Are you interested in sensory and consumer science? Are you motivated to have an impact on policy making and regulation of tobacco and related products? We are looking for an excellent and motivated PhD candidate to join Wageningen University & Research (WUR) and RIVM to work on sensory properties of tobacco and related products related to attractiveness and consumer behavior, to discourage tobacco use in the Netherlands and worldwide.
What will you be doing
While cigarettes are still the most often used tobacco product globally, new tobacco and related products (TRPs) gain popularity. An important factor in their appeal is their marketing as having less severe risks than cigarettes. Thus, they are perceived as a healthier alternative to – or quitting aid for – combustible cigarette use. However, as they are harmful to health, their use should be discouraged, at least in non-smoking and other vulnerable user groups. Often, flavourings are added to TRPs to increase the products’ attractiveness. Together, RIVM and WUR are working to support forward looking policy measures to discourage TRP use worldwide.
Your tasks will focus on assessing features that enhancethe attractiveness and addictiveness of heated tobacco products and their non-tobacco variant made of tea leaves or other non-tobacco plant materials. While tobacco heatsticks have been on the market for several years, non-tobacco heat sticks with added nicotine have appeared only recently, and hardly anything is known on this product. Your work will include perceptual, behavioral studies to examine sensory properties and additives of TRPs, but also quantitative and qualitative consumer studies on knowledge, attitudes and risk perceptions of these products. You will also carry out database and analytical-chemical studies on appeal-increasing additives in these products. Based on your results, you will provide the Dutch Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization with the evidence-base for public communication and regulation of these products.
Your duties and responsibilities include:
- Design and execute analytical, sensory, behavioral and consumer studies
- Analyze data and publish findings in peer-reviewed journals
- Collaborate with universities and other partners worldwide as needed
- Supervise students and take part in educational duties
- Develop yourself to an independent researcher
Unique for this position
You will work on two different locations, and have the opportunity to profit from expertise at both RIVM and WUR. You work will be multidisciplinary, and you will cooperate with many team members. You will forward worldwide policy making and contribute to healthier future generations.
Your working environment
You will be positioned at the
Centre for Health Protection | RIVM, Department for Chemical analysis, Tobacco and Drugs. You will work in close collaboration with the Sensory science and Eating behavior chairgroup of the Division of Human Nutrition and Health at Wageningen University (
Sensory Science and Eating Behaviour Group - WUR).
At the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), more than 3000 colleagues work together every day on good care, a healthy lifestyle, safe products and a safe and healthy living environment. The Center for Health Protection studies the health effects and risks for humans of chemical and biological agents. You will work in particular with the Chemical Analysis, Tobacco and Drugs (CTD) department. We support the policies of various ministries and regulators in the field of tobacco products and drugs and conduct general analytical chemical research. About 30 RIVM colleagues conduct laboratory and desk research here to properly assess the quality and risks of the use of certain products and substances. There is an informal atmosphere in this department and there is a lot of collaboration on projects. Everyone's expertise and individuality is respected. We are used to working across departmental boundaries.
The mission of WUR is to explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life. Within Wageningen University & Research, nine specialized research institutes from the Wageningen Research Foundation and Wageningen University have joined forces to help answer the most important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With approximately 30 locations, 6,500 employees, and 12,000 students, it is one of the leading organizations in its domain worldwide. An integrated approach to problems and the cooperation between various disciplines are at the heart of the unique approach of Wageningen. We have been named Best Employer in Education category 2019-2020. You will enrol in a graduate school (
Home - Vlag Graduate School) that provides you with a research and education program of academic excellence. Click
here for more information about working at Wageningen University & Research. More information about Wageningen Campus you can find here.
Are you interested?
Please send your CV and a letter of motivation in which you briefly address your suitability for this function as well as your development opportunities. Please apply via the application button and direct your letter of motivation to Peter Keizers, head of the Chemical Analysis of Tobacco and Drugs department.
If you have any questions about this vacancy, please contact
Reinskje.talhout@rivm.nl or
Sanne.boesveldt@wur.nl The first round interviews will take place on March 20, the second round will take place on March 27.
