Full Professor and Chair Global Nutrition

The Division of Human Nutrition and Health of Wageningen University has an outstanding international reputation in scientific research and education in the field of nutrition and health and consists of five dedicated chair groups. Due to the appointment of the current chair holder of the chair group Global Nutrition as Dean of Research, a vacancy has become available for a full professor and chair holder.
The mission of the Global Nutrition group is to provide the evidence-base for eradicating all forms of malnutrition whilst improving planetary health by exploring innovative interventions to promote healthy and sustainable diets. Our work is located across low-, middle-, and high-income contexts worldwide. It spans from an individual to a population level and is often interdisciplinary. Areas of focus include maternal and child nutrition, prevention and public health, and sustainable food systems, with strong expertise in dietary assessment, nutritional epidemiology and data science.

The position of chair of the Global Nutrition group offers you the opportunity to shape and expand your own research lines in synergy with the group’s scientific focus, while also developing your academic leadership profile. Your responsibilities will include setting the research strategy, guiding a diverse team of scientists, lecturers and support staff, and further strengthening the group’s national and international standing. In addition, you will contribute to high quality education at the BSc, MSc and PhD levels, and help drive innovation in teaching, supporting WUR’s strong reputation in higher education. Together with the other 4 chair holders and an operational manager you will be responsible for the daily management of the Division of Human Nutrition and Health.

The Global Nutrition group is comprised of: 1 chair holder and 3 (part-time) Professors, 4 Associate Professors, 2 Assistant Professors, 2 teachers, 1 researcher, 4 post-doctoral researchers, research dietitians, project managers, secretaries, and ~40 PhD students, of which a large number is working abroad (‘sandwich PhD’s’).

We teach and collaborate with researchers across all Science Groups within WUR. More information on the group can be found on our website. Global Nutrition - WUR
The Global Nutrition group belongs to the Division of Human Nutrition and Health. The Division comprises around 240 employees (part-time and full-time), including 125 PhD candidates and 20 postdocs and a shared team of professionals including research dietitians, technicians, nurses, data steward, and administrative staff. It includes five chair groups: 1) Nutrition, Metabolism and Genomics; 2) Global Nutrition; 3) Sensory Science and Eating Behaviour; 4) Nutrition and Disease; and 5) Nutritional Biology. The Division integrates expertise in nutrition across cellular, individual, and population levels, supported by state-of-the-art research infrastructure such as a dedicated human research unit, a research kitchen, cutting-edge dietary assessment technologies, and advanced laboratories for in vitro experimentation and analytical work.

As a successful candidate, you will bring the following qualities and experience:

• you hold a PhD degree and have an internationally recognized scientific track record in the field of global nutrition demonstrating research impact and expertise. Your academic background is in nutritional epidemiology, dietary assessment, food systems, malnutrition in all its forms, environmental impact of food systems, or closely related research topics;
• you have international working experience across different population groups and settings; having experience in low- and middle- income countries is an advantage;
• you bring expertise that aligns with the mission and research focus of the Global Nutrition group, while offering clear ideas for future developments and directions;
• you have experience with developing or stimulating out-of-the box ideas or approaches in research and education, encouraging innovation and creativity;
• you have experience in building and maintaining a broad (inter)national network across various sectors, including for instance, academic institutes, societal organizations, policy makers, and private;
• you have a successful track record in acquiring competitive external funding and foster collaborative projects across disciplines;
• you are an experienced teacher who uses mixed teaching methods to engage students in learning. You have supervised students from diverse backgrounds and contributed to curriculum innovation and the development of courses at Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD levels, including the use of innovative teaching;
• you have experience with mentoring and supporting others, e.g., academics and/or professionals, with diverse cultural backgrounds. You foster team building, team diversity, and facilitate an environment where team efforts can grow, are recognized and rewarded;
• you have strong organizational capabilities, with a focus on inclusivity and diversities within the team, and a communicative and transparent approach to decision making.

You will be working for an inspiring international organisation actively engaged in a large number of interdisciplinary projects all over the world. The scientific quality of Wageningen University & Research is affirmed by the prominent position we occupy in international rankings and citation indices.

We offer you a position as Full Professor and Chair of Global Nutrition. Besides a competitive salary (maximum gross salary for starting chair holders is scale H2 step 13 € 10.441,- per month), we offer a number of additional benefits, such as an end-of-year extra month’s salary, a holiday allowance and a pension plan with the Dutch pension fund for government and education. International candidates moving to the Netherlands may benefit from a special tax relief, by which a part of their salary is exempt from tax for several years.

Working hours can be discussed to optimize the work-life balance (32-38 hours per week).

Coming from abroad.
We are a globally leading university in the 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.

The university’s highly qualified team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family. Furthermore, WUR offers a dual career programme for partners to assist your partner in finding a job or starting a business in the Netherlands. Furthermore, we assist you in finding schools for your children and advise you on finding housing in the region or elsewhere in the Netherlands. The Wageningen University & Research (WUR) International Community page contains practical information about what we do to support international employees and students coming to Wageningen.

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is ‘To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life’.

We pursue this mission through a synergistic approach between Wageningen University and Wageningen Research Foundation (applied research). Our research focuses on questions within the domains of food, living environment, and society. With approximately 30 locations, 7,700 staff members, 2,500 PhD candidates, and over 13,000 students, Wageningen University & Research is among the world’s leading knowledge institutions in its domain. The integral approach to challenges and the collaboration across various disciplines form the core of the unique Wageningen approach.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR.

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

Further information about the position can be acquired from prof. dr Spencer Moore, chair of the Appointment Advisory Committee. E-mail: spencer.moore@wur.nl

For more information about the procedure you can contact Ineke Ammerlaan, Secretary of the Appointment Advisory Committee (AAC). Email: ineke.ammerlaan@wur.nl

Application
You are encouraged to upload your complete application via our website and address this to Ineke Ammerlaan, the secretary of the Appointment Advisory Committee. Four documents should be uploaded (in pdf format):

• A motivation letter (preferably one-page A4),
• A curriculum vitae (in total max 4-page A4)
• Statement of research and education interests, ideas on intended future developments herein, and leadership skills (preferably one-page A4),
• A list of publications.

The closing date of the vacancy is 30 November, 2025. The Committee will inform you about the status of your application no later than December 23, 2025. The Committee will interview selected candidates for this position on 23 and 26 January, 2026. The Committee will thereafter invite short-listed candidates for a second interview and a public lecture on 3 and 4 March, 2026

Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone's unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.