Are you interested in contributing to sustainable agriculture by using your skills in advanced plant modelling methods? Would you like to find out which plant physiological mechanisms play an important role in the performance of mixed crops via advanced plant simulation modelling? Then, we have the perfect opportunity for you at Wageningen University & Research in a postdoc position.

You will work on integrating and implementing key plant physiological processes occurring below- and aboveground in crop mixtures into plant simulation models. You will analyse the relevance of these processes for crop mixture performance. In this you will work closely with several other team members who use experimental and modelling methods to address questions in mixed crops.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• Further developing, expanding and testing existing plant simulation models with plant physiological processes, using the Julia programming language in the Virtual Plant Laboratory.
• Perform elaborate simulation studies addressing questions relevant to adopting and optimizing crop mixtures, their management and breeding targets.
• Communication of results in scientific publications and on (inter)national workshops.
• Contributing to the teaching portfolio of the group

You will work here
The research is embedded within the Crop Physiology chair group led by prof. Evers, within the Centre for Crop Systems Analysis. Your postdoc position is further embedded in the IntercropVALUES EU project. IntercropVALUES aims to exploit the benefits of intercropping to design and manage productive, diversified, resilient, profitable, environmentally friendly cropping systems acceptable to farmers and actors in the agri-food chain.

Your role
Within the project your role will be to further develop our 3D functional-structural plant models of crop mixtures by integrating key physiological mechanisms. These include: 1) uptake and allocation of key nutrients including interactions with the soil microbiome, 2) leaf photosynthesis driven by local environmental conditions, and 3) regulation of plant development and plasticity. You will frequently communicate with other team members working on mixed crops to contribute to the overall portfolio development of the Crop Physiology chair regarding modelling plant physiological mechanisms in crop systems.

You are a highly motivated candidate who sees the development and use of complex 3D plant models and the interpretation of their predictions as an interesting challenge.
You also possess:

• A PhD in computer sciences or applied mathematics with a keen interest in plants and crops.
• OR: A PhD in plant or crop science with proven experience in programming and simulation modelling.
• A publication record in relevant journals.
• Strong communication skills in English required to communicate and discuss model requirements, results and consequences with scientists within similar and different domains within the IntercropVALUES project.
• Strong project and time management skills, the capacity to prioritize and to finish what you started.

For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognised Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here.

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 of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 2.960,= and € 4.670,= gross per months for a full-time working week of 38 hours, depending on your working experience and in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 10). Additionally, a contract for 0.8 FTE can be discussed. We offer you a three-year contract.

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 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!

You will work here
The research is embedded within the Crop Physiology chair group led by prof. Evers, within the Centre for Crop Systems Analysis. Your postdoc position is further embedded in the IntercropVALUES EU project. IntercropVALUES aims to exploit the benefits of intercropping to design and manage productive, diversified, resilient, profitable, environmentally friendly cropping systems acceptable to farmers and actors in the agri-food chain.

Your role
Within the project your role will be to further develop our 3D functional-structural plant models of crop mixtures by integrating key physiological mechanisms. These include: 1) uptake and allocation of key nutrients including interactions with the soil microbiome, 2) leaf photosynthesis driven by local environmental conditions, and 3) regulation of plant development and plasticity. You will frequently communicate with other team members working on mixed crops to contribute to the overall portfolio development of the Crop Physiology chair regarding modelling plant physiological mechanisms in crop systems.

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