Summary
Wageningen University & Research is offering a fully funded PhD position focused on developing and testing domain-specific AI foundation models for agricultural applications. This position aims to enhance the application of AI in agriculture, addressing challenges and advancing research methodologies.
PhD Position in Foundation Models for Agricultural Sciences, Wageningen, Netherlands
Designation
PhD Candidate – Foundation Models for Agricultural Sciences
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Research Area | Artificial Intelligence in Agricultural Sciences |
| Location | Wageningen, Netherlands |
| Eligibility/Qualification | MSc in AI, Computer Science, or relevant field |
| Salary Range | €3,059 – €3,881 (monthly) |
| Hours | 38 hours/week |
| Closing Date | May 4, 2026 |
Research Area
The research will involve:
- Developing self-supervised learning methodologies.
- Investigating multi-modal data integration (text, location, images).
- Addressing challenges in crop classification, yield forecasting, and disease detection.
Eligibility/Qualification
Candidates should possess:
- A completed MSc degree in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Engineering, or a relevant field.
- Experience in applied machine learning (preferably in agricultural or remote sensing applications).
- Proficiency in Python and familiarity with machine learning libraries like PyTorch or Scikit-Learn.
- Strong writing skills and command of English (C1 level).
Job Description
The successful candidate will:
- Familiarize with state-of-the-art self-supervised methods for developing Foundation Models.
- Design, develop, and evaluate AI model architectures using multi-modal data.
- Perform large-scale training of domain-specific foundation models on HPC servers.
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and contribute to research dissemination through publications and conferences.
How to Apply
Interested candidates must submit the following documents through the application portal:
- Current CV (max. 3 pages)
- Motivation letter (max. 3 pages)
- Sample of scientific writing (max. 3 pages)
Application Link
Last Date to Apply
May 4, 2026
For further information, please contact Ioannis Athanasiadis via email at ioannis.athanasiadis@wur.nl or Noorien Abbas, Corporate Recruiter, at noorien.abbas@wur.nl.
