Are you the behavioural ecologist with strong quantitative skills? Do you want to be part of our team from the Animal Science Group to apply and develop complex data processing tools regarding Animal behaviour and movement data analysis? Then we have at Wageningen University and Research the post doc position you are looking.

The post-doc position will be integrated in the Behavioural Ecology Group, and is part of the broader multidisciplinary Next Level Animal Sciences Data Analysis and Sensor Team. In this postdoc, you will participate in our field projects using novel automated radio-tracking of songbirds and specifically be responsible for developing exciting generic data processing and analysis tools using data obtained from tracking of wild animals using novel automated tracking devices, in conjunction with individual-level data and environmental data. The postdoc will be part of a larger team on applying and developing complex data processing tools of the Animal Sciences Group (ASG). Currently, ASG uses already various traditional and novel tracking systems on several different species of free-ranging birds and mammals and other taxa, and this will be expanded in the near future.

Next Level Animal Sciences
The WUR Animal Sciences Group focuses on finding answers to major societal and scientific challenges, including those related to animal welfare, human and animal health, food security, climate change and biodiversity. ASG has launched the ambitious innovation program Next Level Animal Sciences aimed at developing innovative and less-invasive next-generation methodologies to address the next decade challenges in our domain. This team includes a wide range of Animal-Sciences-Group (ASG) experts and a group of dedicated staff and postdocs that will be working towards the next-generation approaches for animal sciences: you will be one of this postdoc group

We are looking for a high energy, dynamic, creative, promising behavioural ecologist with strong quantitative skills. The successful candidate will work independently but can also unite researchers in a team setting. Specifically, we are looking for the following:

• Knowledge of animal behaviour, animal movement
• Strong analytical skills for the analysis, organisation and interpretation of big-data, and preferably developing algorithms
• Proficient in relevant data science analytical software (e.g. Python, Matlab, R, C or C++)
• Experience in interpreting time series data, performing statistics and visualising patterns, with regard to the spatio-temporal dynamics of animal movement data,
• Based in Wageningen and willing to also participate in international field work
• Excellent team player who is eager to work in a multi-disciplinary and collaborative research environment
• Excellent communication skills in English, both speaking (incl. presenting) and writing in minimal proficiency level CEFR C2. For more information about this proficiency level, please visit our special language page
• Want to work in a multi-disciplinary and collaborative research environment

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• the option to accrue additional holiday hours by working more, up to 40 hours per week;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed December bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 2.790,- and € 4.403,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 10). This position is embedded in the Behavioural Ecology Group but interaction with several research institutes of the Animal Science Group is expected. The duration of the postdoc contract is for 2 years, ideally starting starting 1st September 2021.

Wageningen University & Research encourages internal advancement opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a unique position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the "Best University" in the Netherlands for the 16th consecutive time.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees. Applicants from abroad moving to the Netherlands may qualify for a special tax relief, known as the 30% ruling. Our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees and students coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, we can assist you with any additional advice and information about helping your partner to find a job, housing, schooling, and other issues.

Wageningen University & Research

Wageningen University & Research
The mission of Wageningen University and Research is "To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life". Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment.

With its roughly 30 branches, 6.800 employees and 12.900 students, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. An integrated approach to problems and the cooperation between various disciplines are at the heart of Wageningen's unique approach. WUR has been named Best Employer in the Education category for 2019-2020.

These are the points our employees list as good reasons to come work at WUR: read the 6 reasons to come work at WUR

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.