An enthusiast and ambitious researcher who wants to investigate how we can develop and test new market rules, policy options and/or organisational arrangements as part of socio-technical innovation packages. Do you like to do action-oriented research that helps us to reconfigure 'the rules of the game' as part of sustainability transitions?

The research programme CropMix is a Dutch Research Agenda initiative of a large interdisciplinary research team joining forces with the agricultural sector to achieve a breakthrough in the transition to sustainable arable farming. We study how crop diversity in the field can benefit from and enhance ecological processes, among others to reduce the use of pesticides and fertilisation. CropMix also investigates which societal and institutional changes in the food system are needed to enable and accelerate the transition to sustainable mixed crop production. This is done by setting up three living labs for a diversity of potential transition paths, such as short local chains, organic farming or adaptation of existing national and international value chains. In these living labs the diverse stakeholders will explore common ground in order to re-evaluate the research agenda and undertake joint actions.
The goal of this PhD project is to create insight in social and institutional options and leverages that may help to overcome constraints to the use of crop-mixtures, and to explore methods through which the contribution of novel policy options, market arrangements or organisational solutions can be tested in the context of living labs.

The two more specific aims are:

• To understand how farmer-level application of crop-mixtures is dependent on changes in the broader (farm, value-chain and policy) environment, and where leverages can be found to induce system-level change.
• To understand and support experimentation with institutional options in living labs and assess their potential to support a shift towards using crop-mixtures.

We are looking for a talented, curious and engaged researcher, with:

• A MSc degree in a relevant social-scientific field and a broad and interdisciplinary interest
• Strong interest in and relevant knowledge on agricultural innovations and sustainability transitions
• Strong interest in and relevant knowledge on a qualitative, quantitative and participatory research methods and data analysis approaches
• Interest in transdisciplinary collaboration and action-oriented research and proven skills of facilitating interaction
• Excellent analytical skills and conceptual understanding
• Strong communicative, collaboration, networking and writing skills, with a proven track record
• Good knowledge of English language, in listening, speaking and writing (OOPT score C1 or C2)
• Preferably Dutch speaking

Preferably 0,8 fte: 1 July 2023 - 1 July 2028. (1,0 fte is negotiable)

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;
• the option to accrue additional compensation / holiday hours by working more, up to 40 hours per week;
• 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 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team.

The gross salary for the first year is € 2.541,- per month rising to € 3.247,- in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well.

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 18th 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.
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 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. For instance under the "30% rule", certain categories of international staff can receive tax exemption on approximately 30% of their gross salary.

Wageningen University & Research

Wageningen University & Research
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, 7,200 employees (6,400 fte) and 13,200 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 this video 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.