Fixed-term

Your job Do you want to contribute to the protein transition and biodiversity-positive cropping systems? Are you interested in investigating how novel protein crops can support soil functioning and resilience to extreme weather and climate events at different scales? Then this PhD position within the REAP2SOW programme might be for you! We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to investigate how new protein crops, namely quinoa, white lupin and/or aardaker (Lathyrus tuberosus), can contribute to soil health and soil carbon stabilisation in cropping systems. The PhD position will focus on understanding the impact of the inclusion of protein crops in crop rotations on soil functioning and quantifying the relevance of their root exudates for water stress resilience and carbon storage. The approach will include on-farm observations, field experiments and controlled lab and greenhouse experiments. Your role Together with other project members, design and execute experiments on the impact of protein crops on soil functioning and resilience to water stress. Develop and perform controlled greenhouse and lab experiments to determine the role of root exudates in soil carbon stabilization and soil structure regulation. Be part of a larger consortium working with various disciplines and stakeholders on the design and transition toward protein cropping systems. Write and publish your research in leading scientific journals and communicate your findings through your PhD thesis and broader societal outreach. You will work here This research is embedded within two research groups: the Soil Biology Group (SBL) and the Soil Geography and Landscape Group (SGL), with supervision by Prof. Ellis Hoffland, Dr. Marie Zwetsloot and Dr. Julian Helfenstein. The Soil Biology Group regards soil life as key to sustainable (agro)ecosystems and study the role of soil organisms in element (carbon, nutrient) transformations in soils. The mission of the Soil Geography and Landscape Group is to improve and share understanding of patterns and dynamics of soils, landscapes and earth surface dynamics and their drivers, like climate change and human-landscape interactions. This NWA-funded PhD position is part of the REAP2SOW programme, a national collaboration between Wageningen University & Research, Utrecht University, Leiden University, the University of Twente, and the University of Groningen, together with partners across the agri-food sector. REAP2SOW addresses the urgent challenge of transitioning to a sustainable, plant-based protein system by 2050, aiming to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture and strengthen food security in the face of climate change and increasing weather extremes that affect ecosystem functioning. The programme brings together interdisciplinary expertise spanning natural, social, and technical sciences. Within REAP2SOW, our work package, comprising two PhD projects, will focus on how climate-resilient food systems and novel protein crops can enhance soil ecosystem functions, such as biodiversity, water stress resilience, and carbon sequestration. The vacancy for the other PhD project in our work package based at Leiden University has already closed. This work package closely collaborates with other REAP2SOW WPs addressing agronomy, biodiversity, plant physiology, and crop breeding, ensuring strong integration across disciplines and scales. The advertised position will focus on root exudates and soil carbon stabilization as well as scaling up findings through on-farm research to understand how novel protein crops could support soil health in cropping systems. The second PhD based at Leiden University will focus on soil microbiomes and resilience. Together, these projects provide an integrated understanding of the impact of protein crops on soil functioning and biodiversity. Your qualities You are a highly motivated candidate who enjoys the challenge of diving into the mechanisms behind plant-soil interactions and scaling up to the regional scale to investigate the impact of protein crops on Dutch soils. You also possess: A successfully completed MSc degree in plant sciences, soil science, environmental science or related field. Ability to communicate scientifically as well as with non-scientific project stakeholders. Interested in developing expertise from plant and soil science Enthusiasm for performing both greenhouse experiments and field work Strong analytical and statistical skills, experience with meta-anlysis is an advantage Affinity to work within a larger multi-disciplinary project, with strong project/time management skills. Proficiency in Dutch, and/or valid driving license (applicable in the Netherlands) can be an advantage. For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognized Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here. We offer 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 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 € 3.059,- per month rising to € 3.881,- 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 through the graduate school PE&RC (https://www.pe-rc.nl/). 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

