Are you a pro-active, precise person and perseverant person who loves to contribute to improving long-term health of individuals living with obesity and their offspring by means of tackling nutrient deficiencies? Combining data of existing cohort studies of individuals eligible for obesity treatment and home-monitoring these patients will provide insights into relations between proper nutrient intake and status and maintaining long-term health. We have a PhD position in Nutrition and Disease open. Will you join us?
What are you going to do?
The PhD position in Nutrition and Disease will focus on the effects of nutrient deficiencies in the presence of obesity and after obesity treatment, by using existing cohort studies as well as setting up a new prospective cohort study following women with obesity – as well as their offspring – over time by means of smart measurement technologies.
The research is mainly grounded in human nutrition and health and specifically nutritional epidemiology, but has links with data sciences and medical technologies, and therefore a background or interest in these disciplines is highly valued.
As a PhD student in Nutrient Deficiencies during Obesity Treatment, you will contribute to the “4TU RECENTRE project”. This project is a complementary and multidisciplinary collaboration among the four Dutch universities of technology (Delft University of Technology – TU Delft, Eindhoven University of Technology – TU/e, University of Twente – UT, and Wageningen University & Research – WUR). Supporting a more digitalized healthcare system and empowerment of patients, the project aims to develop personalized and timely interventions for individuals at risk of developing diseases. Mutual collaborations among researchers are central to this project.
You will work here:
The research is embedded within the Division of Human Nutrition and Health, chair Nutrition and Disease, which is led by Prof. Ellen Kampman and special chair Nutrition and Obesity Treatment led by Prof. Eric Hazebroek, surgeon. You will be co-supervised by Agnes Berendsen.
Want to know more about the RECENTRE project?.
You are/have
- a successfully completed MSc degree in Human Nutrition and Health or Biomedical Sciences, or similar study programs;
- Affinity with individuals living with obesity, (smart) measurement technologies and Data Sciences to monitor their health and dietary intake prospectively;
- Knowledge of programming skills in SAS, SPSS, RStudio or Stata are welcome;
- Interest in application in a clinical setting;
- A team player who can work independently yet also communicate well with colleagues
For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognized Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language.
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 € 2.541,- 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.
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.
For more information about this position, please contact Agnes Berendsen, Associate Professor, 0317-485898, or by e-mail Agnes.Berendsen@wur.nl. For more information about the procedure, please contact Rutger Voorrips, recruiter, by e-mail; rutger.voorrips@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 13th of July 2023. We hope to schedule the first job interviews on July 24th, 2023.
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.
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.