Researcher in Soil and Farming Systems

Your job

As a researcher, you play a key role in carrying out research projects within the Soil Quality and Farming Systems team of our Open Field Crops business unit. You are responsible for the practical coordination of large-scale field experiments around Lelystad, primarily focused on arable farming and open-field vegetable cultivation. These experiments may involve new cropping systems, soil quality trials, or testing new forms of mechanization. Examples include PPS Cover Crops and PPS Agroforestry.

You act as a link between researchers and the experimental farm, ensuring the translation of scientific insights into practical applications. Together with research assistants, you contribute to data collection from field experiments. With your practical perspective, you develop solutions for sustainable agriculture and biodiversity enhancement, both short-term (proof of concept, new farming systems) and long-term, and your holistic approach helps create resilient and robust production systems.

Your Responsibilities as a Researcher

• Planning and designing field trials;
• Practical coordination of field trials in consultation with researchers and the experimental farm, maintaining an overview of the activities to be carried out;
• Organizing and collecting data (on crop development, biodiversity, soil quality);
• Processing and interpreting research results;
• Contributing to the presentation of results to clients, stakeholders, and the trade press.

Your Team
You will be working within the Soil and Farming Systems team. With around 28 experts in fields such as soil, water, organic matter, fertilization, farming systems, and agroecology, you will work on innovations in open field crops. Together with government, industry, and practice, we work on both short-term and long-term solutions. With an integrated approach to soil (management), fertilization, crop health, and cultivation practices, we provide solutions to the sector. Within the open field crops business unit, we collaborate with other teams focused on crop health, precision technology, and socio-economic aspects.

Your qualities

You are socially skilled, flexible, and focused on teamwork. Additionally, you possess several essential qualities: you are creative, take initiative, enjoy working collaboratively, and have a practical approach. Proactivity and result-orientation are central to your work.

You also possess:

• At least a bachelor's level (HBO) of work and thinking capacity in innovative production systems and soil management;
• Broad practical knowledge of arable farming and open-field vegetable cultivation;
• Knowledge of soil quality and/or data processing is an advantage;
• Coordinating skills, able to work independently, and can easily switch between tasks;
• Willingness to broaden your knowledge and to take courses to gain new skills.

For this position, proficiency in Dutch is essential. Additionally, a C1 level of English is required. If you do not yet have this level, we are happy to support you, and you can make use of our language center, Wageningen in’to Language.

You can see that there are plenty of challenges ahead of you. These challenges can also be seen as development opportunities. So if you do not yet have the track-record required in the vacancy, but do have solid work experience, we would also like to invite you to apply.

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;
• 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 8,3%;
• 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 €3.040,- and €5.221,- for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale 8-10). Additionally, a contract for 24 hours can be discussed. As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended - if possible within (company) organizational circumstances - on good performance. Of course, we are happy to have a conversation with you if you have any questions about this.

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.

Do you want more information?

For more information about this position, please contact  Janjo de Haan, senior researcher, 0320-291211 (janjo.dehaan@wur.nl) or John Verhoeven, Teamlead, 0320-291349 (john.verhoeven@wur.nl).

For more information about the procedure, please contact Dax Teunissen, corporate recruiter 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 December 9th, 2024. We hope to schedule the first job interviews on December 12th, 2024.

Procedure
As part of our selection process, an assessment may be incorporated within the procedure

Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone's unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.

We are

Open Field Crops
The Open Field Crops Business Unit of Wageningen University & Research aims to make a significant contribution to developing economically viable open-field crop sectors that respect nature, the environment, and people, and it brings science into practice.

The Business Unit specializes in testing and developing innovations in arable farming, fruit, tree cultivation, open-field vegetable cultivation, and green spaces. We are experts in successfully developing and testing on a practical scale using scientifically sound methods and techniques. We achieve this primarily through our unique expertise, experimental farms, and storage facilities, both nationally and internationally.

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, 7,600 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.