Within the chair group Horticulture and Product Physiology we are looking for a research and education assistant. The candidate will assist in modelling and data analysis as well as in conducting crop and plant physiological research. An important task is also assisting and organising education. You will develop and use models that simulate crop growth based on the major physiological and developmental plant processes. This will include both process-based and functional-structural plant models. We expect to add big data and artificial intelligence approaches to our portfolio in the coming years. Experiments with plants are conducted in climate chambers and greenhouses. You will measure plant physiological and developmental processes with complex technical equipment. Regulation of growth and development of plants by LED lighting and other abiotic factors are studied, including analyses at the level of morphology, anatomy, and physiology (e.g. photosynthesis). In this research you cooperate with other researchers, postdocs, PhD students and/or MSc students. You will participate in education activities of the group, which include assisting in practicals and research projects of students.

More about your team and the chair group
The chair group Horticulture and Product Physiology conducts high impact research and educates students providing the scientific basis required to answer questions that are of utmost importance for sustainable crop production and product quality in horticulture.
The research focus is on how physiological processes in crops, plants and plant organs interact with the abiotic environment and how this affects crop production and product quality. Questions arising from horticultural practice are translated into fundamental research topics, aiming to explain mechanisms. The research and education contribute to sustainably feeding the World with healthy high-quality products.
The chair group is an international team consisting of 13 permanent staff members, about 25 PhD candidates and postdocs and guest researchers. Each year approximately 40 MSc students conduct their thesis study (a 6-month research) at our group. We organize and participate in a variety of courses for BSc and MSc students to transfer knowledge on horticulture (pre- and post harvest), environmental physiology and product quality.
More info about the chair group can be found at www.hpp.wur.nl

• You are a result-driven team player with creative ideas, you work very accurate, you have good communication and organisational skills.
• You have at least a bachelor's degree from a university of applied sciences specialized in plant sciences, applied biology, horticulture or related study.
• You have proven experience with at least one or more of the following topics:
  • computer programming, analysing large data sets and use of complex technical equipment to measure plant processes.

You have a keen interest in learning how to set up experiments with whole plants in climate chambers or greenhouses.

This position requires a good English language proficiency (a mininum of CEFR B2 level). For more information about this proficiency level, please visit our special language page.

We offer a meaningful and challenging position with, depending on your expertise and experience, a competitive salary from a minimum of € 2.835 to a maximum of € 3.895 for a full working week of 38 hours in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement Dutch Universities. The job is for a period of 12 months, after a positive evaluation, this can be extended. The job can be fulfilled part-time (>0.7 fte) or full-time.

In addition, we offer:

• 8% holiday allowance;
• a structural year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent training opportunities and secondary employment conditions;
• flexible working hours and holidays can possibly be determined in consultation so that an optimal balance between work and private life is possible;
• excellent pension plan through ABP;
• the option to purchase extra and good supplementary leave schemes;
• a choice model to put together part of your employment conditions yourself, such as a bicycle plan;
• a lively workplace where you can easily make contacts and where many activities take place on the Wageningen Campus. A place where education, research and business are represented;
• for a small fee, make use of the sports facilities on campus.

Wageningen University & Research

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is "To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life". Within Wageningen University & Research, nine specialised research institutes from the Wageningen Research Foundation and Wageningen University have joined forces to help answer the most important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment.

With approximately 30 locations, 6,000 employees, and 12,000 students, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain worldwide. An integrated approach to problems and the cooperation between various disciplines are at the heart of the unique approach of Wageningen.

For further information about working at Wageningen University & Research, take a look at thespecial career site.

Diverse work environment
We encourage applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age. We believe that a diverse and inclusive work environment makes us a more relevant, more competitive, and more resilient organization. Click here for more information about working at WUR with a functional impairment.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen is a centre for research and entrepreneurship. 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. It is a historic university town of about 36,000 residents in the central Netherlands. The academic community hails from more than 100 countries, giving the town a lively, international feel. Our highly qualified team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for you and your family.

The WUR International Community page contains practical information about what we do to support international employees and students coming to Wageningen. And watch this video to learn more about working at our green bustling campus.