Are you a researcher eager to develop 3D crop simulation models? Are you interested in light and how it affects plant growth and development? Do you want to contribute to improving the sustainability of high-tech horticultural systems?
Then the chair group Horticulture and Product Physiology of Wageningen University & Research (WUR) is offering a Postdoc position which is the opportunity you are looking for!

Improving the light use efficiency of crops is a key factor to reduce operating costs and energy consumption of vertical farms. Efficient use of light in a vertical farm implies that the light from the lamps reaches the leaves and is homogeneously distributed within the canopy. A dwarf tomato canopy (an economically important model crop used in this study) has a very dense structure, with different layers of overlapping leaves, creating strong light gradients.

In this project you will be using methods for whole-plant 3D scanning to characterise plant canopy architecture. You will be exploring the ideotype of dwarf tomato for light use and production in vertical farms. These ideotypes will be investigated by using 3D functional structural plant modelling and will be validated by experiments. The effects of light conditions and crop management practices on dwarf tomato architecture and biomass will be studied. To identify optimal strategies for improved light use efficiency, your tasks will include developing, calibrating and validating a 3D functional structural plant (FSP) model that unlike standard crop models, can capture the complex dynamics of plant architectural responses to the environment. A number of strategic combinations of growth conditions will be experimentally investigated.

This project is part of a collaborative research program of Wageningen University and Infarm (WUR announces collaboration on crop research with Infarm - WUR). This research program focuses on the development of superior vegetables that are produced sustainably and profitable in a vertical farm. Within this program two other PhD projects (PhD on Carbohydrate partitioning to fruits - WUR and PhD on Online optimization of light recipes for plant growth in vertical farms - WUR) will be appointed.

• A Postdoc candidate with an PhD degree;
• Experience in 3D plant modelling is required;
• Proficiency in a programming language is required;
• Experience with phenotyping or conducting plant experiments in greenhouses or climate rooms is welcomed;
• A proven ability to think conceptually;
• You are a result-driven team player with creative ideas
• You have excellent communication skills as well as good proficiency in English (both oral and written).

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 of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between €2.846 and €4.490 for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 10). We are offering an exciting and challenging position for 3 years. We offer you a temporary contract for 12 months which will be extended if you perform well.

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 17th 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 & 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 collaegues enjoy working at WUR and watch this video to get an idea of our green campus!

The chair group Horticulture & Product Physiology
The chair group Horticulture and Product Physiology conducts high impact research and educates students providing the scientific basis required to answer questions that are of utmost importance for sustainable crop production and product quality in horticulture.

The research focus is on how physiological processes in crops, plants and plant organs interact with the abiotic environment and how this affects crop production and product quality. Questions arising from horticultural practice are translated into fundamental research topics, aiming to explain mechanisms. The research and education contributes to sustainably feeding the World with healthy high-quality products.

The chair group is an international team consisting of 15 permanent staff members, about 25 PhD candidates and postdocs and a number of guest researchers. Each year about 40 MSc students conduct their thesis study (a 6-month research) at our group. We organize and participate in a variety of courses for BSc and MSc students to transfer knowledge on horticulture (pre- and post harvest), environmental physiology and product quality.

More info about the chair group can be found at www.hpp.wur.nl or see the video below;



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