1. PhD researcher – Nitrous oxide emissions from agricultural soils:

Are you an enthusiastic and analytical researcher with interest in quantification and mitigation of emission of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide from agricultural soils and their controlling factors? Do you possess a MSc degree in soil sciences, agronomy, environmental science, climate studies or related field? Then we have an exciting opportunity for you!

The Sustainable Soil Management Team of Wageningen Environmental Research and the Soil Biology Group of Wageningen University are looking for a PhD candidate in nitrous oxide emissions from agricultural soils, with a focus on unravelling the soil processes controlling mitigation strategies.

Agricultural soils are the major source of the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O). There is clear potential to reduce N2O emissions by adapting nitrogen inputs and soil management. More insight is needed in the interplay of environmental, soil biological, and management factors that drive N2O emissions. You will assess mitigation strategies in field and lab experiments, including practices related to nitrogen management across various agricultural systems and soil types.

You will have the opportunity to use state-of-the-art equipment and methodologies (such as isotopic labelling techniques, field gas analysers) to quantify N2O and related soil chemical and biological parameters. The results that you produce in this project will aid to a better scientific underpinning of national emission calculations and to the development of strategies to mitigate N2O emissions.

Your qualities

• You have a MSc degree in soil sciences, agronomy, climate studies, environmental science, or a related field.
• You have an interest in agriculture, nitrogen cycling, soil biological processes, and greenhouse gas emissions.
• You have affinity with setting up and executing experimental work in field and lab.
• You effectively communicate and discuss research results different formats and settings, e.g. in scientific journal papers or on meetings and conferences with a range of audiences.
• You have good writing skills and proficiency of the English language.

For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognised Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here.

We offer you

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;
• 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 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 € 2.511 rising to € 3.209 in the last year according to a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the Cla Wageningen Research Foundation agreement 1 April 2022 to till 31 March 2023. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well.

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.

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.

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. For instance under the “30% rule”, certain categories of international staff can receive tax exemption on approximately 30% of their gross salary.

Do you want more information?

For more information about the content of this position, please contact, Gert Jan Reinds, Team Leader, e-mail: gertjan.reinds@wur.nl   or Gerard Velthof, Senior Researcher, e-mail: gerard.velthof@wur.nl For any other questions on the procedure you can contact Noorien Abbas, Corporate Recruiter, e-mail: noorien.abbas@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.

Please upload the following documents online.

• Letter of motivation
• Your CV
• Two names of referents plus contact details

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 & 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 (6,400 fte) and 13,200 students and over 150.000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

This vacancy will be listed up to and including 10th April , 2023. We hope to schedule the first job interviews in the third week of April.

Apply now

2- PhD Researcher Atmospheric Reactive Nitrogen Chemistry:

Are you interested in atmospheric science and environmental chemistry? Do you want to be part of an international research project aimed at understanding the interactions between atmospheric aerosols and clouds (CAINA)?Then we have the perfect opportunity for you!

We are seeking a PhD student to join our international collaborative research project CAINA (Cloud-Aerosol Interactions in a Nitrogen-dominated Atmosphere) to work on the measurement and modeling of nitrate aerosol formation, transport, transformation, and deposition, including the study of organonitrate and brown carbon (BrC) formation, and the role of (organo)nitrates in cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) formation.

In this role, you will have the chance to use advanced instrumentation such as the Metrohm Monitor for Aerosols and Gases in the Atmosphere (MARGA) and gas-phase NOx and NOy measurements.The work will incorporate field work as well as laboratory chamber experiments at the AIDA chamber in Germany. You will be responsible for running and maintaining instruments, analyzing data, and working with collaborators on modeling and interpreting cloud-aerosol interactions.

Your qualities

• A successfully completed MSc degree in atmospheric science, chemistry, or a related field;
• Experience with air quality instrumentation in the laboratory or field;
• Enthusiasm for Atmospheric Chemistry;
• Knowledge in atmospheric science and analytical chemistry, and interest in scientific instrumentation and data analysis
• A strong work ethic and strong motivation for collaborative work
• Experienced in working as part of a team
• For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognised Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here.

We offer you

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 € 2.541,- per month rising to € 3.247,- 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 to 4 full years 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 18th 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. 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. For instance under the “30% rule”, certain categories of international staff can receive tax exemption on approximately 30% of their gross salary.

Do you want more information?

