Assistant Professor in Agentic AI for Smart Systems (Tenure Track) Wageningen • Wageningen University & Research

Are you driven to shape the future of Agentic AI systems that act with autonomy and adaptability? The Information Technology Group offers an exciting opportunity to impact this emerging field. Dive into research that advances intelligent, autonomous AI agents addressing challenges in life sciences, agriculture, and more. Enjoy benefits like sabbatical leave and sports facilities on a vibrant campus. Join a diverse, international community where your unique contributions are valued. Apply now to be part of this innovative journey! Read on to discover why this challenge awaits you.

Your job

Are you passionate about shaping the next generation of Agentic AI systems—AI that not only reasons and learns, but also acts with autonomy, adaptability, and responsibility? Do you aspire to combine cutting-edge research with education that prepares students for the future of smart, interconnected systems? The Information Technology Group at Wageningen University & Research offers an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact in this emerging field.

In this position, you will explore the rapidly evolving domain of Agentic AI for Smart Systems and share your expertise with highly motivated students. Your research will advance intelligent, autonomous, and interactive AI agents that contribute to solving challenges in life sciences, agriculture, the environment, and beyond. We particularly seek candidates who can integrate Agentic AI with systems thinking, agent-based modeling, and system dynamics, thereby linking advanced AI with methods for analyzing, simulating, and designing complex socio-technical systems. You will design and investigate methods that make AI not only smarter, but also more explainable, safe, and beneficial when integrated into system-of-systems contexts.

Renowned as a leading institution in food, agriculture, and environmental sciences, Wageningen University prides itself on its excellence and impact. Our Information Technology (INF) Group is at the forefront of research in smart systems and system-of-systems engineering, with a strong track record in artificial intelligence, data science, software engineering, and socio-technical systems. To strengthen our research and education in the fast-growing domain of agentic AI and smart systems engineering, we are seeking applications for an Assistant Professor position.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• Conducting high-quality scientific research and publishing in leading journals
• Acquiring, coordinating, and implementing innovative (inter)national research projects
• Supervising PhD candidates, MSc and BSc theses, and collaborating with colleagues
• Developing and teaching courses in AI, agent-based modeling, system dynamics, and smart systems engineering
• Contributing to the further development of the INF group

This position is part of the Academic Career Framework (ACF) at Wageningen University & Research, which has replaced the traditional Tenure Track. This new career framework for all academic staff at Wageningen University starts on 9 March 2025. One of the 3 career paths is the Professor Career Path. The aim of this ACF is  to achieve a new balance in recognising and valuing academics where both team collaboration and the unique talent of individual scientists are seen, by creating more differentiation in career paths, putting the emphasis on the quality of work and less on quantitative results, doing justice to the individual qualities and ambitions of academics as much as to team performance, promoting all aspects of open science and encouraging high-quality leadership in the academy.

In this challenging career trajectory:

• you acquire, lead and implement innovative and creative(inter-) national research projects in {name of chair group};
• you collaborate with colleagues and supervise PhD students, BSc and MSc theses and you develop and teach courses;
• you contribute to the further development of the {name of chair group}.

Your qualities

You are ambitious and enthusiastic about education and research in Agentic AI and Smart Systems.

You also possess:

• A completed PhD in artificial intelligence, computer science, systems engineering, or related fields
• A strong research profile in Agentic AI, systems thinking, agent-based modeling, or system dynamics
• Demonstrated ability to publish in leading journals and conferences
• Relevant and well-evaluated teaching experience
• Excellent communication skills and team spirit
• English proficiency at C1 level
• University Teaching Qualification (UTQ; in Dutch BKO), or willingness to obtain within 3 years

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 be offered a fixed-term, 18 months contract which, upon positive evaluation, can lead to a permanent employment contract. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between €4.571,- and € 6.433 ,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 11).
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.
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 for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, 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 Prof. dr. Bedir Tekinerdogan, Chair of the INF group, Email: via de button "Solliciteer nu" op deze pagina.

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Jeanine van 't Veer, 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 30 November 2025. The first interviews are scheduled for December 8, 2025.

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

You will work here
The research is embedded within the chair Information Technology (INF) (), part of the Social Sciences Group (SSG). The team is led by Prof. dr. Bedir Tekinerdogan. The INF group is active in software and systems engineering, AI, data science, and socio-technical systems, with growing focus on smart systems engineering and system-of-systems research.

Wageningen University & Research
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.