The protein supply for feed and food is critical for future food security. Do you want to contribute to the design and assessment of business models to upscale the commercial production of high-quality insect proteins for food and feed?

The Business Economics (BEC) group starts up a PhD project focusing on risk management and business models in various European insect value chains. The project aims to analyse business operators' experiences in existing insect value chains and to design risk management strategies and viable business models for upscaling to commercial production. Strategies and business models consider stand-alone as well as collective and risk-sharing approaches. The project includes qualitative and quantitative research methods and should result in publishable research output.

We invite applications for the PhD position from candidates with:

• an MSc degree in a discipline relevant to the PhD project (e.g. agricultural economics, supply chain management, business innovation);
• proven excellent analytical and writing skills;
• knowledge of quantitative methods (e.g. economic modelling, stochastic simulation);
• knowledge of qualitative methods (e.g. structured interviews, focus groups);
• passion about research;
• affinity with risk finance and food and feed value chains is an advantage.

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.

We offer a challenging, multi-disciplinary and future-oriented research project, embedded in a stimulating scientific environment.

In principle this is a 48 month PhD position. We offer you a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended with 30 months if you perform well. Salary will increase from € 2325 gross per month in the first year up to € 2972 in the last year, based on a full-time appointment (38 hours a week) in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement Dutch Universities.

In addition, we offer:

• 8% holiday allowance;
• a structural year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent training opportunities and secondary employment conditions;
• flexible working hours and holidays can possibly be determined in consultation so that an optimal balance between work and private life is possible;
• excellent pension plan through ABP;
• 232 vacation hours, the option to purchase extra and good supplementary leave schemes;
• a flexible working time: the possibility to work a maximum of 2 hours per week extra and thereby to build up extra leave;
• a choice model to put together part of your employment conditions yourself, such as a bicycle plan;
• a lively workplace where you can easily make contacts and where many activities take place on the Wageningen Campus. A place where education, research and business are represented;
• use the sports facilities on campus.

Wageningen University & Research stimulates internal career opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. There are ample opportunities for own initiative in a learning environment.

We offer a versatile job in an international environment with varied activities in a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

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.

The Business Economics Group
Wageningen University is a leading institution in the area of life sciences. The Business Economics Group is one of the chair groups in the university comprising 12 faculty and around 30 PhD candidates. The research of this group focuses on evaluating agribusiness firm's economic performance, risk management, and economics of animal health, plant health and food safety. The research domain encompasses all economic actors in international food supply chains. More information about the Business Economics Group can be found at: https://www.wur.nl/en/Research-Results/Chair-groups/Social-Sciences/Business-Economics-Group.htm

Equal opportunities employer
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.