PhD position: Nexus-informed pathways towards circular and 'nature inclusive' food systems in the Netherlands

Are you an aspiring researcher looking for a new opportunity in the field of food security, climate mitigation and biodiversity conservation? Are you interested in modelling desirable futures for the Netherlands, including its marine, coastal and terrestrial ecosystems? Would you like to join a friendly and open environment where you can develop your skills and acquire new knowledge?

Then we invite you to join the Environmental Systems Analysis Group as a PhD candidate within the interdisciplinary research project ‘Solving the Sustainability challenges at the Food-Climate-Biodiversity (FCB) nexus’ at Wageningen University!

In this project, you will explore nexus-informed pathways towards circular and ‘nature inclusive’ food systems in the Netherlands. The Netherlands and its food production systems on land and at sea are vulnerable to climate change. Meanwhile, the Netherlands has hotspots of biodiversity that are under threats from human activities such as urbanization, agriculture activities and climate change. The Dutch government has adopted a new policy concept of ‘nature-inclusive’ ‘circular’ farming which aims at promoting more sustainable agricultural practices that minimizes negative biodiversity impacts and carbon emissions, and maximizes their benefits to nature and people. Similar policy goals are set for fisheries under the European Union’s Common Fisheries Policies that the Netherlands is a part of.

This PhD research should (i) identify existing scenarios and pathways for a nature-positive future, analyze their narrative, ultimate goals, and outcomes, and suggest ways to integrate them withing integrated models, (ii) synthesize these into pathways towards ‘nature-inclusive’ climate smart, healthy food-systems; (iii) analyze levers and barriers to achieve a nature-inclusive society; and iv) offer ways to upscale and/or outscale to larger areas, as well as linking with other case studies within the ‘Solving the FCB nexus challenges’ project.

We are searching for a PhD candidate who has strong spatial modelling skills, an understanding of biodiversity, some experience with spatial data management and modelling, a general affinity with the topics described above; and a curious mindset open to explore new scientific avenues.

You will work here
This research is embedded within the Environmental Systems Analysis Group. You will be supervised by prof. dr. Rob Alkemade and dr. Solen Le Clec’h. Within the ‘Solving the FCB nexus challenges’ project, you will work closely together with an international consortium.

You have:

• a successfully completed MSc degree in environmental sciences;
• strong spatial modelling skills, experience with scenario building is desired;
• academic excellence, with a solid understanding of both quantitative and qualitative research methods, demonstrated through grade transcripts and CV;
• flexible and a team player;
• proactive and an independent worker;
• some affinity with or interest in the economic analysis of ecosystem services;
• good communication skills;
• willingness to travel to case study sites and conduct fieldwork, if needed;
• good command of spoken and written Dutch is essential;
• excellent command of written and spoken English (C1 level. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognized Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here.

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.

The gross salary for the first year is € 2.770 - per month in the first yea rising to € 3.539,- in the last 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 18th 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 helping your partner to find a job, housing, schooling. For instance, under the "30% rule", certain categories of international staff can receive tax exemption on approximately 30% of their gross salary.

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, 7,200 employees (6,400 fte) and 13,200 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.. An integrated approach to problems and the cooperation between various disciplines are at the heart of Wageningen’s unique approach. WUR has been named Best Employer in the Education category for 2019-2020.

These are the points our employees list as good reasons to come work at WUR: read the 5 reasons to come work at WUR

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 Rob Alkemade, by email:rob.alkemade@wur.nl or Solen Le Clec’h, by email:solen.leclech@wur.nl

For more information about the procedure, please contact Noorien Abbas, corporate recruiter, by email: noorien.abbas@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 include your CV and motivation letter with your application. No other documents are required at this stage.

This vacancy will be listed up to and including 11 December 2023. We hope to schedule the first job interviews soon after the closing date.

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.