PhD candidate Agrochains mycotoxins

 PhD “Decision support to control mycotoxin contamination in crops in Europe”

Join a dynamic team of experts in the field of food safety and contribute to the global effort to increase food security and safety. We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate with interest in biology and modeling to tackle the challenge of mycotoxin contamination in crops in Europe.
As a PhD candidate, you will have the opportunity to work on developing decision support tools for farmers and actors in the supply chain, including accurate forecasting systems for mycotoxins, cost-effective monitoring plans, and science-based cost-effective prevention and control measures. This research project aims to provide the knowledge and tools necessary to achieve a significant reduction in crop losses due to mycotoxin contamination.
Your role in this project will include the collection of mycotoxin monitoring data and weather data, as well as data processing to make them ready for use. You will also be responsible for the development of mathematical models for the prediction of mycotoxins in grains on a regional scale in Europe. This might involve a combination of biological and statistical models, and machine learning algorithms. Furthermore, you will be involved in the collection of input from the literature and organizing surveys among stakeholders to collect additional data. Controlled experiments will also be designed and organized to collect data for the biological models, and economic modeling will be performed for cost-effective prevention and control measures.

Your qualities

To be successful in this role, you

• must have a MSc (mathematical, biological, and/or economic)  and a strong interest in all of these fields.
• You also have a demonstrated passion for food safety and food production
  excellent analytical skills
• good writing, communication, and networking skills
• proficiency in the English language.

Additionally, you must meet all admission criteria to start a PhD at the Wageningen University and Research.
We offer a unique and rewarding PhD opportunity at the Wageningen Food Safety Research Institute, within a team of enthusiastic and involved colleagues. Join us and make a meaningful impact in the field of food safety and security.

We offer 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;
• the option to accrue additional compensation hours by working more, up to 40 hours per week;
• 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 December bonus of 4%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. We offer a competitive gross salary of €2.511,- in the first year, up to €3209,- in the 4^th year for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research.
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 multi-faceted 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 17^th 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. Applicants from abroad moving to the Netherlands may qualify for a special tax relief, known as the 30% ruling. 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, and other issues.

Do you want more information?

For more information about this position, please contact
Ir. Marloes Groenewegen, Team leader, +31 6 – 42514331 or by marloes.groenewegen@wur.nl or
prof.dr.ir. Ine van der Fels-Klerx, +31 317 - 481963 or by ine.vanderfels@wur.nl

For more information about the procedure, please contact
Rutger Voorrips, Recruiter, +31 317 – 480571 or by e-mail; rutger.voorrips@wur.nl

Do you want to apply?
You can apply directly using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval.  Deadline for submission of your application is the 12^th of March, 2023. Don’t wait with your application.  As soon as we have received your application and we see a match, we will invite you for an interview. Therefore it may happen that we will close the vacancy before the 12^th of March.

Equal opportunities
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) employs a large number of people with very different backgrounds and qualities, who inspire and motivate each other. We want every talent to feel at home in our organisation and be offered the same career opportunities. We therefore especially welcome applications from people who are underrepresented at WUR. For more information please go to our inclusivity page. A good example of how WUR deals with inclusiveness can be read on the page working at WUR with a functional impairment.

Wageningen University & Research The mission of Wageningen University and 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, 6.800 employees and 12.900 students, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. An integrated approach to problems and the cooperation between various disciplines are at the heart of Wageningen’s unique approach. WUR has been named Best Employer in the Education category for 2019-2020. Read the 5 reasons why your future collaegues enjoy working at WUR and watch this video 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.

Apply now