Assistant/Associate professor Consumer Science of Food Products

Do you want to develop impactful research, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and inspire students through engaging consumer behaviour education in relation to food science?We are looking for an ambitious Assistant/Associate Professor Consumer Science of Food Products.

The Food Quality and Design (FQD) group, part of the Food Technology cluster at Wageningen University and Research (WUR), is looking for an ambitious Assistant/Associate Professor with expertise in qualitative consumer research methods to strengthen our research and teaching portfolio. Research and education in our team evolve around understanding the consumer and user when interacting with food products and services in the context of daily life household practices. The aim is to facilitate user representation in interdisciplinary teams working on development, quality and use of consumer products by gaining in-depth consumer insights.

The new colleague will set up and conduct research to understand contemporary consumer challenges. This requires research approaches that capture the complexity of consumers’ lived experiences and everyday practices. We therefore value qualitative consumer research using creative and participatory methods, such as visual methods, co-creation, and participatory design, to generate deep insights and develop impactful knowledge for societal challenges.

Moreover, you will teach courses in consumer usage behavior, consumer product interaction, and qualitative research methods at the undergraduate and graduate levels, supervise Bachelor, Master, and PhD students, and contribute to curriculum development.

We are looking for a collaborative candidate with a strong commitment to academic research, innovative teaching, and societal impact, who is eager to engage with colleagues across disciplines, with the research and education being performed in the framework of the food science and quality management research at FQD.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• you are expected to build your own research line within the research area described above;
• you are expected to actively seek research partners in The Netherlands and abroad, and create your own, recognizable field of expertise;
• you will contribute to the educational programme in consumer behavior, qualitative research methods, and related fields at undergraduate and graduate levels.

This position is part of the Academic Career Framework (ACF) at Wageningen University & Research. One of the 3 career paths is the Professor Career Path. The aim of this ACF is to achieve a new balance in recognizing 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.

You will work here
The position will be at the “Food Quality and Design” chair group, led by Prof. Vincenzo Fogliano and Prof. Kasper Hettinga. The mission of this chair group is to optimize food quality throughout the food chain by designing better foods to improve health and pleasure of the consumer and focus on the sustainability of food production systems.

In this challenging career trajectory:

• you acquire, lead and implement innovative and creative (inter-)national research projects in the Food Quality and Design group;
• you collaborate with colleagues and supervise PhD students, BSc and MSc theses;
• you (co-)develop and teach courses in the field of consumer research;
• you contribute to the further development of the Food Quality and Design group.

Researcher/lecturer ‘Public Policy for sustainability transformations

Researcher/lecturer ‘Public Policy for sustainability transformations in Water and Climate’ (4 years) in Wageningen.

Why apply for a position in Wageningen?
Are you ready for the next step in your academic career? Do you want to become part of an enthusiastic group of colleagues, who seek to push the boundaries of knowledge on public administration and public policy? Do you want to teach for the highest graded educational programs in the Netherlands? Do you have the right skills to do cutting-edge research in an interdisciplinary setting and convey your findings in an inspiring way to students in a multi-disciplinary setting? And would you like to try to develop your skills further and grow in the direction of an assistant professorship? Then apply for a position as Researcher/Lecturer ‘Public Policy for Transformations in Water and Climate’ (4 years, trial period of 1 year at the Public Administration and Policy Group of Wageningen University).

Background: global change requires action from the Dutch government
The Public Administration Group of Wageningen University is a vibrant and enthusiastic group of scholars, seeking to understand how governments can help achieve sustainability transformations. As the climate changes in the Netherlands, several societal transformations are necessary. In our group, we start from the premise that the role of government in transformations is essential, also in the Netherlands. Because government expenditure constitutes a very significant part of the economy, but also because democratically elected government institutions represent the will of the people, and because the government is equipped with unique authorities and powers that can help codify and modify the direction that societies take. The Dutch government and the EU have a distinct role to play: they need to develop policies that enable or guide transformation, by facilitating societal initiative, by introducing the right incentives for private companies, and by changing existing policies that hinder transformation. The Dutch government itself is multiple and exists of various layers and policy sectors. Moreover, it needs to act in close collaboration with the European Union, which sets large parts of the sustainability agenda in Europe and for the Netherlands. As a consequence, agreement of who should act, when and at what level, can be elusive, and in addition, the types of interventions needed are often contested as polarization sets in. In this context, a deeper understanding of whether, when and how the Netherlands’ government can help realize the necessary sustainability transformations is paramount.

