PhD Researcher - Individual and collective decision making to reduce pollution from chemical inputs

Your job

Are you passionate about shaping the future of agriculture? Do you want to explore innovative approaches to reduce the environmental footprint of agriculture while ensuring farm profitability? Then join us to embark on an exciting PhD journey filled with research, collaboration, and meaningful impact.

The Business Economics Group at Wageningen University is looking for a PhD student to contribute to their research on effective approaches for mitigating risks to the environment from chemical inputs. The successful candidate will investigate chemical input decision-making processes of farmers, with a focus on both individual and collective approaches, such as environmental cooperatives.

Your activities will include:

• assessing the relationship between farmers’ preferences, their coordination with peers, and their chemical input decisions using behavioural economics;
• using game theorical concepts to assess strategic interactive decision-making;
• proposing policies and new business models for reaching pollution reduction targets.

As a successful candidate, you will have the chance to make a tangible difference in the world of agri-food systems. Your work will inform decision-making, drive sustainability, and create opportunities for reducing risks from chemical input use. You will have the opportunity to shape the topic, incorporating your own interests and strengths.

You will work here
The research is embedded within the chair group Business Economics, which is led by Dr. Alfons Oude Lansink. You will be co-supervised by Dr. Julia Höhler and Dr. Tobias Dalhaus

Your qualities

The ideal candidate is expected to have (or will obtain within due course):

• a MSc degree in Applied Economics (e.g., agricultural economics, environmental economics), or related fields with a proven interest in economics;
• proficiency in statistical software is strong asset;
• good analytical and communication skills, both verbal and written;
• fluency in English.

We offer you

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

• 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.

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.

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 € 2.770 - per month rising to € 3.539,-  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 19th 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.

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands 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. We can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

Do you want more information?

For more information about this position, please contact Dr. Julia Höhler, julia.hoehler@wur.nl, or Dr. Tobias Dalhaus, tobias.dalhaus@wur.nl or Prof. Alfons Oude Lansink, alfons.oudelansink@wur.nl.

For more information about the procedure, please contact: Noorien Abbas, Corporate Recruiter, by email: 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. To apply please upload a motivation letter (max. 2 pages) and your CV (max 4 pages) including names and contact details of two potential references.

This vacancy will be listed up to and including 8 July 2024. We hope to schedule the first interviews by mid-July 2024; if you are not available in that period, please indicate this in your application letter. Preferred starting date of the position is as soon as possible.

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. 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, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 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.

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


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