Job description
We invite applications for the PhD position entitled: 'Economic and Social Impact Assessment of Plant Pests in the European Union'. This research will be carried out within the framework of a recently started multi-disciplinary Horizon2020-project called Pest Organisms Threatening Europe (POnTE), in which 15 research partners from 11 EU countries participate.
Decision making on strategies to control plant pests or diseases requires combining environmental, economic and social ethical value judgements. The main aims of the PhD project are to assess economic and environmental impacts and to develop a transparent Multi Criteria Assessment framework to assess plant pest management. This multi-disciplinary research will require the combination of knowledge on economics and operations research. Affinity with plant disease epidemiology, statistics and risk analysis is an advantage.

Requirements
For this PhD position we are looking for an enthusiastic result-driven candidate with an MSc degree in either (1) economics (agricultural economics, quantitative economics), (2) operations research, or (3) plant production with a proven interest in operations research and/or economics. Analytical abilities and collaborative skills are required and good communication skills and proficiency in English (both oral and written) are a prerequisite.

Conditions of employment
In principle this is a 48 month PhD position. We offer you a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended with 30 months if you perform well. Salary will increase from € 2191 gross per month in the first year up to € 2801 in the last year, based on a full-time appointment (38 hours a week). In addition, we offer a holiday allowance of 8% and an end-of-the-year bonus of 8.3% of your annual salary.

Wageningen University & Research

Organisation
The PhD project will take place within the Business Economics (BEC) group (www.wur.eu/bec ) of the Wageningen University. BEC holds a strong position in interdisciplinary research with key areas, such as food supply chain economics, bio-economic modelling, and economics of animal health, food safety and plant health. Also, BEC is active in measuring and modelling performance and risk management of agro-supply chains and farms. Research is commissioned and funded by the Dutch government, the EU, non-governmental organisations, food processors, wholesalers, feed companies, pharmaceutical companies as well as banks, insurance companies and agricultural accountants.

Wageningen University is part of the Wageningen University and Research Centre (Wageningen-UR). Wageningen UR aims to deliver a substantial contribution to the quality of life by searching for answers to issues affecting society - such as sustainable food production, climate change and alternative energy. Every day, 6,500 people work on 'the quality of life', turning ideas into reality