Requirements
You are an ambitious and enthusiastic scientist with experience in the above-mentioned fields. Further, you have:
- An MSc degree in sensory or consumer science, health behavior, or a related area
- A clear interest in sensory science and consumer behavior, and applications to prevention and health
- Expertise in analytical chemistry and data analysis is a pre
- Experience and interest in working in interdisciplinary teams
- Excellent communication skills and team spirit
You can see that there are plenty of challenges ahead of you. These challenges can also be seen as development opportunities. So if you do not yet have the track-record required in the vacancy, but do have solid work experience, we would also like to invite you to apply.
Arbeidsvoorwaarden
- Salarisniveau: schaal 10
- Salarisomschrijving: Tijdens het promotieonderzoek is je salaris als volgt vastgesteld volgens het Functiegebouw Rijk (FGR); • Het eerste jaar € 3.246,16 bruto per maand volgens schaal 8, salaristrede 0. • Het tweede jaar volgens schaal 8, salaristrede 5. • Het derde jaar volgens schaal 8, salaristrede 7. • Het vierde jaar volgens schaal 8, salaristrede 8.
- Maandsalaris: min. €3.404 – max. €5.389 (bruto)
- Dienstverband: Arbeidsovereenkomst voor bepaalde tijd
- Contractduur: 48 maanden
- Minimaal aantal uren per week: 36
- Maximaal aantal uren per week: 36
Overige arbeidsvoorwaarden
Naast het salaris ontvang je een Individueel Keuzebudget (IKB). Het IKB bestaat uit geld (16,50% van je bruto jaarsalaris) en tijd. Met het IKB maak jij de keuzes die bij jou passen en kun je een deel van je arbeidsvoorwaarden zelf samenstellen. Je kunt er bijvoorbeeld voor kiezen om een deel van je maandinkomen te laten uitbetalen wanneer jij dat wenst. Ook kun je dit budget omzetten in verlof en andersom of besteden aan fiscaal vriendelijke doelen. De Rijksoverheid hecht sterk aan persoonlijke groei en loopbaanontwikkeling en biedt daarvoor tal van mogelijkheden. Tot de secundaire arbeidsvoorwaarden behoren onder meer verschillende studiefaciliteiten, bedrijfsfitness, volledige vergoeding van je OV-reiskosten woon-werkverkeer en gedeeltelijk betaald ouderschapsverlof.
Bijzonderheden
Vragen we in de vacaturetekst om een motivatiebrief en kun je wat hulp gebruiken om deze te schrijven? Lees dan
deze tips.
Informatie over solliciteren bij het RIVM:
- Bij je indiensttreding vragen we altijd om een Verklaring Omtrent Gedrag (VOG);
- Als je solliciteert als 'van-werk-naar-werkkandidaat' of als 'herplaatsingskandidaat', stuur dan een kopie van je aanwijzingsbrief mee;
- Werk je nu via een uitzend- detacheringsbureau bij de Rijksoverheid, vermeld dit dan ajb in je brief;
- Het RIVM zet zich in om medewerkers in dienst te nemen die onder de doelgroep van de Wet Banenafspraak vallen. Meer weten? Klik hier;
- Bij het RIVM ben je welkom zoals je bent. Wij zijn ervan overtuigd dat diversiteit in een team de samenwerking en de uitkomst sterker maakt. Daarnaast wordt betrokkenheid van medewerkers bij medezeggenschap gewaardeerd;
- Wij volgen de Recruiter Code en gaan zorgvuldig met je persoonsgegevens om;
- Voor een volledig beeld van de zakelijke achtergrond van sollicitanten raadplegen we soms LinkedIn;
- Deze vacature gaat offline na de sluitingsdatum, vergeet dus niet om de tekst te downloaden en op te slaan. Het kan zijn dat na deze datum deze vacature nog (onbedoeld) vindbaar is op diverse jobboards. De sluitingsdatum op werkenvoornederland.nl is leidend.
Solliciteren?
RIVM nodigt je uit om
voor 5 maart 2025 op hun site te solliciteren via de sollicitatiebutton. Het Rijk hecht waarde aan een diverse en inclusieve organisatie. Werken in divers samengestelde teams maakt ons effectiever, innovatiever en het werk leuker. Eenieder wordt daarom uitgenodigd te solliciteren.