Summary
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) is offering a fully funded, 4-year PhD position focused on developing mechanistic crop models for next-generation greenhouse production systems (such as single-truss tomatoes and vertical farming hybrids). The project is part of the international “Greenhouses in Transition” consortium—a collaborative initiative between leading Dutch and US universities and industry partners aiming to accelerate sustainable and circular controlled environment agriculture.
Overview
| Feature | Details |
| Position / Designation | PhD Candidate |
| Host Institution | Wageningen University & Research (WUR) |
| Department / Chair | Horticulture and Product Physiology (HPP) |
| Location | Wageningen, Netherlands |
| Research Area | Crop Physiology, Crop Modelling, Biosystems Engineering & Controlled Environment Agriculture |
| Employment Type | Full-time (38 hours/week) |
| Contract Duration | 4 Years (Initial 18-month contract, extended upon positive evaluation) |
| Monthly Gross Salary | €3,204 (Year 1) to €4,051 (Year 4) according to CAO-NU (Scale P) |
| Application Deadline | September 7, 2026 |
Research Area
- Field: Horticulture, Crop Physiology, Biosystems Engineering, and Computational Agriculture.
- Core Tasks:
- Developing and extending process-based crop models describing physiological processes (e.g., carbon partitioning, organ growth, reproductive development, and harvest index) under dynamic environments.
- Designing and conducting targeted climate chamber and greenhouse experiments for model parameterization and validation.
- Integrating crop and greenhouse models to evaluate and optimize resource-use efficiency.
- Collaborating with an international interdisciplinary network (8 PhDs, 7 Postdocs, 1 PDEng) across the Netherlands and the USA.
Location
- Wageningen Campus, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Gelderland, Netherlands.
Eligibility / Qualification
Candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Degree: A completed Master of Science (MSc) degree in Plant Sciences, Biosystems Engineering, Computational Biology, or a closely related field.
- Technical Skills: Experience with process-based modelling, data analysis, quantitative biological analysis, and programming languages (e.g., Python, MATLAB, or R).
- Domain Interest: Strong interest in crop physiology and translating physiological processes into mechanistic models.
- Soft Skills: High level of curiosity, ability to work independently and within a multidisciplinary team, and a collaborative mindset.
- Language: Excellent communication and proficiency in written and spoken English.
Scholarship & Employment Benefits
- Salary: Fully funded salaried position under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU):
- Year 1: €3,204 gross per month
- Year 4: €4,051 gross per month
- Bonuses & Perks:
- Fixed year-end bonus of 8.3%
- Excellent pension scheme and partially paid parental leave
- Flexible working hours supporting work-life balance
- Access to sports facilities and vitality programs on campus
- International Support: Assistance with Dutch visa/immigration procedures for candidates and their families, access to the WUR Welcome Center (housing, banking, schooling), and potential eligibility for the 30% tax ruling for qualifying international staff.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online through the WUR Vacancy Portal.
- Prepare Required Documents (Maximum 3 pages combined):
- Curriculum Vitae (CV): Maximum 2 pages.
- Motivation Letter: Maximum 1 page.(Note: Additional documents such as transcripts are not required at this stage and should not be attached).
- Complete the Mandatory Form: Fill in the supplementary candidate evaluation form linked in the vacancy announcement.
- Submit: Upload your application via the “Apply” button on the official vacancy page.
Last Date for Apply
- Application Deadline: Monday, September 7, 2026
- Interview Schedule: First-round interviews are planned for September 22 or 23, 2026.
