PhD 'performance and robustness of tilapia-shrimp polycultures in Java'

We are looking for

Are you looking for a PhD position in the area of modelling and analysing bioeconomic interactions in multispecies aquaculture systems in Indonesia?

Multispecies systems in aquaculture are promising because they benefit local food security and have the potential to lead to higher farm incomes. Smallholders in Java are currently experimenting with these systems. However, the exact interactions between species and their effects on growth, health, waste and crop failure have not yet been explored. This PhD research will model and interpret the performance and risks of multispecies aquaculture systems thereby focusing on genetic issues and farm economic implications. Improved insights in the performance and robustness of multispecies aquaculture systems enable policy makers and business to develop highly specialized single-species systems into more sustainable and resilient food systems.

The research builds on already established work with the RIFB institute in Sukamandi, Java. This will facilitate the collection of additional farm data. The PhD-research is a joint project of the Animal Breeding and Genomic group and the Business Economics group. You will be appointed at the Animal Breeding and Genetics Group.

We ask

• a university degree (MSc) in a discipline relevant to the PhD project (e.g. animal breeding, agricultural economics, business economics, agricultural science);
• knowledge of quantitative methods (e.g. bioeconomic modelling, stochastic simulation); 
• knowledge of qualitative methods (e.g. structured interviews, focus groups);
• clear scientific ambition in the conduct and publication of research work;
• For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level .
• a social, critical and positive learning attitude towards achieving excellence; A pro-active, independent working style and enthusiasm for multidisciplinary research
• A social team player attitude with strong ability to collaborate with other researchers from different scientific fields and countries, as well as with the industrial partners of the project
• affinity with aquaculture is an advantage.

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 and procedure, please contact John Bastiaansen of the Animal Breeding and Genetics Group via [email protected] or Miranda Meuwissen of the Business Economics group via [email protected] .

For more information about the procedure, please contact  [email protected] l.

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.

This vacancy will be listed up to and including the 31st of May, 2022. The first job interviews will take place on the 3th of June, 2022.

The preferred starting date for this position is 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!