Researcher in Animal Farming Systems

As a researcher within the Animal Farming Systems department of Wageningen Livestock Research, you will contribute to promoting the role of animals in agro-ecosystems.

With your interest and affinity in one of the following three areas, you will help advance research in livestock farming systems: sustainable dairy farming, sustainable poultry farming, or sustainable pig farming. We aim to fill these three distinct roles for this vacancy. The central themes in this research include climate, system design, nature-inclusive farming, and business models, with room to focus on farm economics and LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) methodology.

Your Responsibilities as a Researcher

• Conducting research projects in collaboration with project teams.
• Developing project proposals, conducting measurements and data collection, analyzing research results, and reporting findings.
• Engaging in discussions with fellow researchers, the private sector, and government entities.
• Presenting research outcomes to farmers, industry stakeholders, government officials, and fellow scientists while addressing their questions.
• Developing scenarios and evaluating potential trade-offs.

The Team
Within the Animal Farming Systems department, you will collaborate with a research team of 25-30 highly motivated project leaders, researchers, and project assistants. Our team is known for its innovative and integrative approach to analyzing, evaluating, and developing the sustainability of livestock farming systems. You will work alongside colleagues from your own team as well as from other departments and research institutes in a project-based setting.

The Research
Our food system is a complex network with many challenges in achieving full sustainability. Our research focuses on the role and impact of animals in our current and future food system. Key challenges include climate change, the environmental impact of livestock production, and biodiversity loss. At the same time, urbanization, a growing global population, increasing demand for (animal-based) protein, and ethical livestock farming are central factors in the ongoing debates on feeding the world.

Wageningen Livestock Research (WLR) investigates the role of animals within this food system and strives to improve the quality of life for humans, animals, and nature. We develop science-based solutions for an economically, ecologically, and socially sustainable livestock, insect, and aquaculture sector. Together with clients and partners, we integrate scientific knowledge and practical experience to create concepts and solutions for future generations of livestock farming.

WLR conducts both fundamental and applied research in areas such as:

• Animal production and food security
• System innovations and economics
• Circularity and ecosystem services
• Environmental impact and grass & feed systems
• Aquaculture, animal nutrition, breeding & genetics
• Animal health & welfare

You aspire to a career in research. You take on a high degree of responsibility and independence while working closely with colleagues. You are eager to think beyond your own field and have a strong interest in livestock farming and related challenges.

Additionally, you have:

• A relevant higher education (HBO) or academic degree, such as in animal science or environmental science.
• A strong drive to contribute to the sustainability of our food system and livestock farming through applied, science-based research, considering the balance between humans, animals, and the environment.
• Excellent command of both Dutch and English.

Furthermore, you thrive in an organization where reliability, entrepreneurship, development, customer focus, trust, and flexibility are valued. We work in an international environment and value inclusivity—these core values should resonate with you

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;
• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially 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 year-end bonus of 8,3%;
• 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 €3.234,- and €6.008,- for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale 10). Additionally, a contract for 24 hours can be discussed. As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended - if possible within (company) organizational circumstances - on good performance. Of course, we are happy to have a conversation with you if you have any questions about this.

Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the "best university" in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.

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, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 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 the video below 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.