The Aquaculture and Fisheries (AFI) group of the Department of Animal Sciences is looking to appoint a new research staff member. AFI aims 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).

We are looking for an expert in recirculating aquaculture systems
Fish in aquaculture (eco)systems are critically dependent on water quality parameters such as dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide and different nitrogen species, parameters influenced by host-microbe interactions. Central to aquatic ecosystems functioning is management of the main biological processes affecting water quality. This holds true for all aquaculture systems, ranging from small pond systems to intensive recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) which provide exciting developments to modernize aquaculture. Successful aquaculture systems integrate biological, physical and chemical insights in water quality with optimal effects on fish growth, health and performance.

You have a PhD in Biology, Animal Sciences, Veterinary Sciences or alike and preferably have some years of post-doctoral experience. You are proactive, eager to learn and like to work independent as part of the team. You enjoy research as well as teaching. You communicate well, written and orally, in English.

You are candidate for a position as 'researcher' expected to build your own research line. You have a strong interest in aquaculture production systems, preferably recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) and the effects thereof on culture animals. You are curious about the functioning of freshwater ecosystems and build on your knowledge of physical-chemical-biological parameters of water quality. You approach your research questions at organismal and system level and have an open eye for the newest microbial and other read-outs to answer questions that are also of interest to industry.

We offer ample training and mentorship and stimulate interdisciplinary (international) cooperation. As researcher, your challenging and meaningful career trajectory will depend on your ambition 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 temporary contract with the possibility of extension and finally a permanent position. Your salary will depend on expertise and experience. Gross salary for researcher is from €3.123 to €4.978 per month (scale 10 or 11) based on full time employment (38 hours a week).
In addition, we offer an attractive benefits package

• 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

We stimulate internal growth opportunities and mobility with an active and internal recruitment policy. There are ample opportunities for own initiative in a creative learning environment.

Wageningen University & Research

Wageningen University & Research (WUR)
Wageningen University and Research delivers a substantial contribution to the quality of life, as stated in its mission 'To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life'. Within our domain, healthy food and living conditions, we do not just develop top-quality expertise; we also help translate our knowledge into practice worldwide. Every day, at WUR, over 6,500 employees work on 'the quality of life', turning ideas into reality.
The role of WUR is to contribute to global agendas such as the overarching Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. WUR is committed to contributing to the SDGs of zero hunger; good health and well-being; quality education; clean water and sanitation; sustainable cities and communities; responsible consumption and production; climate action; life on land and life in the water. Respecting earth's finite resources, WUR strives to fulfil the world's current and future needs for nutritious food by research on and development of circular, healthy, resource-efficient agri-food systems, both on land and in the marine environment.
According to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, Wageningen University is the best university in the Netherlands with about 12,000 students from over 100 countries. Internationally, it is No. 1 in agriculture and forestry according to the QS World University Rankings charts for 2017. Wageningen University is one of the pillars of Wageningen University & Research (WUR), a collaboration between the University and the Research foundation with a mission 'to explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life'.

The Aquaculture and Fisheries (AFI) group
Aquaculture and fisheries provide 3.2 billion people with 20% of their animal protein. In low-income and food-deficit countries, fish is often the cheapest and most accessible source of animal food. Yet, despite an equal primary biological production of ocean and land, only 2% of the world's food supply comes from the ocean, which covers 70% of the earth surface. Capture fisheries supplies most of the fish consumed in much of the developing world but sustainable exploitation of natural stocks is reaching its maximum. This means that to fulfil the world's current and future needs for nutritious food from the marine environment, the increase in consumption of fish and shellfish products required can best be realized by a further expansion and refinement of aquaculture. To meet the future demand for fish, aquaculture production will need to double by 2030. The scale of this challenge requires research innovations across the whole spectrum of aquaculture production systems. At present, disease is a major constricting factor for expansion of the aquaculture industry.
People at the AFI chair group teach in many of the courses shaping the programme of the Master of Science Aquaculture and Marine Resources Management (MAM). This education programme aims to train academic professionals at MSc level in the field of sustainable use, conservation and restoration of marine and aquatic ecosystems and resources. MAM attracts some 40 students per year and has recently started a broadening of its programme. Research training and education at PhD level is integrated in 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. Relevant post-doctoral training also is embedded in WIAS and comprises well-known international events such as workshops on Fish Vaccination, Fish Nutrition and Recirculating Aquaculture Systems.