We are looking for a highly motivated and independent PhD candidate to join our H2020 MEESO (Ecologically and Economically Sustainable Mesopelagic Fisheries) team. MEESO is an international collaboration between researchers from Norway, Denmark, Portugal, and other coastal EU member states to determine the potential of sustainably exploiting the biomass in the mesopelagic zone (200-1000 meters below the ocean surface) for products included in the human food chain.
The mesopelagic zone is also known as the ocean's "twilight zone": it is the area where only a tiny fraction of daylight penetrates. This area holds huge potential for food production as it represents the largest yet unexploited marine resource. Yet, as much remains unknown about the biology and physiology of this region, its exploitation is subject to many ecological, economic, and biological uncertainties.
The PhD candidate will explore the social and economic implications of exploiting the mesopelagic zone. What will be the impact of exploiting this resource on world seafood markets? What tradeoffs exist between the hopes of food provision and the risk of currently unknown ecological impacts? How will consumers and environmental groups respond to this exploitation? These questions require integration of insights from social science and natural science, and combining qualitative and quantitative methods.
The successful candidate will work with the MEESO team at the Environmental Economics and Natural Resources Group and the Environmental Policy Group of Wageningen University to address the above questions. The disciplinary breadth of the project allows for considerable flexibility to find your own balance between a mixed approach of quantitative (e.g. bioeconomic modelling) and qualitative analyses (e.g. collaborative policy analysis and co-design).

• A keen interest in sustainable marine fisheries and decision-making under uncertainty
• An educational background in economics, political science, or an interdisciplinary field that involves both qualitative and quantitative analysis
• Knowledge or experience in bioeconomic modelling or other quantitative simulation modelling techniques and / or
• Knowledge in qualitative analysis tools, experience in participatory methods / stakeholder interaction
• Good communication skills across different disciplines and cultural backgrounds, as well as good collaborative and organizational skills
• Fluent written and spoken English
• Independent research and publication skills

In principle this is a 48 month PhD position. We offer you a temporary position for 18 months with extension of 30 months after successful evaluation. Salary will increase from € 2,325 gross per month in the first year up to € 2,972 in the last year, based on full-time employment (38 hours a week). In addition to a variety of secundairy labour conditions, we offer a holiday allowance of 8% and an end-of-the-year bonus of 8.3% of your annual salary.

Wageningen University & Research

The Environmental Economics and Natural Resources Group in the Department of Social Sciences at Wageningen University aims to improve our understanding and management of national and international environmental problems. Our 7 tenured staff and over 10 PhD candidates focus on problems of environmental and resource economics including climate change, biodiversity conservation, forestry, sustainable food production, use of new chemicals, common pool resources, and fisheries management, in regions ranging from northern Europe to West-Africa and Southeast Asia. For further details see www.wageningenur.nl/enr.

The Environmental Policy Group in Department of Social Sciences at Wageningen University has an internationally recognised reputation in the area of environmental social science and policy research and education. Our 14 tenured staff, 4 Postdocs and over 35 PhD students focus on the social and political science of environmental transformations. The research of the group has a strong international orientation, being conducted at both the global level as well as in number of countries across Europe, Africa and Asia. The staff profile of the group is also international, with more than 12 nationalities employed. For further details see www.wageningenur.nl/enp.
Wageningen University and Research aims to deliver substantial contribution to the quality of life. That's our focus - each and every day. Within our domain, healthy food and living environment, we search for answers to issues affecting society - such as sustainable food production, climate change and alternative energy. Of course, we don't do this alone. Every day, 6,500 people work on 'the quality of life', turning ideas into reality, on a global scale. Could you be one of these people?