"PhD position: Carbon and nitrogen cycling for regenerative farming in the Netherlands"

We are looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate to assess how regenerative practices influence carbon and nitrogen cycling in farmers’ fields. This PhD position will explore how and under which biophysical and socioeconomic conditions farmers benefit from regenerative practices (by improved soil fertility, yields and/or income) and related environmental impacts (for example changes in soil carbon and/or reduced nitrogen losses). Research methods will include statistical analyses, modelling and potentially farm interviews.

Your team: Together with pioneering Dutch farmers, the ReGeNL project is working to build an agricultural sector in which food production goes hand in hand with soil health, nature restoration, and a viable business model for farmers. By 2030, the project will draw on the experiences of 100 pioneering farmers to support around 1,000 farmers in the Netherlands in transitioning to regenerative practices, with the ambition of making regenerative agriculture the new norm by 2040.

Within ReGeNL, you will join work package 3B which develops predictive models at various scales. In 3B, a wide range of topics will be modelled to identify which combinations of practices deliver positive agricultural, socio-economic, and environmental outcomes. As such, you will become part of a cohort of PhD candidates working on related topics, giving ample opportunities for shared learning activities.

You will work here: This research is embedded within two research groups: the Plant Production Systems group and the Earth Systems and Global Change group, with supervision by dr. Renske Hijbeek and prof. dr. Hananh van Zanten. The Plant Production Systems group combines production ecological theory with empirical knowledge to provide a better understanding of sustainability of farming systems around the world. The Earth Systems and Global Change Group is a solution-oriented multidisciplinary research group focusing on sustainability and global change.

Requirements: You have background knowledge on soil fertility, especially related to carbon and nitrogen dynamics and management. You enjoy working on interdisciplinary themes, integrating methods and tools from both biophysical and socio-economic domains. You can work independently and like to explore new research methods and models. You also possess: An MSc in the area of agronomy, soil science or environmental science; Experience and skills in modelling and/or statistical analyses; Interest in farming systems analysis; Excellent oral and written communication in English, and good communication skills; Proficiency in Dutch can be an advantage.

Conditions of employment: 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 of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between €3.059,- and €3.881,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). Additionally, a contract for 0.8 FTE can be discussed. As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended on good performance.