Assistant Professor, Molecular Veterinary Parasitology

The Laboratory of Nematology invites applications for an Assistant Professorship in Molecular Veterinary Parasitology at Wageningen University. This position offers a unique opportunity to shape and advance fundamental parasitology in The Netherlands at a moment when the field is undergoing a paradigm shift. The rise in anthelmintic resistance, environmental side-effects of parasite control, and climate-driven changes in parasite dynamics make that we need to look beyond a drug-centered approach alone. This position contributes to redefining veterinary parasitology in research, education, and society in The Netherlands and beyond.

We envision to expand our research area with the following themes:

• molecular host–parasite interactions in livestock, companion, and wildlife animals;
• immunology and cell biology of helminth infections;
• foundations for rational vaccine design and alternative parasite control strategies;
• one-Health approaches linking animal health and environment under ongoing global changes.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• you will establish an independent, internationally recognised research line focusing on fundamental mechanisms underlying helminth infections in animal systems;
• you are expected to develop a competitive funding portfolio and will be supported in applying for prestigious personal grants (e.g., NWO and ERC) as main applicant, and in public-private partnerships and Horizon programs as (co-)applicant;
• you will teach in courses at BSc and MSc level, such as Basics of Infectious Diseases and Frontiers in Medical and Veterinary Biology.
• you will supervise thesis students from Biology, Animal Sciences, Molecular Life Sciences, and Biotechnology programs at Wageningen University;
• You will engage in outreach activities aimed at achieving societal impact.

This position is a Professor Career Path of the Academic Career Framework (ACF) at Wageningen University & Research. The aim of this ACF is to achieve a new balance in recognising and valuing academics where both team collaboration and the unique talent of individual scientists are acknowledged, by putting more emphasis on the quality of work instead of quantitative results. The framework does justice to the individual qualities and ambitions of academics as much as to team performance.

You will work here
The research is embedded within the chair Laboratory of Nematology (https://wur.eu/nem), which is led by Prof. Dr. Geert Smant (website). At the Laboratory of Nematology, we focus on nematodes and related organisms as key factors in soil resilience and nutrient cycling, and as a persistent threat to animal, human, and plant health. As a strong team, we address animal parasitic worms from different angles, such as genetic diversity, effects of anthelminthics on soil organisms, and vaccine development. As member of our team, you will be fully dedicated to animal host–parasite interactions, and will act as a unifying force within our Human and Animal Health research theme and work in close collaboration with Dr. Ruud Wilbers (website).

We are looking for a team player with a collaborative attitude and good communication skills. The candidate should be proactive, focused on achieving multidisciplinary research targets, and participating in the acquisition of funding for research projects.

The ideal candidate:

• holds a PhD in veterinary parasitology, molecular parasitology, immunology, or a closely related field;
• has a strong track record and international network in parasitology;
• combines fundamental research excellence integrated in a One-Health framework;
• is enthusiastic about interdisciplinary collaboration and teaching;
• is willing to contribute to project acquisition to further expand this line of research.

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;
• 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 be offered a fixed-term, 18 months contract which, upon positive evaluation, can lead to a permanent employment contract. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 4,728.- and € 6,433.- for a full-time working week of 38 hours in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 11).

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.

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.

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.

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands 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 for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.