Are you passionate about improving water quality in the Mediterranean Agro-Hydro-System? Do you want to pursue an interdisciplinary PhD research project in which you will develop innovative pathways to reduce future water pollution by nutrients and agrochemicals? If so, an exciting job opportunity is waiting for you!

The Earth Systems and Global Change Group has recently been awarded the HORIZON project Path4Med which aims at demonstrating Innovative Pathways Addressing Water and Soil Pollution in the Mediterranean Agro-Hydro-System. The Path4Med project will develop and apply an innovative triple bottom line approach to achieving economic, social, and environmental sustainability to ensure human well-being and ecosystem functioning. The project focuses on the integration of different disciplines with the knowledge of various stakeholders using modeling tools to provide information services for the Mediterranean region.

Within the Path4Med project, a PhD position is available that us expected to deal with the following key objectives:

1. Assessment of agricultural influences on water quality and quantity. This will include model development for river exports of nutrients and agrochemicals in selected basins within the Mediterranean region (e.g., Greece, and Ukraine) by building on existing MARINA models of the chair group.
2. Integration of the needs of agricultural users for sufficient clean water under climate and socio-economic changes. A PhD candidate will upscale the model to the Mediterranean region and assess the needs for sufficient clean water.
3. Development of innovative pathways for future water pollution reduction under global change. Such pathways will incorporate the best available technologies and reduction options (e.g., European Green Deal Targets for Zero Pollution) through modelling.
4. A new integrated communication platform for data services for end users. This activity will require the integration of knowledge and data from the other previous objectives and from the Path4Med project. Lessons will be drawn from this integration for agricultural users at the catchment scale and for the Mediterranean region as a whole.

Your duties and responsibilities in this role will include:

• conducting research and analysis within the framework of the project;
• contributing to the development of new modeling tools and innovative pathways for water pollution reductions in the Agro-Hydro-System of the Mediterranean region;
• contribute to the integration of knowledge and data for information services platform;
• publishing research results in peer-reviewed journals;
• write a doctoral thesis based on the research findings.

You will work here
The research is embedded within the chair Earth Systems and Global Change Group, which is led by Prof. dr. Arthur Mol and dr. Nynke Hofstra. You will be supervised by dr. Maryna Strokal, dr. Spyros Paparrizos, and dr Mengru Wang who will provide the guidance and support through the project.

You have:

• experience in modeling and/or quantitative data analysis using tools such as R (or similar programming languages), and ArcGIS (or similar tools for spatial data visualization) for large scales;
• knowledge of biogeochemical cycles (preferably for nutrients and agrochemicals), hydrological cycles and/or cycles of pollutants in the crop-animal systems;
• interest in stakeholder interaction;
• excellent scientific writing skills in English;
• experience with publishing peer-reviewed academic journals is appreciated;
• good organizational and intercultural communication skills;
• willingness to travel across Europe.

You also possess:

• a successfully completed MSc degree in environmental sciences, earth system science, climate studies, agricultural studies, or similar with a strong quantitative background;
• enthusiasm for collaborating with an interdisciplinary team of researchers with diverse backgrounds and disciplines.
• the entry requirements of the WUR PhD programme;
• enthusiasm to do a PhD project at Wageningen University.

For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognised Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here.

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, 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 € 2.770 - 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 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 19th 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.

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 for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, or schooling.

Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

Wageningen University & Research

Wageningen University & Research
TThe 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, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 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.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch the video below to get an idea of our green campus!

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

For more information about this position, please contact Dr. Maryna Strokal, by email: maryna.strokal@wur.nl.

For more information about the procedure, please contact Noorien Abbas, corporate recruiter, by email: noorien.abbas@wur.nl.

Do you want to apply?
Are you interested in this position and do you fit the qualifications? To apply, please send the following:

• a complete and up-to-date curriculum vitae (max. 2 pages);
• a motivation letter (max. 2 pages);
• additional information form (see below).

You can apply directly using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval.

This vacancy will be listed up to and including 13 May 2024. We hope to schedule the first job interviews soon after the closing date.

Additional information form
For this position, you must fill in a mandatory form which will allow us to have a comprehensive view of your qualifications and better assess your fit for it. You can access the form using the link below:
https://forms.office.com/e/6nu0MULTwE

Your prompt response will ensure that your application continues to move forward in the evaluation process. We assure you that the information provided will be kept confidential and used solely for this application process.

Equal opportunities
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) employs a large number of people with very different backgrounds and qualities, who inspire and motivate each other. We want every talent to feel at home in our organisation and be offered the same career opportunities. We therefore especially welcome applications from people who are underrepresented at WUR. A good example of how WUR deals with inclusiveness can be read on the page working at WUR with a functional impairment.