Are you passionate about improving pig welfare? Do you want to unravel the impact of the social, physical, and cognitive environment of pigs on their resilience and help create an environment that makes pigs thrive? Then this project is right for you!

Welfare of pigs depends on their ability to cope with and recover swiftly from the challenges that they encounter, i.e., their resilience. A pigs’ environment influences how well it can develop the skills needed to be resilient, and a recent project of Wageningen University demonstrated that a highly complex social and physical environment benefits pig resilience. However, it is unknown exactly how different components of this environment contribute to the development of resilience to different challenges. Also, we currently do not know which behavioral, physiological, and cognitive skills a pig needs to be resilient in different contexts. This knowledge is essential for the development of targeted approaches that boost pig resilience and welfare.

You will contribute to the ongoing pig resilience and welfare research of the Adaptation Physiology Group of Wageningen University by distinguishing the effects of various environmental conditions on the resilience of pigs to the various challenges that they can experience in husbandry systems. In addition, you will explore the skills needed for pigs to be resilient, including their behavioral patterns, social abilities, physiological functioning, and/or cognitive competence. We are looking for an enthusiastic and dedicated PhD student who is able to navigate the complex landscape of pig resilience and integrate different types of data into a comprehensive advice for the improvement of pig welfare. You will work in a multi-disciplinary chair-group (15 staff members, 24 PhD students, and 8 technicians) and collaborate with researchers and students to make this project a success. Besides working on your own project, you will be involved, as part of your PhD training, in the teaching and supervision of BSc and MSc (thesis) students. Also, you will follow PhD courses as part of your Training and Supervision Plan.

You possess:

• An MSc degree in a field related to the topic of the PhD project (Biology, Animal Sciences or adjacent fields);
• Experience with or profound interest in behavioral, physiological, and/or cognitive measurement and analytical approaches in animals;
• Affinity with hands-on work with pigs will add to the suitability of the candidate;
• A keen interest in both fundamental research on pig resilience as well as applied research on the development of housing systems that are applicable in pig husbandry;
• A self-motivating, pro-active, and enthusiastic mindset;
• A strong drive to collaborate with other researchers and be a team player;
• Excellent communication skills and proficiency in English (both oral and written);
• A preparedness to achieve proficiency in scientific writing and presenting skills.

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.

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 within the Graduate School Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences (WIAS).

The gross salary for the first year is € 2.872,- per month rising to € 3.670,- 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.

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 The Netherlands, 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.

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 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.

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.

For more information about this position, please contact Dr Liesbeth Bolhuis, Associate Professor, by e-mail: liesbeth.bolhuis@wur.nl or Dr Allyson Ipema, Postdoc, by e-mail: allyson.ipema@wur.nl

For more information about the procedure, please contact Noorien Abbas, Coorporate recruiter, recruitment.asg@wur.nl

Do you want to apply?
You can apply directly using the apply button onthe 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 30 September 2024. We hope to schedule the first job interviews in October 2024.

Equal opportunities
WUR is an equal opportunity employer. We are keen to receive applications from all sufficiently qualified people, regardless of their ethnicity, gender, functional impairment, religion/life philosophy, sexual orientation, or age.