We are looking for a talented PhD candidate in the field of insects as feed, animal health, animal welfare and nutrition. As a PhD candidate, you will investigate the effects of nutritional properties of fly larvae and insect bioactive compounds on poultry (broilers as well as laying hens) health and welfare. You will investigate physical formulation aspects and attractiveness to poultry. Performance, product quality parameters, and blood parameters related to poultry health will be evaluated as well as behavioural assessments.

You are enthusiastic, proactive, like to work in a multidisciplinary team and have excellent communication skills. You hold an MSc degree in Biology or Animal Sciences with a specialization in Animal Behaviour, Animal Nutrition or similar. We look for experience in animal nutrition, behavioural studies and statistical analyses of complex datasets. You are curiosity driven and passionate about fundamental research in the context of working towards sustainable food and feed production.

We expect the candidate to be proficient in the English language. This position requires an excellent English language proficiency (a mininum of CEFR C1 level). For more information about this proficiency level, please visit our special language page. Our PhD students are encouraged to supervise MSc thesis students when such opportunities arise and you will be involved in some teaching activities.

We offer a full-time position (38 hours), initially for 1 year after which a go/no go decision will be taken on extension with another three years. Gross salary per month € 2325,- in the first year rising to € 2972,- per month in the fourth year, for a fulltime appointment. The candidate will be based at the Laboratory of Entomology in Wageningen.

Wageningen University & Research

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is "To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life". Within Wageningen University & Research, nine specialised 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, 5,000 employees, and 10,000 students, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations 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.

For further information about working at Wageningen University & Research, take a look at thespecial career site.

The Laboratory of Entomology of Wageningen University addresses the ecology of insects with a focus on understanding underlying mechanisms. At the Laboratory of Entomology the research teams consist of ambitious scientists and we aim at an interdisciplinary approach from cellular to community level to unravel biological phenomena underlying the functioning of plant-insect communities, insect vectored diseases, insect neurobiology and insects as food and feed. The Laboratory of Entomology is part of the Plant Sciences Group of Wageningen University and Research.

The focus of Wageningen Livestock Research is innovation, fundamental and application-oriented research on animal nutrition as well as knowledge transfer. Wageningen Livestock Research develops fundamental and application-oriented expertise about animal nutrition and ensures the exchange and transfer of this expertise to government agencies, businesses, the primary animal nutrition sectors, societal institutions, NGOs and students. Wageningen Livestock Research is part of the Animal Sciences Group of Wageningen University and Research. T

he PhD position is a colloboration between the Laboratory of Entomology and Wageningen Livestock Research within the framework of the NWA-funded research programme on Insects as Sustainable Feed. In this programme we take an interdisciplinary approach involving natural scientists, social scientists, NGO's and regulatory organisations. The PhD candidate will be part of a larger team of PhDs, post-docs and staff and stakeholders all contributing to the same goal of assessing the value of insects as sustainable feed for a circular economy.