Researcher Spray Emissions Modeling - Precision Agriculture focus Wageningen • Wageningen University & Research

Are you passionate about advancing sustainable agriculture through precision technology and data analysis? Join a dynamic team dedicated to reducing environmental impacts of crop protection. Contribute to innovative research on spray deposition, work with cutting-edge methods, and collaborate with stakeholders. Enjoy flexible working hours, sabbatical leave, sports facilities, and a year-end bonus. Be part of an internationally acclaimed institution committed to diversity and inclusion. Explore the possibilities and discover your next career move.

Your job

Do you want to use your passion to scientifically address challenges in (precision) agriculture and spray technology in relation to crop protection by data analysis and modelling? Do you have an interest in detecting and optimizing spray deposition on plants and reduce environmental risk of plant protection products by reducing exposure of soil-water and bystanders? Are you interested to contribute to sustainable, data-driven assessment of spray applications, well embedded in society, and bring science (and technology) to environmental agencies and crop protection product assessment authorities? Then read on!

As researcher data analysis and modelling of emissions of crop protection agents in relation to spray technology and environmental assessment you will contribute to new developments in our team by data analysis and modelling of the spray deposition process. New knowledge is required to understand and respond to temporal and spatial variability of spray deposition on plants and non-target areas (such as water, soil, operator, bystander and residents), and to optimize systems to produce food in harmony with nature.

The research
New spray application methods aim to reduce plant protection product usage, to understand and improve the efficacy of the spray application process, increase food security and safety, and reduce the impact of agriculture on the environment. These methods may also include low-risk applications, precision agriculture and biological control.

We develop and underpin scientifically based systems knowledge about spray deposition distribution and exposure. We collect, manage, and process data and develop models. The research results in direct input to assessment and environmental authorities, but may also help as input to a new generation of application methods (such as automated machines and robotics). You will work in this field within a multidisciplinary team of scientists, in strong interactions with stakeholders.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• Participation in projects applying existing methods to evaluate spray drift exposure and drift-reducing technology;
• Participation in carrying out and improving lab testing of spray nozzles and spraying systems;
• Participation in adapting existing and developing new model concepts regarding spray deposition and exposure to spray drift.

Your team
You will be part of a dynamic team, embedded in a unique organization with an outstanding reputation – Wageningen University & Research. We exchange and collaborate amongst each other, based on the values of sound science, trust, transparency, and togetherness. We are curious to get to know you!
Your qualities

We would like to integrate your interest and experience in our spray assessment (technology) projects. Your skills, ambitions and positive attitude in life will contribute to our research and the position of the knowledge and expertise of the Plant Sciences Group of WUR.
Suitable candidates portray one or more of the following: good knowledge of agronomy, precision farming and spray processes.

You also possess:

• A relevant MSc or PhD in plant sciences, biosystems engineering, physics and maths, data and model handling or a related field.
• Proven skills or an interest to evaluate measurements, to thoroughly analyse data, to use and/or develop models and to publish in international peer-reviewed journals.
• Skills in data handling, modelling, databases and also experience in computer programming.
• Effective communicate skills and can discuss research results in reports, (scientific) journal papers and on meetings and conferences of different formats.
• A result-oriented approach, show analytical capacities and are able to handle quantitive data, have the ability to collaborate in multidisciplinary teams and have project management competences

In our international working environment there is an increasing amount of communication in English. We expect that you can speak and write well in English (C1/B2) and preferably in Dutch (C1/B2) as well.
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;
• 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 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. We offer, depending on your experience, a competitive gross salary of between €3.316,- and €6.008,- (scale 10-11) for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research. Additionally, a contract for 32 hours can be discussed. As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended - if possible within (company) organizational circumstances - on good performance. Of course, we are happy to have a conversation with you if you have any questions about this.

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 this function, please contact Dr ir. Jan Huijsmans, team lead, e-mail: via de button "Solliciteer nu" op deze pagina.; T +31 317 480685 or Dr ir. Raymond Jongschaap, business unit manager, e-mail: via de button "Solliciteer nu" op deze pagina.; T +31 317 480570.

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Dax Teunissen, 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 Monday, June 30, 2025. The first interviews are scheduled for Monday, July 7, 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’.

Agrosystems Research
Agrosystems Research is part of the Plant Sciences Group of Wageningen University & Research. We advise the public and the private sector and provide training in areas of our expertise. We are a community of scientists working on safe and sustainable agricultural systems, well embedded in society and contributing to the quality of life. We work in a demand driven contract research organization, where stakeholders’ needs are explored and served. Acquiring new research projects is an intrinsic part of our work.

Our core business is understanding and quantifying the soil-crop-environment continuum at both the process level and the ecosystem level, which we assess with mixed methodologies like integrated assessments, the analysis of big data, precision agriculture, sensing, and robotics. We do this by means of experimental design and computer modelling, ICT, on-farm testing and implementation in interaction with stakeholders. Our research and knowledge-intensive advisory systems are based on agronomy and ecology as our main scientific disciplines, which are increasingly complemented by social science research. Our vision of agroecology is to integrate agronomy, technological and social research in interaction with stakeholders. This requires an integrated, inter- and transdisciplinary perspective for the study and development of food systems.

Our objective is to raise the productivity of agriculture in a sustainable and socially acceptable manner and increase the resilience of systems to deliver food security, feed, fuel, fiber and other services under current and future climate and resource availability.

As guiding principles, we work synergistically in teams, like to express and base our opinions on sound science and operate self-conscientiously in our networks to have impact, and to attract and serve our clients’ needs. We strongly believe in diversity and inclusiveness to strengthen our teams, their modus operandi and their impact.

Wageningen University & Research
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.