EngD Program: Co-creating Regenerative Areas Wageningen • Wageningen University & Research

Are you an enthusiastic researcher eager to tackle real-world challenges and shape a sustainable future for Dutch agriculture? Join the Land Use Planning group as an EngD researcher in Regenerative Agriculture. Collaborate with a diverse team to design regenerative landscapes that enhance the environment and quality of life. Enjoy benefits like sabbatical leave, sports facilities, and a year-end bonus. Contribute to a groundbreaking project in an international, innovative setting. Continue reading to see why we need your expertise.

Your job

Are you an enthusiastic, hands-on researcher looking to apply scientific knowledge to real-world challenges and design a more sustainable future for agriculture in the Netherlands? Join the Land Use Planning chair group as an EngD researcher in Regenerative Agriculture, with a focus on co-creating regenerative landscapes.

What You Will Work On
The REGENL program aims to develop a sustainable, future-proof countryside in which farming contributes in a positive manner to the landscape, the environment and the overall quality of life. The interaction of such ‘regenerative agriculture’ with the surrounding landscape is a crucial topic, as this should ensure that negative externalities are minimized while synergies are maximized. To ensure that we will design the best spatial configurations of various types of regenerative agriculture within the landscapes, we are hiring five Engineering Doctorate candidates. These five candidates will collaborate closely, with each other and with a range of stakeholders, to design multiple regenerative landscapes. We are looking for candidates with knowledge on:

• Nutrient cycles and nutrient exchange with the surrounding environment (position 1);
• Water management and hydrological environmental interactions (position 2);
• Movement / dispersion of species (plants and animals) across adjacent land uses (position 3);
• Social-cultural-historical landscape geography (position 4);
• Agricultural and leisure economics (position 5).

Your central challenge is to use scientific methods to cocreate regenerative landscapes in a way that supports both economic viability and sustainable environmental outcomes.About the Program This EngD position is part of the Dutch government-funded program RE-GE-NL, which supports the transition from conventional to regenerative, profitable, and socially supported farming. Regenerative agriculture is a form of farming that combines food production with ecosystem restoration and prevents soil depletion. The project contributes to a healthier environment and a sustainable future for Dutch farming enterprises.

You will work under expert supervision at the Land Use Planning chair group, combining academic rigor with practical experience.What You Will Gain

• Advanced project management skills, design and research skills in a real-world context
• A strong foundation in communication and (stakeholder) collaboration
• A prestigious EngD degree and a smoother path into industry or policy roles

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• setting up and carrying out the above-mentioned research, resulting in inspiring, functional landscape designs for a range of areas throughout the Netherlands
• publishing and presenting the research and sub-research results in the Netherlands and at international scientific conferences;
• actively participating and contributing to the RE-GE-NL project;
• maintaining and expanding contacts with internal and external partners;

Your qualities

• A completed university degree at master's level in Spatial or Environmental Planning, Geography, or another related field;
• Knowledge of, experience with, or demonstrable interest in agricultural and environmental topics;
• Skills, or is willing to develop them, to collaborate interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary (with societal stakeholders) and to actively contribute to knowledge integration in the RE-GE-NL project.
• Strong communication skills;
• At good command of both Dutch (B2 level) and English (C1 level);
• Enthusiasm and affinity for both scientific and practice-oriented research;
• A result-oriented, flexible mind set with perseverance.

We offer you

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 of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of €2,872 (full-time, 38 hours/week) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale TOIO).  As for your contract, we initially offer a six-month contract that can be extended with 18 months on good performance.
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.

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.

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. If you come with a partner, we offer a Dual Career group program organized by our Welcome Center. This program helps your partner to get familiar with the Dutch culture, labour market and assists your partner to find a job.

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 coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, our Welcome Center can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example housing, opening a bank account 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.
Do you want more information?

For more information about the position, please contact Franziska Komossa, assistant professor, via de button "Solliciteer nu" op deze pagina.

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Edgar Tijhuis, Corporate Recruiter, via de button "Solliciteer nu" op deze pagina.

Ready to apply?
Click on the application button next to the vacancy on our website. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.
You can apply until June 30 2025.

Procedure
As part of our selection process, an assessment may be incorporated within the procedure

Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone's unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.

We are

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is ‘To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life’.

We pursue this mission through a synergistic approach between Wageningen University and Wageningen Research Foundation (applied research). Our research focuses on questions within the domains of food, living environment, and society. With approximately 30 locations, 7,700 staff members, 2,500 PhD candidates, and over 13,000 students, Wageningen University & Research is among the world’s leading knowledge institutions in its domain. The integral approach to challenges and the collaboration across various disciplines form the core of the unique Wageningen approach.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR.

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.