Post-doc in Crop Ecology

Your job

We are looking for a Post doc researcher in the Centre for Crop Systems Analysis of Wageningen University, Plant Sciences. This position is part of the NWO funded CropMix project.

The agricultural sector faces major challenges including severe losses in biodiversity, dependence on environmentally malign inputs and climate change There is an urgent need for transition to environmentally benign food systems that are based on the economic strengths of collaboration between parties in the agricultural sector and on support and trust from civil society organisations. CropMix integrates knowledge of ecological, socio-economic and  institutional knowledge in  transdisciplinary approach through a deliberate strategy to involving stakeholders to address this need. It uses crop species mixtures as model system.

The aim for this post-doc position is to integrate ecological knowledge of crop growth and scale this to field and farm-level. This will be done by developing and using a crop model that can represent crop mixtures and rotations. The objective is to quantify the multi-year effects of different mixed cropping and rotational strategies on crop performance (e.g., yields, weed and disease suppression) and local biodiversity. To this end, the post-doc will fulfil a central role by closely interacting with the various PhD students working at the ecological level but also with research in socio-economic domains and with stakeholders.     

You will work here
The Crop and Weed Ecology group is part of the Centre for Crop Systems Analysis (CSA)
which does research on the ecology and management of crops, diseases, and weeds. We study plant form and adaptation, and ecological processes from plant to landscape scale. We thus contribute to the development of sustainable agricultural systems that provide high yields with a minimal ecological footprint and that maximally benefit from and contribute to natural biodiversity and its associated ecosystem functions.

You will be mainly supervised by Franca Bongers and further collaborate with Niels Anten, Jochem Evers and others of the CropMix consortium.

Your qualities

You have / You are:

• A PhD degree in plant science, biology, agronomy, or related discipline;
• Ample experience with experimental and quantitative modelling methods (modelling, systems analysis, simulation, etc);
• Interest in sustainable crop production and biodiversity;
• Understand principles of upscaling from crop level to farm and regional level;
• Successful publication record;
• Affinity to work within a larger multi-disciplinary project.    

In our international working environment there is an increasing amount of communication in English. For this position it is about language level C1 .

We offer you

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;
• 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. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 3.345,- and € 5.278,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 10). We offer you a temporary contract for 1 year which will be extended with another 1,5 years - if possible within (company) organizational circumstances - on good performance. A part time employment is also possible. The position may start anywhere as of February 2025 and is negotiable.

The postdoc candidate will also participate in the graduate school Production Ecology & Resource Conservation of WUR, which offers opportunities for courses supporting scientific as well as personal and professional development.

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 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. If you come with a partner, we offer a Dual Career group program organized by our Welcome Center. This program helps your partner to get familiar with the Dutch culture, labour market and assists your partner to find a job.

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 coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, our Welcome Center can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example housing, opening a bank account 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 Prof. Niels Anten (niels.anten@wur.nl) or Dr. Franca Bongers (franca.bongers@wur.nl )

For more information about the procedure, please contact 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.

Please upload your application (motivation letter and curriculum vitae) via the “apply” button the website. Please do not mail your application to us.   

This vacancy will be listed up to and including 2 December, 2024. We plan to schedule the first interviews soon after the closing date.

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

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.