PhD Position: Nutrition, Exercise and Biological Ageing

Your job

Are you interested in how nutrition and exercise can be used to slow biological ageing? Do you want to contribute to an ambitious national research programme that combines nutrition science, exercise physiology, omics technologies and data science to improve healthy ageing?

As a PhD candidate in the BIO-COMPaSS consortium, you will investigate how nutrition and exercise influence biological ageing and how personalised lifestyle interventions can be developed using biological age indicators, biomarkers and advanced omics technologies. You will combine data analysis with intervention research and collaborate with researchers, healthcare professionals and societal partners across the Netherlands.

Your duties and responsibilities include: 

• analysing dietary intake, physical activity, biomarker and omics data in relation to biological age indicators;
• investigating how metabolomic, proteomic and other biological markers respond to nutrition and exercise interventions;
• developing data-driven approaches to support personalised nutrition and exercise advice;
• designing, obtaining ethical approval for, and conducting a personalised lifestyle intervention study;
• publishing research findings in peer-reviewed journals and presenting results at national and international conferences.

You will work here

The research is embedded within the Human Nutrition and Health chair group and the Nutritional Biology team, which is led by Prof. Kerensa Broersen. The project is part of the BIO-COMPaSS consortium, a large national research programme funded through the Netherlands Science Agenda (NWA). You will be supervised by Dr. Pol Grootswagers, Dr. Rob Wüst (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) and Prof. Renger Witkamp.

BIO-COMPaSS (BIOlogical age-driven, COMmunal, Personalised System for Sustainable health promotion) is a research consortium exploring how feedback on biological age can motivate healthier sustainable habits. It aims to identify and validate aging biomarkers, understand how psychological and social factors influence lifestyle choices, develop personalized exercise and nutrition plans, and test how to implement these in Dutch society. Supported by data science, sensors, and real-world studies, the project seeks to create a sustainable, personalized health system. The close collaboration between citizens, scientists and companies is unique. The approach offers the prospect of a future in which prevention and personal health play a central role in the healthcare system. The project is funded through the Netherlands Science Agenda (NWA) program. To learn more about the research or the organizations involved, you can visit the website https://bio-compass.nl.

You will collaborate closely with PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers and consortium partners from a broad range of disciplines including nutrition, exercise science, data science, behavioural sciences and ageing research.

Your qualities

You are an enthusiastic and ambitious researcher with a strong interest in nutrition, exercise, healthy ageing and lifestyle interventions. You enjoy combining practical research with data analysis and are motivated to work in an interdisciplinary and collaborative research environment.

You also possess: 

• a successfully completed MSc degree (120 ECTS) in Human Nutrition, Nutrition and Health, Biomedical Sciences, Human Movement Sciences, Data Science, or a related discipline;
• affinity with both intervention studies and quantitative data analysis;
• experience with statistical and data-analysis software such as R, Python or comparable tools;
• strong analytical, organisational and problem-solving skills;
• excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.

For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognised 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:

• 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 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. 

We encourage development and internal mobility within our organisation. Our recruitment and selection policy sets out the conditions that apply specifically to you as a (former) employee. If you have any questions, we are happy to help.

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. 

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.

Important information

For more information about the position, please contact dr. Pol Grootswagers, Assistant Professor Nutrition and Ageing, via email: pol.grootswagers@wur.nl.

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Rutger Voorrips, Corporate Recruiter, via email: rutger.voorrips@wur.nl.

Ready 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. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.

To apply, please send the following documents (max. 3 pages in total ):

• complete and up-to-date curriculum vitae (max. 2 pages);
• motivation letter (max. 1 page).

The maximum length of the documents must not exceed 3 pages. If it exceeds, applications will not be considered. Additional files such as grades and transcripts are not required during this stage and will not be considered.

You can apply up to and including July 6 2026. 

Additional information form
For this position, you must fill in a mandatory form which will allow us to have a comprehensive view of your qualifications and better assess your fit for it. You can access the form using the link below:

https://forms.office.com/e/3ZAgmeAbQ7

Your prompt response will ensure that your application continues to move forward in the evaluation process. We assure you that the information provided will be kept confidential and used solely for this application process.

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.