PhD Position: Nitrogen Valorization in High-Temp Electrochemical Cells (F/M/X)

Sustainable ammonia production is an important challenge in the transition towards a climate-neutral chemical industry. Conventional ammonia synthesis is highly energy intensive and relies predominantly on fossil-derived hydrogen. Electrochemical routes offer the possibility to produce ammonia using renewable electricity while enabling new, decentralized production concepts.

This PhD project will focus on the development of advanced materials, electrodes, and membrane-electrode assemblies for high-temperature electrochemical ammonia synthesis using solid oxide and protonic ceramic electrochemical cells (SOC and PCC technologies). The research will address the electrochemical conversion of nitrogen- and NOx-containing streams towards NH3.

The project will combine catalyst and electrode development with ceramic-cell fabrication, electrochemical testing, product analysis, and advanced materials characterization. Different catalyst integration strategies, including infiltration and exsolution, will be investigated to improve activity, selectivity, and long-term stability. Particular attention will be given to electrode–electrolyte interfaces, reaction mechanisms, and degradation under realistic operating conditions.

This PhD position is part of HyNITROGEN (https://groenvermogennl.org/en/nieuws/e20-3-million-for-hynitrogen-consortium-research-into-sustainable-nitrogen-chemistry) a large national research program within GroenvermogenNL that brings together more than 40 academic and industrial partners to develop sustainable production routes for ammonia and other nitrogen-based chemicals using renewable hydrogen and green electricity.

Postdoc position in imaging genetics

As a postdoctoral researcher in imaging genetics, you will coordinate data access and integration across the participating ENIGMA-EEG cohorts. You will help develop research projects, communicate with international collaborators and monitor progress across the consortium.

Working with researchers from different disciplines, you will analyse large-scale genetic and EEG datasets through meta-analyses. You will translate your findings into scientific publications and conference presentations. You will also contribute to developing protocols and workflows that standardise EEG analyses across cohorts.

Your responsibilities include:

• Coordinating data collection, access and integration across participating cohorts.
• Developing research projects in collaboration with international consortium members.
• Conducting meta-analyses of genetic and EEG data and contributing to scientific publications.
• Developing and implementing standardised protocols and workflows for EEG analyses.
• Presenting research findings at scientific conferences and collaborating with researchers across international sites.

You will have opportunities to develop your expertise in advanced data analysis methods, including genome-wide association studies (GWAS), polygenic scoring, machine learning, advanced EEG analyses and multi-site statistics. We will support your professional development through training and collaboration with experts in genetics, neuroscience and data analysis. The role also offers opportunities to visit collaborating research groups.

Programme Manager Extracurricular Development

How do you ensure that students develop not only within their degree programme, but beyond it as well? As Programme Manager Extracurricular Development, you give direction to programmes that challenge students to look further, discover new perspectives and develop their talents.

Your role
Wageningen University & Research offers students a wide range of opportunities to develop themselves alongside their studies. Initiatives such as Studium Generale, Student Challenges and the Honours Programme contribute to students’ academic, societal and personal development outside of their degree programmes.

As Programme Manager Extracurricular Development, you lead the teams that shape these initiatives. You develop an integrated vision for extracurricular development within WUR. This role has a strong focus on professional leadership, strategic development and collaboration. You create an inspiring working environment for staff and ensure a strong, recognisable offering for students. You also strengthen ties with societal partners and contribute to positioning WUR as a university that prepares students for complex societal challenges.

You lead a team of approximately 9 FTE within Studium Generale and Student Challenges. From 2028, the Honours Programme will also join, growing the team to approximately 11 FTE. You create space for professionals to keep developing, encourage collaboration, and ensure the programmes continue to meet the needs of students and society. Together with education teams, colleagues within Student Life, Wellbeing & Inclusion, academic advisory boards and external partners, you develop new opportunities. You connect people, ideas and societal issues, and give the programmes a clear place within and beyond WUR. You report to the Dean of Education.

Your duties and responsibilities as a Programme Manager Extracurricular Development, you:

• develop, together with the teams and their academic advisory boards, and in consultation with degree programmes and other departments, one clear vision for extracurricular development for WUR students;
• ensure coherence in, and further development of, a relevant, attractive and distinctive extracurricular offering;
• lead the teams and create an environment in which professionals can grow and collaborate;
• are responsible for staff and organisational development within the teams and within the financial frameworks;
• build strategic partnerships with societal and other external partners;
• represent the programmes within and beyond WUR.

Your team
The teams within the extracurricular offering consist of dedicated professionals who work on programmes for students in the areas of reflection, societal engagement and talent development. The three teams are:

• Studium Generale – encourages students and staff to think critically about science, society and themselves, through a programme of lectures, debates and activities focused on reflection, broadening and deepening of knowledge.
• Student Challenges – develops programmes in which international student teams collaborate across disciplines on societal issues and tangible impact.
• Honours Programme – offers motivated students additional depth, with room for talentdevelopment and academic excellence.

Programmamanager Extracurriculaire Vorming

Hoe zorg je ervoor dat studenten zich niet alleen ontwikkelen binnen hun opleiding, maar ook daarbuiten? Als Programmamanager Extracurriculaire Vorming geef je richting aan programma’s die studenten uitdagen om verder te kijken, nieuwe perspectieven te ontdekken en hun talenten te ontwikkelen.

