Research position on Aquatic Food System Analysis

Are you the research expert who will help us define the role of aquaculture and fisheries in the future of sustainable agriculture / aqua-food at Wageningen University & Research? Do you want to make a significant contribution to topics such as Zero Hunger, Good Health and Life Below Water? We would like to get in contact with you.

The Aquaculture and Fisheries (AFI) group of the Department of Animal Sciences is looking to appoint a new post-doctoral researcher. AFI provides education and performs research on the sustainable harvest and production of food from marine and other aquatic ecosystems including land- and sea-based aquaculture. AFI explores the evolving range of technologies and disciplines required for the sustainable use of aquatic resources by balancing the trade-offs among biodiversity, resource and energy use, and human and animal nutrition objectives. In other words: you are the expert that will help us define the role of aquaculture and fisheries in sustainable agri/aqua-food futures, targeting SDGs such as Zero Hunger, Good Health and Life Below Water.

You analyse resource flows in existing and novel approaches to aquatic food production in aquaculture and fishing and translate your outcomes into a vision on the role of aquaculture and fisheries in a sustainable food future. To this end, you study specific aquatic production systems at different levels and scales with the aim to gain global insights. Your research questions focus on subjects such as balanced harvesting, hidden harvests, nutrient balances, and life cycle assessments. You develop a vision on sustainable and circular approaches to aquatic-source foods aiming to integrate resource flows across Aqua-Aqua and Agri-Aqua food systems. You are eager to act as an active sparring partner for colleagues from different relevant disciplines such as sustainable animal farming, social and environmental sciences. You engage in WUR-wide interdisciplinary discussions that pursue food system transformations for healthy people and planet. You further seek collaboration with internationally relevant organisations such as WMR, INRAE, IMR, and CGIAR-WorldFish. Your tools and insights are relevant to the academic community and research institutes, but also to industry, farmers, retailors, NGO's and (Dutch) government.

You play a leading role in classroom education on 'Sustainability in Fish and Seafood Production' and support MSc thesis research. You provide research training and education at PhD level through the research program of the Graduate School 'Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences' (WIAS), which aims to contribute to the sustainability of livestock and fish production through fundamental and strategic research. Within WIAS, you operate within the cluster 'Animals in Future Food Systems and Society'.

• You have experience with tools and views basal to sustainability assessments such as life cycle assessment (LCA), dualism of regional orientation versus globalisation, nutrient balances.
• You have a PhD relevant to the subject and preferably have some years of post-doctoral experience.
• You are proactive, eager to learn and like to work as part of the team.
• You enjoy research but also enjoy teaching.
• You communicate well, written and orally, in English.

As a post-doctoral researcher, your challenging and meaningful career trajectory will depend on your ambition, vision and expertise. Always within the scientific boundaries set by the chair group; as researcher you are expected to develop your own research line. We offer a full time temporary contract of two years with the possibility of extension for at least another two years, depending on performance and funding opportunities. Your salary will depend on expertise and experience. Gross salary for a Researcher is according to scale 11 from €3,746 to €5,127 per month based on full time employment.
In addition, we offer:

• 8% holiday allowance
• 8.3% fixed-year allowance
• Applicants from abroad moving to the Netherlands may also qualify for a special tax relief, in which 30% of their salary is exempt from tax.
• Excellent training opportunities and secondary working conditions;
• Flexible working hours and vacations in consultation with colleagues is possible so that an optimal balance between work and private is possible;
• An excellent pension scheme via ABP;
• 232 holiday hours, the ability to purchase and good supplementary leave arrangements and an individualized model to compose part of your working conditions and a bicycle plan;
• Make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee

Wageningen University & Research stimulate internal growth opportunities and mobility with an active and internal recruitment policy. There are ample opportunities for taking your own initiatives in a creative learning environment. We offer ample training and mentorship and stimulate interdisciplinary (international) cooperation.

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, 6,000 employees, and 12,000 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.

At the Aquaculture and Fisheries (AFI) group of the Department of Animal Sciences, our aquaculture experts in (dr. Maria Forlenza), fish nutrition (dr. Johan Schrama, Marit Nederlof), recirculating aquaculture systems (Ep Eding, Roel Maas), nutritious ponds (dr. Marc Verdegem), fish immunology and fish microbiomes (dr. Fotini Kokou) work closely together on the interaction between nutrition, water quality and health in aquaculture production systems. Our fisheries experts study freshwater fish ecology (prof. Tom Buijse), eco-morphology of native and invasive fish species (dr. Leo Nagelkerke), fisheries in Asia and Africa (Paul van Zwieten) and population ecology of marine fish species (dr. Jan Jaap Poos).

Our aim is to be leading in academic research and education on sustainable Aquaculture and Fisheries, with a focus on society-relevant questions and interactions between aquatic organisms and their environment. Our education offered to BSc, MSc and PhD students is closely aligned with our research. Our aquaculture research is focused on the interaction between fish nutrition, water quality and fish health in aquaculture production systems.

AFI has full access to the University's 1900 m2 aquatic research facility and laboratories. At AFI, our aquaculture experts study the interaction between nutrition, water quality and health in aquaculture production systems, be it recirculating or ponds. We believe that much of the future demand for fish will need to be achieved via understanding of nutritious ponds concepts and land-based recirculation aquaculture systems (RAS).