Join Wageningen University & Research as a Senior Researcher (UHD position or Professor) in Infectious Disease Epidemiology! We are seeking a passionate academic to conduct innovative research on animal and zoonotic diseases, mentor PhD students, and contribute to impactful projects at the livestock-wildlife-human interface. If you're ready to advance your career and make a difference in veterinary and public health, explore this exciting opportunity today! We are looking for you.

The Infectious Disease Epidemiology (IDE) group at Wageningen University & Research is looking for an ambitious and enthusiastic academic researcher with expertise in data-driven mathematical modeling, with a focus on animal or zoonotic diseases. Skill sets such as spatial epidemiology, within-host modeling, Bayesian inference, and phylodynamic approaches are of particular interest to the group, as is a focus on global change.

You as successful candidate will join the Academic Career Framework, advancing along the professor track (assistant, associate, or full professor).

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• Performing scientific research in infectious disease epidemiology;
• Actively seeking funding to build and maintain your own research line;
• Mentoring trainees ;
• Contributing to IDE courses;
• Actively engaging in the IDE team to foster a stimulating academic environment for all.

You will work here:
Your research will be embedded within the chairgroup Infectious Disease Epidemiology (IDE), which is led by Prof. Quirine ten Bosch.

The Infectious Disease Epidemiology (IDE) group plays a crucial role in enhancing animal and human health by providing insights into the dynamics of infections within and between animal and human populations. We achieve this by developing robust mathematical models and confronting them with real-world data from field studies and experiments. Close connection and involvement in data collection is key in such efforts, which we foster through close collaborations with key veterinary and human health institutes in the Netherlands and beyond. By focusing on data-driven approaches, IDE contributes to the understanding of zoonotic and animal diseases and their transmission. Our research supports the effective control and management of infectious diseases, ensuring preparedness for global challenges such as pandemics and emerging pathogens.

We are a vibrant, diverse team, encompassing mathematical modelers, epidemiologists, and field virologists. We value individuals that place a high priority in contributing to the team and value academic citizenship while pursuing their academic ambitions.

In this challenging career trajectory:

• you acquire, lead, and implement, innovative and creative(inter-) national research projects in Infectious Disease Epidemiology (IDE);
• you collaborate with colleagues and supervise PhD students, BSc and MSc theses and you develop, coordinate and teach in IDE courses;
• you contribute to the further development of the Infectious Disease Epidemiology group.

The Professor Track is a career path for scientists who pursue to excel in education and research.

We seek to attract scientific talent and to stimulate and support their development.

You possess:

• a completed Phd in the field of infectious disease dynamics within animal populations, at the human-animal interface, or a related field;
• the passion and skills to turn long term ideas into concrete plans;
• the ambition and skills to facilitate and support growth and development in research and education;
• proven experience and success in attracting funding in a national and international context;
• experience in developing and maintaining a broad (inter)national network with different partners (e.g., academic institutes, societal organizations, policymakers, private sector);
• passion for, and experience in, BSC, MSc and PhD education and in the supervision of students, PhDs, and staff;
• experience in leading professionals in a multidisciplinary team. You bring empathic and inclusive leadership with a focus on people’s development, team building, and creating constructive collaboration;
• experience in representing and communicating the research subject area to the wider community and contributing to the societal debate, for example through appearances in the media;
• a dedicated team player;
• good spoken and written English (C1 or C2 level).

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

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and 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 be offered a fixed-term, 18 months contract which, upon positive evaluation, can lead to a permanent employment contract as professor. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between €4.492,- and € 6.148,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 11).

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 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. 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.

Insight into Our Field:
Video by Prof. dr. Quirine ten Bosch The video below provides an engaging introduction to the research in our field. This video was made during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information about this position, please contact Prof. dr. Quirine ten Bosch, by email Quirine.tenbosch@wur.nl, or by phone +31 (0) 317 489 226

For more information about the procedure, please contact Ine van’t Land, corporate recruiter at ine.vantland@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.

This vacancy will be listed up to and including 10 January 2025. We hope to schedule the first job interviews soon after the closing date.

Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone's unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.