Are you interested in the health of free living herbivores in nature reserve areas in the Netherlands? Would you like to do research at Wageningen University on the health of such animals and the environmental conditions of the natural grazing areas where these animals are kept. Then you are the candidate we are looking for!

The research work will be executed in a PhD research project (4 years)

Main research objectives include:

• To study what agents (infectious and or toxic) in the environment in nature reserve areas can be a risk for the health of the herbivore species living there
• To Study what standards of animal health parameters are suitable to assess the animal health status of herbivores in nature reserve areas in the Netherlands.

The research is embedded within the chair group Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology within Animal Sciences Group of Wageningen University and Research, and will be led by Prof. Dr. Wim H. M. van der Poel, Special professor of Emerging and Zoonotic Viruses. Your daily supervisor will be Dr. Perry Cornelissen of Staatsbosbeheer. More co-supervisors may be appointed depending on additional focus areas (to be decided) of the research project.

You have:

• a successfully completed MSc degree in Animal Sciences (preferably Veterinary Medicine or animal husbandry);
• an interest in animal research in the field, and a flexible attitude towards working in a dynamic organisation;
• Good communication skills including communicating results in spoken and written form preferably in English. For more information about this proficiency level, please visit our special language page;
• Good analytical skills.

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

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially 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 compensation / 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 receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team.
The gross salary for the first year is € 2.443 - per month rising to € 3.122,- in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well.

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 Univerity & Research
The mission of Wageningen University & 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.
Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch this video to get an idea of our green campus!