As a research assistant, you contribute to crop and variety improvement in Dutch arable farming and livestock production. With your practical knowledge and experience, you support research, working within a team but frequently going out independently. In this way, you contribute to the sustainability of arable farming and roughage production.

As a research assistant, you play a practical role in the field of crop and variety research (mainly silage corn, grain corn, and grass). You are responsible for preparing and carrying out a wide range of research activities, from finding suitable plots to planting, maintenance, and making observations until harvest. You frequently interact with field trial hosts and are familiar with the farmers' language.

Your tasks and responsibilities:

• Preparing and conducting research activities;
• Maintaining contacts with farmers and field trial hosts;
• Directing those involved in supporting the work;
• Entering collected data into automated files;
• Noticing any deviations in cultivation conditions.

You will work with a small team of 4-8 researchers active in crop and variety research. Additionally, you will be part of a pool of research assistants deployed in a wide range of research projects within the business unit. You will have considerable freedom and independence in performing tasks, and you are responsible for keeping the test fields tidy and ensuring that all tasks are carried out on time. Many of the corn and grass test fields are on farms at approximately 20 locations throughout the Netherlands. You will drive yourself to the various locations in your company car. During the season (from late April to late October), days are often longer, and you can compensate for this extra time by working slightly shorter days from November to March.

You are a customer-oriented, collaborative, and results-driven personality with drive and a proactive attitude.

You also possess:

• At least a completed MBO (secondary vocational education) in an agricultural field, such as Crop Cultivation, Horticulture, or Landscaping;
• Practical knowledge of arable farming and/or roughage production. Knowledge of trial techniques is an advantage;
• Knowledge of diseases, pests, and weeds;
• A driver's license (B).

You see plenty of challenges ahead, which can also be viewed as development opportunities. We encourage candidates with solid work experience to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements.

Where You Will Work
The ‘Crop Research & Precision Agriculture’ team is part of the Open Field Crops business unit of Wageningen Research. The people in this business unit work on developing new strategies in areas such as cultivation techniques and crop protection, for arable farmers, horticulturists, suppliers and buyers in the agro-industry, governments, and social organizations. Around 200 people work in the Open Field Crops business unit. The research is conducted at the central location in Lelystad, at regional research locations (Vredepeel, Valthermond, and Westmaas), and on commercial farms. For this position, primarily at commercial farms.

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• 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. We offer, depending on your experience, a competitive gross salary of between €2.496,- and €3.682,- for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale 7). Additionally, a contract for 24 hours can be discussed. As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended - if possible within (company) organizational circumstances - on good performance. Of course, we are happy to have a conversation with you if you have any questions about this.

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 multi-faceted position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

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.