plant) Biotechnology or equivalent study.
• Have excellent English language proficiency. For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level or higher.
• Have hands-on experience in molecular biology. Experience in microscopy is a plus.
• Have a proven affinity with plant physiology.
• Work efficiently and accurately and are highly motivated to do fundamental research.
• Are willing to contribute to teaching and mentoring of MSc and BSc students.
• Have strong communication skills and work well in a small team.
• Contribute to an open and inclusive atmosphere.

We offer

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

• study leave and partially 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 compensation / 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 € 2.443,- per month rising to € 3.122,- 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 17th 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.

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.

More information

Do you want more information?
For more information about this position, please contact Charlotte Gommers, Assistant Professor and project leader: charlotte.gommers@wur.nl.

For more information about the procedure, please contact Ine van 't Land, corporate recruiter, vacaturemeldingen.psg@wur.nl

Do you want to apply?
You can apply directly by uploading your CV (max. 4 pages A4) and motivation letter (max. 1 page A4), including the names of 2 references, using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval. We only consider applications via this website for the position. Any applications by e-mail will not be considered.

This vacancy will be listed up to and including 29 May 2022. We hope to schedule the first job interviews in week 23. The preferred starting date for this position is summer 2022.

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 the best university of the Netherlands by students for the 17^th time in a row.
Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch this video to get an idea of our green campus!

Apply now