For more information about this position, please contact Juliane Fry, Associate professor of Air Quality and Atmospheric Chemistry, Email: juliane.fry@wur.nl. For more information about the procedure, please contact: Noorien Abbas, Corporate Recruiter, Email: noorien.abbas@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 information with your approval.

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 & 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 (6,400 fte) and 13,200 students and over 150.000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

This vacancy will be listed up to and including 31st March 2023. We hope to schedule the first job interviews around 15th April 2023.

Apply now

3 – PhD position in Biodiversity modelling within the Environmental Systems Analysis Group:

Are you an aspiring researcher looking for a new opportunity in the field of biodiversity modelling? Would you like to join a friendly and open environment where you can develop your skills and acquire new knowledge? Then you have a part to play as a PhD candidate within the interdisciplinary research project ‘SELINA’

In this project you will investigate how satellite data from various sources in combination with spatial models and machine learning can be used to measure biodiversity. Biodiversity is complex, yet it is essential that measurable biodiversity indicators are developed that can be analysed with satellite data across a wide range of ecosystems including in the tropics. These indicators are essential to support, for instance, biodiversity monitoring efforts, ecosystem accounting, and the monitoring and verification of biodiversity impacts of ESG investments.

The use of GIS and Machine Learning (ML) to analyse satellite data is key in this project. The methods should be applicable world-wide, and as much as possible high resolution, globally available data sources from earth observation will be used for this study. The research will be supported by field data from various sites, that are organised with local partners.

Potential reference sites include the Netherlands, Northern Portugal, Peloponnesus, Greece, Palawan, Philippines, and Mato Grosso, Brazil. This will be done with local partners, and we will also connect to the European Space Agency as well as private sector (e.g. property developers working globally) in this project using existing contacts. The PhD candidate will work closely together with other PhD students working on related topics.

We are searching for a PhD candidate who has strong spatial modelling skills, an understanding of biodiversity, some experience with ML and spatial data management, a general affinity with the topics described above; and a curious mindset open to explore new scientific avenues. The PhD may include limited field work in one or more of the above mentioned sites, depending upon progress with the research and interests of the PhD candidate.

This research is embedded within the Environmental Systems Analysis Group. You will be supervised by Prof Dr. Lars Hein and Dr. Jannik Schultner. Within the SELINA project you will work closely together with a large consortium of around 30 partners, working on ecosystems, ecosystem services, biodiversity and environmental policies. You will also work with partners in the Open Earth Monitor Project with some 20 additional partners working on spatial data and models.

Your qualities

    An interest in developing indicators for measuring biodiversity in support of better biodiversity management and conservation

• A successfully completed MSc degree in geoinformation, ecology or environmental sciences.
• Strong spatial modelling skills, experience with Machine Learning is desired.
• Academic excellence, with a solid understanding of both quantitative and qualitative research methods, demonstrated through grade transcripts and CV.
• Flexible and team player.
• Proactive behaviour and ability to work independently.
• Good communication skills.
• Excellent command of academic written and spoken English (C1 level).

We offer you

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 € 2.541,- per month rising to € 3.247,- 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 18th 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

Do you want more information?

For more information about this position, please contact Lars Hein (lars.hein@wur.nl) or  Jannik Schultner (jannik.schultner@wur.nl) , by e-mail. For more information about the procedure, please contact Edgar Tijhuis, corporate recruiter, edgar.tijhuis@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.

We are Wageningen University & Research

The mission of Wageningen University & 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 (6,400 fte) and 13,200 students and over 150.000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

The ESA group studies environmental problems by exploring, modelling, and communicating their causes, mechanisms, effects and potential solutions. Quantitative, qualitative and multi-, and transdisciplinary research are combined and knowledge from natural, social and engineering sciences is integrated. In ESA research, a systems analysis approach is taken and tools are applied to the thematic domain of environmental change and society.

Within the ESA group we currently identify two research lines: Pollution & Nutrients (e.g. causes and impacts of pollution, nutrient fluxes, uncertainty analysis and scale issues in modelling), and Ecosystem Services & Biodiversity (e.g. quantification and valuation of ecosystem functions and services). The ESA group plays a key role in the study programmes Environmental Sciences, Urban Environmental Management and Climate Studies of Wageningen University.

This vacancy will be listed up to and including the 3rd of April2023. We hope to schedule the job interviews during April 2023. The preferred starting date for this position is the 1st of June 2023.

Apply now