Postdoc Multi-Criteria Analysis of Agricultural Landscapes in Agroecological Innovation Hubs

We are looking for

Are you interested in the development of agroecology on farms in Europe by bringing together scientific and experiential knowledge? In shaping and scientifically analyzing research-in-action projects that aim to support ‘innovation hub’ actors in their efforts to overcome barriers and lock-ins? In doing so in a vibrant European network with a focus on addressing climate change, biodiversity, and socio-economic sustainability? Then we might have an interesting PostDoc position for you at Wageningen University & Research.

Information about the project

The project develops and applies a multi-criteria analysis (MCA)-based framework for prediction and evaluation of agroecological systems at the farm and value chain levels which will be based on sets of indicators proposed in previous projects, such as the TAPE tool to evaluate agroecology performance. This tool has been validated in tropical developing countries. Its applicability in Europe has not been demonstrated. In addition to this overarching framework, the project will propose or develop indicators specific to the local context of IHs. 

Methods and tools for monitoring performances should provide generalizable answers to policy makers willing to support the transition towards agroecology, while at the same time being sensitive enough to provide references in a specific context. Therefore, progress assessed with generic models applicable in a wide range of situations need to be balanced by progress assessed using more specific, local tools and methods. These outputs will be combined to refine decision-making in IHs under a continuous improvement strategy.

You will contribute to:

• i) Mapping of the socio-technical systems in the IHs 
• ii) The implementation of the MCA framework for the project. 

The project will map IHs natural and socio-economic ecosystems (i) by characterizing the actors' interconnections and interactions using for instance fuzzy cognitive mapping (FCM) and qualitative system and actor analysis, in parallel with rich descriptions of the IHs' specific context. 

Your core focus will be:

• elaboration of the MCA framework (ii), which will be developed by selecting indicators with stakeholders in IHs, making the indicators operational, and guiding and joining data collection efforts to quantify indicators. 

The performance of IHs and the synergies and trade-offs among indicators will be assessed using a range of statistical methodologies. This will result in an evaluation of multifunctionality of farming systems and their ability to adapt to and mitigate climate change, and to conserve and improve agricultural biodiversity and resilience, including a gender perspective. 

Intensive collaboration is foreseen with the sibling work package on IH co-innovation, as well as with the other workpackages that work on scaling up and out and development of the agroecology conceptual basis. 

The Agroecology-TRANSECT project is funded by the European Union and comprises 19 partner organizations from research, extension and agricultural enterprises in 12 European countries. The project will start 1 September 2022 and will run for 4 years. 

We ask

• A PhD degree in agricultural science, environmental science, (human) geography, natural resource management, landscape ecology, or similar.
• Knowledge of / clear interest in agroecological systems.
• Proven experience with a range of quantitative systems / multi-criteria analyses methods such as fuzzy cognitive mapping, systems dynamics simulation, trade-off analysis, Pareto-based ranking and multi-objective optimization.
• Solid experience in R statistical package or a programming language (like C# or Java) and familiarity with geographical information systems and software packages to analyze spatial data.
• A proven scientific ambition, proven performance in scientific writing, and strong ambition to publish future work (candidates are invited to provide 1 or 2 examples of their written work).
• An ambition to work in inter- and transdisciplinary settings.
• An interest to supervise MSc thesis students working on the same topic.
• Ability to communicate effectively with different scientific disciplines and actors from different fields of agriculture within Europe.
• Ability to function as a team member, participate in project meetings and discussions.
• This position requires an excellent English language proficiency  (a mininum of CEFR C1 level). For more information about this proficiency level, please visit our special language page .

We offer

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

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and 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 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, we offer a competitive salary depending on education and experience of minimum € 2.960,= to maximum € 4.670,= gross for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the

Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU)

(scale 10). Additionally, a contract for 0.8 FTE can be discussed. It concerns a contract of one year, with a possible extension.

Wageningen University & Research encourages internal advancement opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. 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.

More information

For more information about this function, please contact Dr Walter Rossing, Associate Professor (ius promovendi ), e-mail: [email protected]
For more information about the procedure, please contact [email protected]
General information about Farming Systems Ecology can be found on https://www.wur.nl/en/Research-Results/Chair-groups/Plant-Sciences/Farming-Systems-Ecology-Group.htm
Do you want to apply?
You can apply directly using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval.
In responding, please provide the following

•           a motivation letter,
•           a CV,
•           2-3 pages your thoughts on how to monitor innovation dynamics in the Innovation Hubs and how to use the results for further learning.  

This vacancy will be listed up to and including 

5 October 2022

.

The first job interviews will take place mid-October 2022.

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

.

We are

Wageningen University & Research
The mission of Wageningen University & 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, 7,200 employees (6,400 fte) and 13,200 students and over 150.000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.. An integrated approach to problems and the cooperation between various disciplines are at the heart of Wageningen’s unique approach. WUR has been named Best Employer in the Education category for 2019-2020.

These are the points our employees list as good reasons to come work at WUR: read the 5 reasons to come work at WUR

Farming Systems Ecology
The Farming Systems Ecology (FSE) Group of Wageningen University & Research (WUR) focuses on the analysis and redesign of farming systems and foodscapes, so that they deliver multiple benefits to humankind, using natural processes as our starting point.

Agroecology-TRANSECT
The “Trans-disciplinary approaches for systemic economic, ecological and climate change transitions” (Agroecology-TRANSECT) Horizon Europe research and innovation project aims to contribute to releasing the full potential of agroecology for European agriculture by strengthening the knowledge base for farmers and advisors and supporting decision makers.

It aims to deliver robust evidence of the benefits of agroecology on climate change mitigation, biodiversity and farm socio-economic resilience. To achieve these objectives, Agroecology-TRANSECT supports the transition to agroecology through co-innovation methodology including a transdisciplinary collaboration between researchers (agronomy, animal sciences, ecology, sustainability sciences, socioeconomics and political sciences) and stakeholders and mobilization of knowledge and expertise in 11 multi-actor Innovation Hubs (IHs) which have been engaged in agroecological transitions for several years. The selected IHs reflect a diverse range of crop, animal and integrated crop-livestock systems, biogeographical areas and socio-economic European landscapes. 

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.