We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to investigate how quinoa, white lupin and/or aardaker (
Lathyrus tuberosus) contribute to ecosystem services in cropping systems. The PhD position will focus on generating knowledge on the ecological functions of these novel protein crops and understanding plant biotic interactions that underlie sustainable and biodiversity-positive cropping systems. Field trials at research stations, and potentially on-farm, will generate actionable data to support farmers in making the transition towards more sustainable farming practices and in facilitating the wider adoption of these novel protein crops.
Your role - Conduct field experiments and biodiversity monitoring to study how quinoa, white lupin, and aardaker influence above- and belowground biotic communities and ecosystem services.
- Investigate plant-plant interactions in natural and agro-ecosystems to gain insights into communal dynamics, companion effects, and evolutionary strategies.
- Engage with farmers to understand current cropping systems and factors influencing the adoption of novel protein crops.
- Identify ecological patterns and companion crops that support ecosystem services such as disease suppression, soil health, and nutrient cycling.
- Write and publish your research in leading scientific journals and communicate your findings through your PhD thesis and broader societal outreach.
You will work hereThis research is embedded within three research groups: the Biosystematics Group (BIS), the Centre for Crop Systems Analysis (CSA), and the Plant Production Systems Group (PPS) with supervision by Dr. Casper Quist/Dr. Klaas Bouwmeester, Prof. Jonne Rodenburg, Dr. Paul Ravensbergen, respectively. The Biosystematics Group applies evolutionary and biodiversity knowledge to enhance crops and (agro-)ecosystems through comparative biology approaches. The Centre for Crop Systems Analysis contributes to the improvement and innovation of crop production by integrating ecological understanding of crops and weeds across multiple levels. The Plant Production Systems Group combines production ecological theory with empirical knowledge to provide a better understanding of sustainability of farming systems around the world.
This NWA-funded PhD position is part of the REAP2SOW programme, a national collaboration between Wageningen University & Research, Utrecht University, Leiden University, the University of Twente, and the University of Groningen, together with partners across the agri-food sector. REAP2SOW addresses the urgent challenge of transitioning to a sustainable, plant-based protein system by 2050, aiming to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture and strengthen food security in the face of climate change and increasing weather extremes that affect ecosystem functioning. The programme brings together interdisciplinary expertise spanning natural, social, and technical sciences.
Within REAP2SOW, our work package, comprising two PhD projects, will focus on designing resilient, sustainable and biodiversity-positive cropping systems for protein crops. This work package closely collaborates with other REAP2SOW WPs addressing soil health, plant physiology, and crop breeding, ensuring strong integration across disciplines and scales. The advertised position will adopt a “
learning from nature” approach to explore how novel protein crops and their close relatives interact with neighbouring plants and the wider ecosystem, translating these insights into biodiversity-positive cropping strategies. The second PhD position within this work package will focus on ‘
learning from farmers’. Together, these complementary perspectives will contribute to an integrated, system-level approach for developing future-proof protein cropping systems.