We are looking for an aspiring PhD student to develop modern causal machine learning methodologies for sustainable, market-driven and non-exploitative, smallholder farming in Senegal.

Causal reasoning is an emerging topic to help understand and solve complex real-life problems in agriculture. Currently, causal machine learning research often considers large areas, remote sensed data, and intensive agricultural systems in data-rich regions. There is very little evidence on how causal models can be employed for informing smallholder farm decision making, characterized by hyperlocal practices and effects and by sparse, noisy datasets.

The aim of this PhD research is to dive into causal machine learning methods and their applications in data sparse, heterogeneous smallholder farming systems in Africa. You will work together with stakeholders from the rice value chain of Senegal, and analyze extensive longitudinal farm-level observations that span across hundreds of smallholder farms and several years across an intensification gradient between Dagana and Podor.

The project forms part of an interdisciplinary programme on food security intelligence, in which a group of PhD researchers collaborate across different case studies that focus on the use of data to address food security challenges. The work will have a strong methodological focus and will target improvements for evaluating the impact of farmer decision across food value chains in Senegal. You will collaborate closely with Manobi Africa, Senegal, as well as scientists at ICRISAT, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics.

You will work here
You will join the Artificial Intelligence (AIN) group, a newly established chairgroup within Wageningen University that aspires to advance artificial intelligence methods for addressing global challenges in a responsible way. With three faculty and more than 20 postdocs and PhDs, the Artificial Intelligence group is an emerging community of AI researchers aiming to advance methods and conduct use-inspired, applied research in close cooperation with domain experts in the environmental, social and life sciences. You will be co-supervised by Prof. dr. Ioannis Athanasiadis (Wageningen University) and Dr. Pierre Traore (ICRISAT).

As an ideal candidate, you are a curious, creative scientist and a problem solver who is interested in exploring and expanding the potential of modern artificial intelligence methods to solve relevant societal problems.

Specifically, you have:

• a M.Sc. degree in artificial intelligence, computer science, applied mathematics, statistics, environmental or agricultural science, remote sensing, or a similar relevant field;
• demonstrated experience in applied machine learning, preferably with causal methods or agricultural applications;
• proficiency in programming in Python and experience in pytorch, scikit-learn or related modern machine learning libraries;
• experience with working with big data from multiple structured and unstructured sources;
• a deep understanding of machine learning principles and concepts;
• a high motivation, self-driven curiosity alongside enthusiasm to work in a highly dynamic interdisciplinary and multi-cultural team towards a common objective;
• Strong motivation in addressing global food security from a low-income perspective;
• Experience working or living in low-or middle- income countries, particularly in Senegal is considered a plus;

For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognized Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here.

Candidates should meet all the entry requirements of the WUR PE&RC PhD programme.

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 € 2.872 - 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.

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.
Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. 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.