We are looking for you
The challenges to the Dutch government and the EU are nowhere clearer than in the connected policy domains of climate change and water, where human induced global change needs to be stopped by innovative solutions such as biobased construction and carbon capture on land, where extreme weather events cause floods that impact cities and regions thus requiring adaptive capacity, and where extended periods of drought threaten water availability for important sectors such as agriculture and biodiversity thus necessitating a turn towards circularity in water management. In the context of our expanding research and teaching portfolio in this domain we are looking for a Researcher/Lecturer (50/50) on the theme ‘Public Policy for sustainability transformations in Water and Climate’ who contributes to the implementation of our research projects, the acquisition of new projects, and to the coordination and realization of our courses.

Your duties and responsibilities include:
You will spend 50% of your time doing research, which means that you will:

• become part of the teams that implement ongoing research projects in the Climate and Water domain that connect to your expertise (projects such as Blue Vantage, STURDI and WaterGrid, with more projects starting soon);
• share in the performance of duties under these projects, including the production of deliverables and organization of activities (workshops, events) where applicable;
• publish academic papers (independently and in teams) on the basis of your own research line and the research done in the context of the projects that you will connect to.

In the other 50% of your time, you will be contributing to our teaching portfolio, which means that you:

• will teach and coordinate courses in public administration and policy in the B.Sc. program on ‘Economics and Policy’ in Wageningen (the course ‘Governance and Policy Change’) and contributing to courses in the M.Sc. program on the ‘Governance of Sustainability Transformations’;
• where appropriate and necessary, you will also be involved with the development of new courses, for instance in the context of new program development in Wageningen;
• you will supervise B.Sc. and M.Sc. thesis projects from students that come to study with our group.

Your team:
You will become a member of the Public Administration and Policy Group at Wageningen. The PAP group is an enthusiastic and vibrant group within the Department of Social Sciences. The PAP group's mission is to study the public governance of sustainability transformations in the interrelated domains of water, climate, food, biodiversity and agriculture under the slogan ‘Changing governance, Governing change’. In our work, we build on a diverse set of public administration and policy science concepts and theories and apply a diverse range of methods that we use whenever suitable for the research questions at hand. We take an active interest in the role of the state in sustainability governance and we actively seek to think through innovative governance arrangements. The group is impact-oriented and aims to contribute to scientific progress, to societal debates, and to policy practices. More information on the group can be found on www.wageningenur.nl/pap.

Your will work here
The PAP group actively collaborates with neighboring groups in the Wageningen Sustainability Governance Hub, where more than 150 researchers collaborate at the forefront of global discussions on sustainability transformations. In the last research assessment, the WCSG was found to do "excellent, impact-driven and ample research", and to be "in an eminent position to meet the demand for innovation in governance related to sustainability issues". You will be supervised by Prof. Dave Huitema.

Editor Project Output

This position is ideal for you if you're an experienced editor in Dutch and English, and have knowledge and interest in innovating the field using AI solutions. You enjoy collaboration, are proactive and innovative, and feel at home in an internationally oriented knowledge organization. You want your work to contribute to social impact and are good at inspiring people.

As a Project Output Editor at Wageningen Social and Economic Research, you will be responsible for editing research reports and other written project output (in Dutch and English). Because AI is playing an increasingly important role in this process, we are looking for someone with experience in this area who will further develop the role of this new technology in producing our output.

In this role, you will be part of the Project Management Group (PMG). Our team is one of WSER's 11 expertise teams. Together with the other expertise teams, we focus on a sustainable national and international market of governments, NGOs, and businesses with research products and advice. Our focus is on major societal issues: sustainable food clusters, food security, the biobased economy, energy, water, and climate. Sustainable economic development in an international setting is central to this. With our independent research, we offer clients guidance in making socially and strategically responsible choices.
With 23 Project Management professionals, PMG is developing into a center of expertise in effective acquisition and project management. Project communication and outreach are key specializations within the team. PMG consists of management officers and project managers who are primarily involved in projects that present additional challenges due to their size, structure, or social impact.

Job content
Wageningen Social & Economic Research publishes 250 to 300 scientific research reports for a wide range of clients—including national and international governments, businesses, small businesses—and society at large. As a copy editor/AI specialist, you will initially play a key role in the output phase of projects. Working closely with researchers and other colleagues, you will ensure high-quality publications: in correct Dutch and/or English, readable, and accessible. Due to developments in AI, a shift in focus in the output production process is likely. Your responsibilities in this role will therefore include:

• Advise and support researchers on the type of project output that best suits their project goals and target groups, and how they can use (AI) tools to achieve this.
• Review written project output for appealing and impactful structure and language.
• Visualize written project communication, in collaboration with colleagues or external parties.
• Use AI tools to improve the quality (type and word count) of written project output and the editorial process, working with our data security experts.

Analyst in PCR Diagnostics for Animal Diseases

Have you completed an MLO or HLO degree and are you ready for a new challenge as a Laboratory Analyst in a PCR laboratory within an inspiring and dynamic environment? Would you like to further develop your expertise in molecular techniques while also expanding your skills in bacteriological, virological, and parasitological diagnostics?

At Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR) in Lelystad, we are looking for an enthusiastic Laboratory Analyst to join our close-knit team.

For this position is full proficiency in both spoken and written Dutch essential.

WBVR is the National Reference Laboratory and as a Laboratory Analyst within Diagnostics and Crisis Organisation (DCO), you will work together with your colleagues to perform diagnostic testing on samples to screen for animal diseases such as avian influenza, bluetongue, botulism, and Q fever. You will perform a broad range of PCR tests carried out in BSL-2 laboratories and, in part, in BSL-3 laboratories. In addition, you will be deployed flexibly across other laboratories within DCO and provide support during outbreaks of animal diseases.

Your duties and responsibilities as a Laboratory Analyst include:

• performing diagnostic analyses on samples for the detection of animal diseases;
• applying PCR techniques, including troubleshooting and optimisation;
  working in both BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratory environments in accordance with applicable safety and quality standards;
• performing laboratory tests with a high degree of accuracy and precision;
• interpreting and recording test results in accordance with established protocols;
• collaborating with fellow laboratory analysts in a team-oriented working environment;
• being flexibly deployable across other laboratories within WBVR, depending on operational needs;
• contributing to the scaling up of diagnostic activities during outbreaks of animal diseases;
• actively contributing to quality assurance and the continuous improvement of laboratory processes.

Your Team
You will be part of a small team within the Diagnostics and Crisis Organisation (DCO) department. The DCO department consists of approximately 58 employees.

Your Workplace
Wageningen Bioveterinary Research

Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR) in Lelystad operates within a strictly certified ISO environment to ensure the reliability of animal disease diagnostics and maintain high standards of biosafety. We are responsible for diagnostic testing as part of surveillance programmes and investigations of suspected notifiable viral and bacterial animal diseases, as well as for export diagnostics. Quality is central to all diagnostic activities. In addition to performing diagnostics, new diagnostic tests are developed, implemented, and validated. Supported by an enthusiastic team of highly trained laboratory analysts, most activities are carried out within the high-containment unit. We also provide a crucial 24/7 diagnostic service for a number of animal diseases. This means you will participate in an on-call and standby rota outside regular office hours.

Analyst Bacterial Animal Diseases

Have you completed an MLO or HLO degree and are you ready for a new challenge as a Laboratory Analyst – Bacterial Animal Diseases in an inspiring and dynamic environment? Would you like to further develop your expertise in bacteriological diagnostics while also having the opportunity to expand your skills in virological diagnostics?

At Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR) in Lelystad, we are looking for an enthusiastic Laboratory Analyst to join our close-knit team.

For this position is full proficiency in both spoken and written Dutch essential.

WBVR is a national reference laboratory. As a Laboratory Analyst within the Diagnostics and Crisis Organisation (DCO), you will work alongside your colleagues to perform diagnostic testing on samples to screen for animal diseases such as Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM), botulism, anthrax, and tuberculosis (TB). You will perform a broad range of bacteriological tests in both BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratories.

In addition, you will be deployed flexibly across other laboratories within DCO, including the PCR laboratory and the BSL-3 laboratory. You may also be called upon to support diagnostic activities during outbreaks of animal diseases.

Your duties and responsibilities as a Laboratory Analyst include:

• perform diagnostic analyses for the detection of animal diseases;
• apply classical bacteriological techniques, including isolation, identification, and typing of bacteria, as well as the associated quality control of culture media;
• work in both BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratory environments in accordance with established safety and quality standards;
• perform PCR-based diagnostic techniques;
• carry out laboratory tests manually with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail;
• interpret and record test results in accordance with established protocols;
• collaborate closely with fellow laboratory analysts in a team-oriented working environment;
• provide flexible support across other laboratories within WBVR, depending on operational requirements;
• contribute to the scaling up of diagnostic activities during outbreaks of animal diseases;
• actively contribute to quality assurance and the continuous improvement of laboratory processes.

Your Team
You will be part of a small team within the Diagnostics and Crisis Organisation (DCO) department. The DCO department consists of approximately 58 employees.

Your Workplace
Wageningen Bioveterinary Research

Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR) in Lelystad operates within a strictly certified ISO environment to ensure the reliability of animal disease diagnostics and maintain high standards of biosafety. We are responsible for diagnostic testing as part of surveillance programmes and investigations of suspected notifiable viral and bacterial animal diseases, as well as for export diagnostics. Quality is central to all diagnostic activities. In addition to performing diagnostics, new diagnostic tests are developed, implemented, and validated. Supported by an enthusiastic team of highly trained laboratory analysts, most activities are carried out within the high-containment unit. We also provide a crucial 24/7 diagnostic service for a number of animal diseases. This means you will participate in an on-call and standby rota outside regular office hours.