PhD researcher TITAN

We are looking for

Do you want to contribute to a more transparent and sustainable food sector in Europe?  Do you want to start your academic career in business science?  We offer a PhD vacancy for an ambitious and high-potential scholar who seeks to understand how (agrifood-) supply chain networks can achieve greater transparency via digital innovations, enhancing the world’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Business Management & Organisation (BMO) group of Wageningen University & Research (WUR) is excited to kick-off a new Horizon Europe project called TITAN comprising 27 partners, in which WUR  serves as consortium partner. We contribute to 3  workpackages.
The objective of TITAN is to provide an extensive platform for the development of a wide range of innovations that aid transparency and address key challenges identified in the European Green Deal.
The TITAN project has a strong multidisciplinary character. The 4-year project comprises a mix of technology providers and research centres linked to agri-food actors and businesses through an interactive co-creation approach. Participants are from the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, France, Belgium, Germany, UK, Greece, Portugal, Norway, Finland, Poland and Switzerland. The TITAN innovations will deliver transparency solutions in the areas of food safety and authenticity, traceability, health and sustainability and improving information to the consumer.
Within TITAN, Wageningen University & Research is responsible for Work Package 2 (WP2), dealing with the management of stakeholder digital transparency interests in EU food supply chain networks.
You will carry out a large share of the WP2 work. More specifically, your work includes the following tasks:

develop conceptualizations and a fitting research designs;

collect empirical data using qualitative (e.g. interviews, focus group discussions) and quantitative (survey) methods and analyse the data

identify primary and secondary stakeholder relationships and digital transparency potentials in food supply chain network structures;

evaluate the stakeholders and develop norm strategies;

explore the optimal fit between organizational structures and different digital information systems within the EUs FSC networks

design a new supply chain network organization framework;

derive concrete strategic and stakeholder management recommendations for digital start-ups and SMEs in the food sector.

We ask

We are looking for a prospective researcher with the following key qualifications:

• a successfully completed MSc degree in (agricultural or food) economics, business studies, organisation studies or innovation management;
• For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level .
• keen interest in organisation, (food) supply chain networks, digital innovation, transparency, collaboration, stakeholder management;
• knowledge of and experience with qualitative research methods;
• knowledge of and experience with research on the agri-food sector;
• experienced in working in international and multidisciplinary projects is an advantage;
• familiarity with engaged scholarship is an advantage;

For this position you will be located at Wageningen, within the

Business Management & Organisation Group

. More information about our chair group you will find

here

. The BMO project team consists of

Veren

a Otter and

Wilfred

Dolfsma.

We offer

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment . A few highlights from our  Collective Labour Agreement include:

• 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;
• the option to accrue additional compensation / holiday hours by working more, up to 40 hours per week;
• 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 December bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team.

The gross salary for the first year is € 2.443,- per month rising to € 3.122,- in the fourth year in according to the

Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU)

(scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well.

There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a unique position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the “ Best University ” in the Netherlands for the 17th consecutive time.

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. Applicants from abroad moving to the Netherlands may qualify for a special tax relief , known as the 30% ruling. 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 helping your partner to find a job, housing, schooling, and other issues.

Equal opportunities
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) employs a large number of people with very different backgrounds and qualities, who inspire and motivate each other. We want every talent to feel at home in our organisation and be offered the same career opportunities. We therefore especially welcome applications from people who are underrepresented at WUR. For more information please go to our inclusivity page . A good example of how WUR deals with inclusiveness can be read on the page working at WUR with a functional impairment .

More information

Do you want more information?
For more information about this function you can contact Dr. Verena Otter, BMO Group, project leader, via this contact form . 

For more information about the procedure, please contact Jeanine van 't Veer, corporate recruiter, via [email protected]

Do you want to apply?
You can apply directly by uploading your CV and motivation letter  using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval.

This vacancy is open up to and including 3 July 2022. We want to plan the first job interviews in July 2022. A possible second interview will take place later in July 2022.

We have the intention to start with this position at the 1st of September, 2022.

We are

The mission of Wageningen University and Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment.

With its roughly 30 branches, 6.800 employees and 12.900 students, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. An integrated approach to problems and the cooperation between various disciplines are at the heart of Wageningen’s unique approach. WUR has been named the best university of the Netherlands by students for the 17th time in a row.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch this video to get an idea of our green campus!