PhD in Optimizing Canopy Photosynthesis in controlled environment agriculture

Are you curious about how photosynthesis performs in the real world, over hours, days, and weeks, and how can we use that knowledge to improve greenhouse production?

As a PhD candidate, you will investigate how photosynthesis operates over different temporal and spatial scales in crops growing under realistic greenhouse and vertical farming conditions. By combining continuous monitoring (e.g. chlorophyll fluorescence imaging) with microclimate measurements, you will uncover photosynthetic limitations and regulatory processes (e.g. acclimation) that are often overlooked due to their long temporal dynamics. The aim is to interpret these dynamics in a physiological framework and translate them into actionable insights for climate control and crop performance.

You will work with chlorophyll fluorescence imagers, leaf-level validation sensors, and modelling tools to support interpretation of canopy-scale photosynthesis. This project is part of the GreenControl programme which is funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) and 11 companies. This programme encompasses 7 PhD students appointed at the universities of Wageningen, Delft, Eindhoven and Twente. Within GreenControl, you will work in parallel with another PhD in the same group focusing on water-related traits and colleagues across different disciplines, technology companies and growers, ensuring that your research results are directly usable in operational climate‑control strategies.

Your duties and responsibilities:

• designing and executing greenhouse and vertical‑farm experiments using chlorophyll fluorescence imaging and supporting sensors to infer canopy photosynthesis.
• investigating short‑ and long‑term regulatory processes, and identifying limiting factors in canopy photosynthesis under realistic environmental fluctuations • Use and validate existing multilayer photosynthesis models that integrate microclimate gradients to support the interpretation of canopy photosynthesis dynamics across time scales.
• collaborating with technology providers, growers, and researchers to translate physiological insights into improved climate-control strategies for greenhouse production.

You will work here
The research is embedded within the chair Horticulture and Product Physiology, and member of team of Silvere Vialet-Chabrand, which is led by Prof. Leo Marcelis.

The Horticulture and Product Physiology (HPP) group at Wageningen University & Research focuses on understanding and controlling plant growth, development, and product quality, particularly in controlled environments such as greenhouses and vertical farms. By integrating plant physiology, modelling, and data-driven approaches, the group aims to predict plant performance and optimize production systems across the entire supply chain, contributing to sustainable and efficient horticulture.

Junior Fish Ecology Researcher

As a Junior Fish Ecology Researcher at Wageningen Marine Research, you will support research teams with fieldwork, data analysis, and the reporting of results. On board research vessels, you will contribute to fish surveys in Dutch inland and/or coastal waters. As many of our research projects are commissioned by the Dutch government, proficiency in the Dutch language is considered an advantage.

Your responsibilities
As a researcher, your tasks and responsibilities will include:

• collecting and processing data (including work on board research vessels);
• conducting data analysis and statistical analyses;
• carrying out literature reviews;
• reporting and presenting research findings.

Your team
You will work alongside experienced researchers in various project teams within Wageningen Marine Research. Your primary workplace will be our research facility in IJmuiden, and you will spend several weeks each year at sea participating in research surveys.

Junior onderzoeker visecologie

Als junior onderzoeker visecologie voor Wageningen Marine Research ondersteun jij het onderzoeksteams met veldwerk, data analyses en het rapporteren van resultaten. Aan boord van onderzoekschepen ga je bijdragen aan visonderzoek op de Nederlandse binnen- en/of kustwateren. Opdrachtgever voor onze onderzoeksprojecten is in veel gevallen de Nederlandse overheid waardoor de beheersing van de Nederlandse taal een pré is.

Jouw taken en verantwoordelijkheden als onderzoeker zijn:

• gegevens verzamelen en verwerken (soms aan boord van onderzoeksschepen);
• data-analyse en statistische analyse;
• literatuuronderzoek;
• resultaten rapporteren.

Jouw team
Jij gaat samenwerken met ervaren onderzoekers in verschillende projectteams van Wageningen Marine Research. Je werkt vooral op onze onderzoekslocatie in IJmuiden en gaat daarbij enkele weken per jaar mee het water op voor onderzoek.

Lecturer in Big Data and Artificial Intelligence

Are you passionate about educating the next generation of data and AI professionals? Do you enjoy combining academic knowledge with practical applications in software, data, and intelligent systems? Then this position at Wageningen University & Research may be the ideal next step in your career.

As Lecturer in Big Data and AI, you will contribute to education and innovation within the Information Technology Group. You will teach and coordinate courses in areas such as big data systems, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data engineering, and software systems. You will help students develop both theoretical understanding and practical engineering skills that are essential for designing modern intelligent systems.

You will work in an international and interdisciplinary environment where digital technologies are increasingly applied to societal challenges in domains such as food, agriculture, environment, health, and sustainability.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• Teaching and coordinating courses in Big Data, AI, and related IT subjects;
• Supervising student projects, theses, and practical assignments;
• Contributing to curriculum development and educational innovation;
• Supporting the integration of AI and data technologies in education;
• Collaborating with colleagues on educational and applied research activities.

Your team
You will work within the Information Technology Group, an international and collaborative team of researchers and educators focusing on AI, data science, and software engineering. The group is part of Wageningen University & Research and contributes to education and research at the intersection of IT and life sciences.

PHD position: measuring the developing immune system in chickens

Are you a highly motivated, curious researcher who is fascinated by fundamental aspects of the immune system in animals and not afraid of a challenge? Are you excited about using a multifaceted approach combining immune assays, animal experiments and quantitative data analysis? Are you enthusiastic about collaboration in a multidisciplinary team? Then you could be the ideal PhD candidate for this position!

You will contribute to the consortium project “I-COMP: Improved immune competence of day-old chicks: a head start”, a collaboration between WUR, the Faculty of Veterinary medicine of the Utrecht University, and two industrial partners (HatchTech, Merck Animal Health. This project, funded by the NWO Open Technology Programme, aims to create and test a system that will evaluate the impact of egg incubation conditions on development of the immune system. With this system we will investigate whether immune development can be enhanced during the late embryonic stage and whether this will improve the health and resistance of chicks against infections.

You will work here
You will be working in the Jansen group, in the chair group Cell Biology & Immunology . The research in the Jansen group focuses on understanding how the cells of the immune system in veterinary species like chickens are activated and exert their function. This includes developing assays and reagents and use these to perform fundamental research on how the chicken immune system develops in young chickens. This basic knowledge can then be applied to design novel strategies to modulate the development of the immune system, with the ultimate aim to improve immune mediated protection and reduce infections in chickens.

You will be directly supervised by Dr. Christine Jansen, and will work in a small team with other PhD students and a technician. This project offers ample opportunities for local and international collaboration, guaranteeing a dynamic working environment.