Joint PhD Wageningen University and Research & Ghent University - 'Behaviour change and incentives for an improved food safety culture'

Joint PhD Wageningen University and Research & Ghent University - 'Behaviour change and incentives for an improved food safety culture'

Published Deadline Location
16 Nov 11 Dec Wageningen

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Job description

Are you passionate about improving food safety from farm to fork? Do you want to apply for a multi-disciplinary & innovative project aiming to improve food safety in African countries? Then we may be looking for you!

In the context of a recently granted Horizon Europe project, UP-RISE, we are offering a 4-year joint PhD-position in collaboration between Wageningen University and Research and Ghent University

The UP-RISE EU-African Union (AU) project integrates food safety practices associated to mycotoxin contamination into all aspects of food production, distribution, marketing and consumption in the AU and provides tangible tools and strategies to enhance inclusive participation in the improved African Food Safety System (AFSS) at the local, national and regional level.

UP-RISE activities are aligned with the current AU Food Safety Strategy for Africa, focusing on 3 regions of the AU with field work in 5 target member states (Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Kenya, and South-Africa). UP-RISE assembles 5 building blocks for knowledge generation and implementation. In total, nine joint PhD students will work in a complementary way to contribute to the building blocks, each with a specific focus on a fermented food value chain.

You will be responsible for:
  • Identifying barriers to the adoption of food safety practices in selected local value chains;
  • Co-designing and evaluating best practices to mitigate food safety risks;
  • Developing mycotoxin regulation and incentive models.

We are searching for a PhD-researcher, who will reside either in Wageningen or Ghent, or intermittently in both places (to be decided), and will join the research teams of both groups in a challenging and inspiring environment.

You will work here
This position is ideal for a highly motivated scientist and will be based at the Business Economics group (Wageningen University) and the research group on Institutional, Socio-economic and Political Issues in Rural-urban Areas (INSPIRA) of the Department of Agricultural Economics at the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, (Ghent University) under supervision of Prof. dr. HJ van der Fels-Klerx (WU), Prof. dr. Marijke D'Haese (Ghent University), dr. Julia Höhler (WU) and dr. Isabelle Vagneron (CIRAD).

Collaboration lies at the heart of these activities, as you will have the opportunity to work with researchers and stakeholders from different European and African regions and sectors. By fostering interdisciplinary connections, you will contribute to a better understanding of resilient, inclusive and safe food systems.

Specifications

Wageningen University & Research

Requirements

We are seeking candidates with the following qualities:
  • a master’s degree in economics (e.g., agricultural economics, development economics, experimental economics, quantitative economics), or related fields with a proven interest in economics; or equivalent;
  • demonstrated excellence in academic performance;
  • a strong interest in exploring the role of behaviour change and incentives towards safe food;
  • hands-on experience in behavioural research;
  • experience or have a strong interest in field work and data collection;
  • exceptional proficiency in both written and spoken English (C1 level) and French;
  • enthusiasm for working in a multi-disciplinary, international and intellectually challenging environment;
  • a commitment to maintaining high standards of quality, integrity, creativity, and cooperation
  • flexibility, responsibility and ability to work independently as well as in team;
  • willingness to collaborate with researchers at Wageningen, Ghent and with (inter)national partners;
  • availability to travel as needed.

Conditions of employment

The selected candidate will be employed by Wageningen University for the initial 2 years of the PhD program and will subsequently transition to Ghent University for the remaining 2 years.

Your terms of employment at Wageningen University (2 years)
Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:
  • 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;
  • 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 € 2.770 - per month rising to € 3.539,- 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 (to a total of 4 years) 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 18th consecutive time.

Your terms of employment at Ghent University (2 years)
Please check the following website for the most recent information about : Terms of employment at Ghent University

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.

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. For instance under the "30% rule", certain categories of international staff can receive tax exemption on approximately 30% of their gross salary.

Employer

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, 7,200 employees (6,400 fte) and 13,200 students and over 150.000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.. 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 5 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.

Specifications

  • PhD
  • Behaviour and society
  • max. 38 hours per week
  • University graduate
  • P1369227-1

Employer

Wageningen University & Research

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Location

Droevendaalsesteeg, 6708 PB, Wageningen

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