Your job Do you want to participate in the research of the laboratory of Plant Physiology at Wageningen University & Research? Do you have a passion for plant physiology? Are you an enthusiastic researcher looking for a challenging and dynamic work environment? Then we are looking for you! At the Laboratory of Plant Physiology, we study the interactions between plants and their environment. We investigate plant responses to abiotic stresses, such as drought and salt stress. With state-of-the-art research facilities, we study mechanisms at the cellular, organismal and community level to understand how plants interact with their environment and to explore innovative solutions for sustainable crop protection. Your duties and responsibilities as Technician include: Your role will involve technical assistance in: Providing technical support in addressing research questions related to plant genetics and seed characteristics in recruiting microbes. Contributing to the execution of the research project. Assisting in teaching activities. Supporting the supervision of MSc and BSc students. You will work here This technician position is part of the recently funded open technology project, MiSeed,“The hidden potential of the seed microbiome: How does the seed microbiome shape seed performance and plant drought resilience?”. Plants grow in interaction with microbes in order to survive. These microbes can enter the next plant generation via the seed. The research is embedded within the Laboratory of Plant Physiology (https://www.wur.nl/en/research-results/chair-groups/plant-sciences/laboratory-of-plant-physiology.htm). You will be supervised by Dr. Rumyana Karlova and Prof. dr. Leónie Bentsink. Your qualities You are a highly motivated and skilled technician in the field of plant physiology and molecular biology, who thrives in multidisciplinary and challenging projects. And likes to collaborate with a team of scientists. You also possess: A Dutch HBO or equivalent degree, with a focus on plant physiology and metabolomics. Experience with lab management. Experience with seeds and plant phenotyping or the microbiome is an advantage. You work in a structured and focused way. You are willing to contribute to the teaching of MSc and BSc students. You have experience in taking responsibility for research project organisation and progress. Contribute to an open and inclusive atmosphere. You have good communication skills in English. We offer 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; 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 year-end bonus of 8.3%; excellent pension scheme. In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 3.382,- and € 4.484,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 8). As for your contract, we initially offer a 12 months contract, that can be extendend to 12 more months on good performance. Of course, we are happy to have a conversation with you if you have any questions about this. Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes. You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. 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. If you come with a partner, we offer a Dual Career group program organized by our Welcome Center. This program helps your partner to get familiar with the Dutch culture, labour market and assists your partner to find a job. 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 coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, our Welcome Center can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example housing, opening a bank account 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. Do you want more info? For more information about the position, please contact Rumyana Karlova, assistant professor, via Rumyana.karlova@wur.nl or Prof. dr. Leónie Bentsink via leonie.bentsink@wur.nl. Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Ine van’t Land, Corporate Recruiter, via ine.vantland@wur.nl. Ready to apply? Click on the application button next to the vacancy on our website. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered. You can apply up to and including March 30, 2026. Interviews will be scheduled mid April. 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.

Your job Are you passionate about restoration solutions that work for both people and nature? Do you aspire to contribute data-driven evidence to guide the restoration agenda? Then this postdoc may be the perfect opportunity for you! We have an exciting postdoc position at the Forest Ecology and Management chairgroup (FEM) at Wageningen University and Research, in close collaboration with CIFOR-ICRAF in Nairobi. The postdoc will be part of the ERC funded project REACT: Regreening Africa with Natural Regeneration to Madelon Lohbeck (PI). The project aims to understand how, when and where natural regeneration contributes to forest and landscape restoration. This includes: what tree species regenerate under what social and environmental conditions? What restoration outcomes can be achieved and for whom? As REACT postdoc you will: Synthesize insights derived from primary field data across two social ecological systems in Kenya (collected by the REACT PhD candidates). Scale mechanistic insights by analyzing patterns of regeneration derived from secondary-forest data (2ndFOR network on secondary succession) and citizen-science data (the regreening Africa project lead by CIFOR-ICRAF). Contribute to outreach, science communication and develop decision tools for stakeholders. Be part of the REACT research team. Collaborate with various research partners and restoration stakeholders and actively participate in research networks. Support the PI in coordinating research activities. Be based at Wageningen University at the start, then spend ~1 year based at CIFOR-ICRAF campus in Nairobi, and finish again at Wageningen University. This postdoc does not include primary data collection. Your duties and responsibilities include:  Statistically analyze large datasets. Generate predictive spatial models. Lead the writing of multi-authored scientific publications. Contribute to science communication (maps, decision-support tools). Collaborate with research partners and participate in scientific networks. Your team You will be based at Wageningen University in Wageningen (the Netherlands) and at World Agroforestry CIFOR-ICRAF campus in Nairobi (Kenya). You are expected to work at least 4 days a week in the office. You will be supervised by PI of the REACT project (Dr. Madelon Lohbeck) and the head of SPACIAL lab (Dr. Tor-Gunnar Vagen) when in Nairobi. You will be part of the REACT research team, consisting of the PI, 2 PhD students, and various researchers from across the social and environmental sciences. You will be part of the Forest Ecology and Management group of Wageningen University and of the spatial data science & applied learning lab (SPACIAL) of CIFOR-ICRAF. Your qualities You are/have: A broad interest to advancing restoration with data-driven evidence. Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills. Excellent interpersonal skills. Excellent communication and collaboration skills. You also possess: A PhD in ecology, environmental sciences or similar fields Proven experience working with large datasets, including the integration and analysis of multiple spatial datasets with different properties. Publication record including first authored publications. Experience leading scientific publications with many co-authors is a plus. English level C1 is required. You will work here  The research is embedded within the chair Forest Ecology and Forest Management, which is led by Prof. Douglas Sheil and in the SPATIAL lab of CIFOR-ICRAF. You will be supervised by Dr. Madelon Lohbeck and Dr. Tor-Gunnar Vagen. We offer 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; 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 year-end bonus of 8.3%; excellent pension scheme. In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 3.378,- and € 5.331,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 10). Additionally, a contract for 0,8 FTE can be discussed. As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended. The project is 28 months in total. Of course, we are happy to have a conversation with you if you have any questions about this. Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes. You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the “best university” in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of. 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 coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, our Welcome Center can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example housing, opening a bank account, dual career programs 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. Do you want more info? For more information about the position, please contact Dr. Madelon Lohbeck, Associate Professor, Madelon.lohbeck@wur.nl. Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Jessa Rozema, Corporate Recruiter, viajessa.rozema-stol@wur.nl. Ready to apply? Click on the application button next to the vacancy on our website. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered. To apply, please upload: Your CV (max 3 pages, include contact details of two references). Motivation letter (max 400 words, any use of AI should be acknowledged). You can apply up to and including March 27, 2026. We aim to invite shortlisted candidates for