Jouw functie
Wageningen University & Research biedt studenten een breed scala aan mogelijkheden om zich naast hun studie verder te ontwikkelen. Initiatieven zoals Studium Generale, Student Challenges en het Honours Programme dragen bij aan de academische, maatschappelijke en persoonlijke ontwikkeling van studenten naast de opleidingen.

Als Programmamanager Extracurriculaire Vorming geef je leiding aan teams die deze initiatieven vormgeven. Je ontwikkelt een integrale visie op extracurriculaire vorming binnen WUR. In deze rol ligt de nadruk op professioneel leiderschap, strategische ontwikkeling en samenwerking. Je zorgt voor een inspirerende werkomgeving voor medewerkers en voor een sterk en herkenbaar aanbod voor studenten. Daarnaast versterk je de verbinding met maatschappelijke partners en draag je bij aan de positionering van WUR als universiteit die studenten voorbereidt op complexe maatschappelijke vraagstukken.

Je geeft leiding aan circa 9 fte binnen Studium Generale en Student Challenges. Vanaf 2028 sluit ook het Honours Programme aan, waarmee het team groeit naar circa 11 fte. Je creëert ruimte voor professionals om zich te blijven ontwikkelen, stimuleert samenwerking en zorgt dat de programma’s blijven aansluiten bij wat studenten en de samenleving nodig hebben. Samen met opleidingsteams, collega’s binnen Student Life, Wellbeing & Inclusion, academische adviesraden en externe partners ontwikkel je nieuwe mogelijkheden. Je verbindt mensen, ideeën en maatschappelijke vraagstukken en geeft de programma’s een duidelijke plek binnen en buiten WUR. Je rapporteert aan de Dean of Education.

Jouw taken en verantwoordelijkheden als Programmamanager Extracurriculaire Vorming:

• ontwikkel je, samen met de teams en hun academische adviesraden, en in afstemmingen met opleidingen en andere afdelingen, één heldere visie op extracurriculaire vorming voor WUR-studenten;
• zorg je voor samenhang in en doorontwikkeling van een relevant, aantrekkelijk en onderscheidend extracurriculair aanbod;
• geef je leiding aan de teams en creëer je een omgeving waarin professionals kunnen groeien en samenwerken;
• ben je verantwoordelijk voor personeels- en organisatieontwikkeling binnen de teams en binnen de financiële kaders;
• bouw je strategische samenwerkingen met maatschappelijke en andere externe partners;
• vertegenwoordig je de programma's binnen en buiten WUR.

Jouw team
De teams binnen het extracurriculaire aanbod bestaan uit betrokken professionals die werken aan programma’s voor studenten op het gebied van reflectie, maatschappelijke betrokkenheid en talentontwikkeling. De drie teams zijn:

• Studium Generale – stimuleert studenten en medewerkers om kritisch na te denken over wetenschap, samenleving en zichzelf, met een programma van lezingen, debatten en activiteiten gericht op reflectie, verbreding en verdieping.
• Student Challenges – ontwikkelt programma's waarin internationale studententeams interdisciplinair samenwerken aan maatschappelijke vraagstukken en concrete impact.
• Honours Programme – biedt gemotiveerde studenten extra verdieping, met ruimte voor talentontwikkeling en academische excellentie.

Impact & Stakeholder Coordinator

As Impact & Stakeholder Coordinator, you will be the link between P2F’s scientific advancements and their application in policy and society. Your role is essential for translating complex research into actionable insights for diverse audiences.

You will join the Management Team of the P2F project. The research consortium consists of 22 European partners and 3 international associated partners. You will be based at Utrecht University (UU), working alongside two dedicated Project Managers. A core component of this role is to serve as a bridge to Cardiff University, working in close daily collaboration with P2F’s Senior Public Engagement and Impact Manager who coordinates the overall Dissemination, Exploitation and Communication (DEC) of P2F. This partnership is vital for aligning our management and outreach teams in Utrecht and Cardiff. The position therefore includes one or two work visits to Cardiff to strengthen these operational links and co-develop project-wide strategies.

Key Responsibilities

• Stakeholder engagement:
  
  • Monitor and coordinate the overall stakeholder engagement strategy to non-scientific target groups, including stakeholder mapping, in close collaboration with the Cardiff team.
  • Support the dissemination of project results to relevant scientific stakeholders and maintain active communication with the project’s Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), particularly to promote the uptake and long-term impact of the project’s core outcomes.
• Communication and Outreach:
  
  • Collaborate with the communications officer from the related EMBRACER project to reach diverse target groups within the Netherlands, and potential role-out of activities to European partners.
  • Set up and supervise student projects to produce visual communication materials, interviews, and other creative outputs regarding P2F research.
  • Further develop the P2F website, manage and track the project’s social media presence and translate complex scientific papers into engaging and accessible content for the website and social media channels.
  • Join relevant working groups, e.g. joint-policy initiatives from the Climate Research Communication Network.
• Project Support & Reporting:
  
  • Maintain the continuous EU reporting of DEC project activities in the EC Funding & Tenders Portal, ensuring all outreach events and publications are accurately logged.
  • Provide general consortium management support to the UU leadership team, particularly during reporting peaks and the organization of General Assembly Meetings.