Topic: Lecturers for Master level education on the radical redesign of sustainable farms and foodscapes.

The Farming Systems Ecology group focuses on the analysis and design of exemplar sustainable farming systems and foodscapes, that deliver multiple benefits to humankind, using natural processes as building blocks. We uniquely combine a strong platform of simulation models with hands-on, empirical assessments of outstanding examples of sustainable multifunctional farms and landscapes in all continents. Our multi-disciplinary team includes expertise in systems analysis, modelling, agro-ecology, agronomy, animal husbandry, permaculture, co-innovation, policy formation and immersive education.

We now seek to strengthen our team with 1.6 full time equivalents (fte) expertise Master level education on the following topics: introduction to organic productions systems, reading sustainable foodscapes and scientific methods for the radical redesign of sustainable farms and foodscapes. The successful candidates will contribute to both taught Masters courses and the supervision of Masters theses of the Farming Systems Ecology Group.

Qualifications:
A Masters or Doctoral level degree in Farming Systems Ecology, Organic Agriculture, Ecological Agriculture or Natural Resource Management. Other, similar areas of expertise will be considered provided that the candidate demonstrates the relevance of this area to the position applied for

Knowledge:

1. Knowledge (practical, theoretical, contextual) of farming systems in a variety of biophysical and socio-economic contexts.
2. Knowledge (practical, theoretical, contextual) of ecosystem services in a variety of biophysical and socio-economic contexts.
3. Thorough knowledge of the agri-environmental modelling, preferably of the COMPASS models employed by the Farming Systems Ecology Group, such as the FarmDesign model4.
4. Knowledge of statistical methods in ecology and (agri-) experimental design.

Skills;

1. Proven educational skills at masters level.
2. Proven student supervision.
3. Track record of scientific writing and editing.

Attributes:

1. Has affinity with the mission and vision of the Farming Systems Ecology Group.
2. Approachable by students.
3. Keen to work as part of a dynamic team.
4. Finds a balance between independent problem solving and seeking feedback/supervision.
5. Diligent, with attention to detail.

We offer you a temporary contract of 12 months. This may be extended, subject to availability of funding and a satisfactory performance. Gross starting salary (scale 10) from € 2.588 to € 3.839 per month, based on full time employment and dependent on expertise and experience; additional benefits may apply.

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.

Farming Systems Ecology group focuses on the analysis and design of exemplar sustainable farming systems and foodscapes, that deliver multiple benefits to humankind, using natural processes as our bais for design.

The purpose of these exemplars is to guide the development of food systems towards our vision of a world in which:
all actors are inspired, knowledgeable, and skilled...
to proactively and jointly develop food systems...
that are abundant and equitable...
by enhancing and benefitting from the natural capital...
of our communities, environments and planet.

Within this context, our mission is:
To equip the actors in the food system...
with the keys to unlock, redesign and transition farming systems...
by analysing, experiencing and learning from outstanding examples...
of farms and foodscapes around the world.

We uniquely combine a strong platform of simulation models with hands-on, empirical assessments of outstanding examples of sustainable farms and landscapes in all continents. Our multi-disciplinary team includes expertise in systems modelling, agro-ecology, agronomy, co-innovation, policy formation and immersive education.

In all our activities, we work in collaboration with a very wide and diverse network of research actors and external stakeholders. These include national, European and global research organisations (such as the CGIAR programmes), farmers, NGOs, industry and regional, national and EU policy makers. We lead and participate in a number of European Horizon 2020 projects, as well as numerous national and regional programmes. Our research facilities include field experiments at the university farm, while we are developing a global outdoor laboratory and classroom through the creation of an international network of "lighthouse farms". We are developing Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality methods to bring these farms inside our classrooms and modelling platforms. We develop and deliver a wide range of courses for the WUR Masters in Organic Agriculture, for which we take the IFOAM Organic 3.0 strategy as our guide.