PhD position:Digi4Life project

Are you passionate about combining your expertise in marketing and with your interest in how data helps to face the challenges of today's livestock sector? Have you ever pondered on how to leverage technological and data-driven advancements to make tangible changes in the sustainability of our food systems? If yes, then we have the perfect opportunity for you!

The Digi4Live project is at the nexus of digital data-driven innovation and livestock farming, aimed at amplifying the capacity of livestock sector actors across Europe to harness the power of data and digital technologies. By forging collaborative partnerships between livestock sector actors, technology suppliers, competent authorities, research and development initiatives, and various other key players, Digi4Live sets the stage for co-creating digital and data-driven concepts that can revolutionize the way data is used in livestock tracking and tracing.

This PhD trajectory is dedicated to exploring the multifaceted dimensions of Digi4Live's objectives and the potential it holds for driving informed sustainable decisions within farm animal value chains, thereby laying the foundation for a future where the livestock sector fully embraces the opportunities presented by data and digital technologies.

The position prepares for career options in academia, applied research and/or policymaking in private or public institutions. The position contains a personal development plan to make sure you reach your personal goals during the trajectory of the four-year project. The successful applicant will make an essential contribution to the development of a more sustainable food animal system taking the potential of harmonized data for market transition mechanisms.

Following the predefined goals of the Digi4Live project, the successful applicant will make use of mixed method approaches, using quantitative (e.g., online questionnaires), qualitative methodologies (e.g., focus group, interviews) as well as desk research. Next to the scientific background, we are also looking for a driven and ambitious person who fits our team. This means that you are a team player, motivated to advance research and practice, and integrate disciplines (marketing, systems thinking, transitions theory and natural sciences).

As a PhD candidate in this project, you will play a crucial role in reshaping livestock farming. Your responsibilities will include:

• follow and develop a Digi4Live research agenda, based on the project aims and goals;
• explore the Digi4Live case studies and analyze how new data sharing opportunities would impact sustainability outcomes;
• analyze the impact that the choices made by individual consumers on the digital and sustainable transition of livestock farming;
• manage stakeholders associated with the project;
• initiate, facilitate, and moderate discussions with advisers in both institutions;
• conduct literature reviews and analyze data to generate information;
• conduct qualitative and quantitative research projects as part of the defined four chapters of your dissertation;
• keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional organizations and conferences.

• an MSc. degree (or planned defense date) in marketing or related fields (e.g., economics, business development or management studies);
• affinity with data and digitalization of value chains;
• affinity with livestock farming and food systems;
• affinity with socially relevant science, on topics such as sustainability, animal welfare, food and agribusiness;

You will work here
You will be working in a team, supervised by Dr. Paul Ingenbleek and Dr. Caspar Krampe at Wageningen University, the Netherlands as well as Dr. Jarkko Niemi and Dr. Anna Stygar at the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Finland. All affiliated science groups involved consists of enthusiastic, passionate, dedicated, and interpersonal teams, addressing state-of-the-art research topics in the fields of agriculture, marketing, sustainable business and innovation, livestock farming system, and food worldwide.

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

• 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 € 2.770 - per month rising to € 3.539,-  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 19th 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.

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 for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

For more information about this position, please contact Dr. Caspar Krampe, by email: [email protected] and/or Dr. Jarkko Niemi, by email: [email protected]

For more information about the procedure, please contact Noorien Abbas, Corporate Recruiter, by email: [email protected]

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 11 March 2024. The first job interviews will take place at the end of March 2024.

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. A good example of how WUR deals with inclusiveness can be read on the page working at WUR with a functional impairment .

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, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 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.

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

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