Do you want to be part of an exciting research environment which is dedicated to solving the greatest challenges we are facing in the food system with regards to sustainability, food quality and nutrition? Then Wageningen University & Research (WUR) is the place for you!

In order to complete the department Wageningen Food & Biobased Research (WFBR), we are currently looking for a research assistant with expertise in the areas of food processing and of physical-chemical characterization of ingredients and products. As research assistant Food Physics / Food Processing Technology you will contribute to the further scientific development of this research area by:

• working in multidisciplinary applied-scientific research projects to develop new food products based on plant-based proteins and innovative processing technology;
• executing application and characterization experiments on food products and ingredients (such as physical-chemical methods) together with other technical assistants and scientists;
• analysing, interpreting and reporting the findings internally and to our customers;
• executing the daily management of the equipment and activities in our physical-chemical laboratories.

We expect you to be enthusiastic, full of clever and innovative ideas, and to be able to carry out concrete project plans together with your colleagues and industrial partners.

Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, part of Wageningen University & Research, offers a challenging and market-oriented environment where motivated scientific professionals conduct research for companies, governmental organisations and knowledge institutes. The Food Technology group develops knowledge and technology for the sustainable production of innovative, healthy and safe food products, e.g., plant-based meat and dairy replacers or products with less salt and fat, often in combination with innovative processing technologies like 3D printing or shear cell technology. The scientific focus is on the relationship between product properties, ingredient formulation and process technology.

• a colleague with quality awareness and an inquisitive mind, who is able to carry out and report experiments, both autonomously and in collaboration with a project team;
• a BSc degree in Food Sciences, Chemical Technology, Physical-Chemical Analysis, or a related topic. Work experience in R&D in the food industry or in a research laboratory is an advantage;
• subject knowledge on physical-chemical and rheological properties of food products and their ingredients;
• affinity with food production and textural properties of food;
• excellent communication skills and good verbal and written command of English. Command of the Dutch language (or the willingness to achieve this) is a plus.

Your technical knowledge combined with your passion in supporting the implementation of fundamental scientific knowledge into industrial applications will set you apart from the other candidates.

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• the option to accrue additional holiday hours by working more, up to 40 hours per week;
• sabbatical leave, study leave, and paid parental leave;
• 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 December bonus of 4%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. We offer, depending on your experience, a competitive gross salary of between € 2836 and € 4624 for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale 9/10). Additionally, a contract for 0,8 FTE can be discussed. This position is not a PHD position.

Wageningen University & Research encourages internal advancement opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a multi-faceted position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

Wageningen University & Research encourages internal advancement opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a unique position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the Best University in the Netherlands for the 16th consecutive time.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for 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. Applicants from abroad moving to the Netherlands may qualify for a special tax relief, known as the 30% ruling. Our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees and students coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, we can assist you with any additional advice and information about helping your partner to find a job, housing, schooling, and other issues.

Wageningen University & Research

The mission of Wageningen University and 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, 6.500 employees and 12.500 students, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. An integrated approach to problems and the cooperation between various disciplines are at the heart of Wageningen's unique approach. WUR has been named Best Employer in the Education category for 2019-2020.

These are the points our employees list as good reasons to come work at WUR: read the 5 reasons to come work at WUR.

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