Your job Are you an enthusiastic, practically minded person with a passion for crop‑physiological and agro‑ecological research? Then this may be an excellent position for you! As a research assistant, you will be involved in the planning, organisation, and execution of our greenhouse and field experiments, thereby supporting our scientific research team. You will also assist in several of our laboratory, greenhouse, and field practicals within the BSc and MSc programmes of Wageningen University. Would you like to use your expertise to strengthen our team at the Centre for Crop Systems Analysis at Wageningen University & Research? As a research assistant, you will contribute to the development of plant-based production within sustainable agro‑ecosystems. You are interested in – and skilled at – setting up and carrying out experiments in the field and in the greenhouse. Affinity with agronomy, open‑field cultivation, soil and root experiments, and crop and weed ecology is important. Within our team, your tasks and responsibilities as a research assistant will include: Assisting with the planning, organisation, and implementation of experiments (open field, greenhouse, and laboratory) for staff and students, and sharing responsibility for communication with our experimental farm (Unifarm). These experiments are mostly conducted in Wageningen, but occasionally elsewhere. Carrying out agronomic, cultivation‑technical, and ecological research activities, both in the field and in the greenhouse or laboratory. This includes both routine tasks and customised work for specific research questions. Supporting teaching practicals in the greenhouse and in the field. You will collaborate with colleagues from the Centre for Crop Systems Analysis – a diverse and international team of researchers, lecturers, support staff, and many PhD candidates. Your workplace will be Wageningen, on the WUR campus. Your qualities You have a genuine interest in research and education and feel at home in a dynamic academic environment. You work in a structured and precise manner, communicate clearly, and are flexible during peak periods in the research calendar. With your enthusiasm, proactive attitude, and solution‑oriented approach, you take initiative and bring tasks to a successful conclusion. You also have: A degree in agriculture, horticulture, or biology at higher professional education (HBO) level, or equivalent knowledge and skill level. Solid knowledge of plant and crop functioning, as well as cultivation and ecosystem processes. Experience in designing and conducting experimental agronomic research in field trials. Experience in greenhouse work and in the laboratory is an advantage. Experience with relevant activities related to field and pot trials (determining fertilisation, soil measurements, root washing, dry‑matter assessments, etc.). Good command of both Dutch and English, spoken and written. In our international working environment, English is increasingly used. For this position, language level B1 is required. We offer 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; 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 year-end bonus of 8.3%; excellent pension scheme. In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 3,708.- and € 5,057.- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 9). In addition, an appointment of 0.8 FTE is possible. As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended. Of course, we are happy to have a conversation with you if you have any questions about this. Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes. You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. 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. If you come with a partner, we offer a Dual Career group program organized by our Welcome Center. This program helps your partner to get familiar with the Dutch culture, labour market and assists your partner to find a job. 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 coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, our Welcome Center can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example housing, opening a bank account 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. Do you want more info? For more information about the position, please contact Jochem Evers, Professor and Chair of Crop Physiology, via email: jochem.evers@wur.nl or Niels Anten, Professor Crop and Weed Ecology, via email: niels.anten@wur.nl. Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Dax Teunissen, Corporate Recruiter, viarecruitment.psg@wur.nl. Ready to apply? Click on the application button next to the vacancy on our website. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered. You can apply up to and including Monday March 23, 2026. Internal candidates are preferred to apply before February 20, 2026. Procedure As part of our selection process, an assessment may be incorporated within the procedure. 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

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