Postdoctoral Researcher on Governing the Protein Transition

How can public policy and governance unlock tipping points for transforming European food systems?

We invite applications for a postdoctoral researcher to join TIPRO (Tipping the Protein Transition), a FutureFoodS-funded international research project that examines how coordinated interventions across policy, markets, and food environments can accelerate systemic change in protein production and consumption. Rather than focusing on diets in isolation, TIPRO adopts a whole-system and governance-oriented approach, analysing how institutional arrangements, policy mixes, and political dynamics shape the pace and direction of the protein transition in Europe.

TIPRO is a 36-month transnational project (2026–2028) involving partners from KU Leuven (Belgium), Wageningen University (Netherlands), and Copenhagen Business School (Denmark), alongside civil society and stakeholder organisations. The project adopts a systems-oriented and participatory approach, combining policy analysis, co-design, and stakeholder engagement to identify leverage points for accelerating the protein transition.

The position is embedded in the policy and governance work package and focuses on policy analysis, political economy, and governance dynamics of the protein transition, with empirical research conducted primarily in the Netherlands, and comparative links to Belgium and Denmark.

Your role
The postdoctoral researcher will play a central role in designing and implementing the policy and governance research within TIPRO. Key responsibilities include:

• Analysing existing and emerging policy mixes related to the protein transition at national and EU levels;
• Investigating political and institutional barriers to transformative food system governance, including commercial determinants, institutional inertia, and politicisation;
• Designing and facilitating participatory methods with policymakers and stakeholders;
• Contributing to comparative analysis across countries and integration with consumption and distribution work packages;
• Publishing results in peer-reviewed journals and contributing to policy-oriented outputs;
• Actively participating in project management and stakeholder engagement activities.

The post-doc will work closely with senior researchers at KU Leuven and Copenhagen Business School, and collaborate intensively with consortium partners across countries and disciplines. The preferred starting date lies between 1 April and 1 May 2026.

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with:

• A PhD in public policy, political science, governance studies, sustainability transitions, food policy, or a related field;
• Demonstrated expertise in policy analysis and/or governance research, preferably related to food systems, agriculture, sustainability or health;
• Strong qualitative research skills (e.g. interviews, document analysis, participatory methods);
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in an international, interdisciplinary consortium;
• Excellent command of English; knowledge of Dutch is a strong asset;
• Experience with stakeholder engagement or co-creation methods is an advantage.

You will work here
The research is embedded within the Public Administration and Policy Group of Wageningen University. We are an enthusiastic and international group of scholars studying the governance of sustainability transformations. The project is led by dr. Jeroen Candel, who is an associate professor of food and agricultural policy.

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;
• 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 year-end 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 € 3,546.- and € 5,538.- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 10). Additionally, a contract for 0.8 FTE can be discussed. As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended - if possible within (company) organizational circumstances - on good performance, up to the length of the project (36 months in total). Of course, we are happy to have a conversation with you if you have any questions about this.

Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the "best university" in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.

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, 7,600 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.