PhD Position Overview
- University: Wageningen University & Research (WUR)
- Position: PhD Candidate – Modelling Crop Growth and Resource Use
- Location: Wageningen, Netherlands
- Degree: PhD
- Funding: Fully funded
- Research Area: Crop Modelling, Plant Science, Greenhouse Technology
- Project: Greenhouses in Transition
- Contract: Temporary contract of 18 months, extendable for the duration of the project based on performance
- Working Hours: 38 hours per week
- Salary: €3,204 per month in Year 1, rising to €4,051 per month in Year 4
- Salary Scale: P, according to the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities
- Application Deadline: 7 September 2026
- First Interviews: 22 or 23 September 2026
About the PhD Research
The greenhouse sector is changing rapidly as researchers and growers explore new production systems designed to increase productivity while using fewer resources. Examples include single-truss tomato cultivation, hybrid greenhouse and vertical farming systems, and semi-closed greenhouses.
These innovative systems operate under highly dynamic environmental conditions. As a result, growers need reliable crop models that can predict plant growth, crop yield and resource use under different production scenarios.
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As a PhD candidate, the successful applicant will develop mechanistic crop models for innovative greenhouse production systems. The research will focus on modelling young plant production in vertical farms, studying source–sink relationships in single-truss tomatoes and integrating crop models with greenhouse models to evaluate resource use.
The models will be developed and validated using existing experimental datasets. Where necessary, the PhD candidate will also conduct targeted experiments to improve model validation and parameterisation.
The research will involve close cooperation with researchers who collect data on crop growth, development and carbon allocation.
Greenhouses in Transition Project
This PhD position is part of the Greenhouses in Transition project. The project brings together leading universities and industry partners from the Netherlands and the United States to accelerate the development of sustainable and circular controlled-environment agriculture.
The consortium includes universities such as the University of Wyoming, Texas A&M, University of Kentucky, TU Delft and University of Twente, along with industry partners including Ridder Group, AMS Institute, Crop King USA, Bosch growers and Addium.
The research project consists of 8 PhD candidates, 7 postdoctoral researchers and 1 PDEng, creating an interdisciplinary research environment covering areas such as plant physiology, crop modelling, greenhouse technology and systems engineering.
As part of this international research network, the PhD candidate will work closely with experimental researchers at Wageningen University and interact with scientists and industry stakeholders.
The overall aim is to develop innovative greenhouse systems that improve resource efficiency, reduce fossil energy use and strengthen the resilience of food production across different climates and production systems.
Main Responsibilities
The selected PhD candidate will have several important research responsibilities.
Develop Process-Based Crop Models
You will develop and extend process-based crop models capable of describing important physiological processes under dynamic environmental conditions.
The modelling work may include:
- Carbon partitioning
- Organ growth
- Reproductive development
- Harvest index
- Crop growth and development
- Resource-use processes
The goal is to create models that can accurately describe crop behaviour and help evaluate innovative greenhouse production systems.
Conduct Experiments
The position also involves designing and conducting targeted experiments in climate chambers and greenhouses.
These experiments will be used to improve model parameterisation and validate specific physiological mechanisms. The experimental work will complement existing datasets and help strengthen the reliability of the developed models.
Integrate Crop and Greenhouse Models
Another major responsibility is to integrate crop models with greenhouse models.
This integration will allow researchers to evaluate resource-use efficiency under innovative greenhouse production systems and understand how crop growth interacts with greenhouse environmental conditions.
Collaborate With Researchers and Industry
The PhD candidate will work with researchers, growers and industry partners within the Greenhouses in Transition consortium.
An important part of the position is translating scientific findings into practical innovations that can support more sustainable greenhouse production.
Required Qualifications
Applicants should have a completed MSc degree in one of the following fields or a related discipline:
- Plant Sciences
- Biosystems Engineering
- Computational Biology
- Related quantitative or biological field
Applicants should also have experience or knowledge in areas such as:
- Process-based modelling
- Data analysis
- Programming
- Quantitative analysis of biological systems
- Crop physiology
- Mechanistic crop modelling
Programming experience with Python, MATLAB or R is particularly relevant to the position.
The ideal candidate should be interested in understanding crop physiological processes and translating that knowledge into mechanistic models.
Personal Qualities
Wageningen University & Research is looking for an enthusiastic candidate who is interested in crop simulation and greenhouse modelling and wants to contribute to more sustainable controlled-environment agriculture.
The candidate should have:
- A collaborative attitude
- Curiosity and enthusiasm for research
- Ability to work independently
- Ability to work within an interdisciplinary team
- Interest in collaboration with researchers and industry
- Strong communication skills
- Good English proficiency, both written and spoken
Because the research is highly interdisciplinary, the ability to communicate effectively with researchers from different backgrounds will be important.
Salary and Funding
This is a fully funded PhD position at Wageningen University & Research.
The gross monthly salary starts at €3,204 in the first year and increases to €4,051 in the fourth year, according to the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU), scale P.
The salary is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours.
The initial contract is for 18 months and will be extended for the duration of the project if performance is satisfactory.
In addition to the salary, the position includes a course programme tailored to the candidate’s needs and the research team’s requirements.
Employee Benefits
Wageningen University & Research offers several employment benefits, including:
- Partially paid parental leave
- Flexible working arrangements
- Support for work-life balance
- Sports facilities on campus for a small fee
- Fixed year-end bonus of 8.3%
- Excellent pension scheme
- Opportunities for professional development
- Opportunities for internal mobility
WUR also places emphasis on employee vitality, personal development and maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
International Applicants
Wageningen University & Research has a large international community and welcomes employees from around the world.
International candidates who will live and work in the Netherlands can receive support with immigration and visa procedures. WUR’s advisors can assist with visa applications for employees and, where applicable, their families.
The university’s International Community resources provide practical information for international employees moving to Wageningen.
The Welcome Center can also provide guidance on matters such as:
- Housing
- Opening a bank account
- Dual-career programmes
- Schooling
- Additional relocation information
Certain categories of international staff may also be eligible for a tax exemption on part of their salary during their first five years in the Netherlands, according to the vacancy information.
About Wageningen University & Research
Wageningen University & Research is internationally recognised for its work in life sciences, food, agriculture, environmental sciences and related research fields.
Its mission is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life.”
WUR combines Wageningen University with specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation. The organisation works on important global challenges involving healthy food and a sustainable living environment.
According to the vacancy information, WUR has approximately 30 branches, 7,600 employees, 13,100 students and more than 150,000 participants in Life Long Learning programmes.
The university follows an integrated approach that brings together different disciplines to address complex scientific and societal challenges.
Research Environment
The research is embedded within the Chair Group Horticulture and Product Physiology, led by Prof. Dr Leo Marcelis.
The PhD candidate will be co-supervised by:
- Dr. Ana Cristina Zepeda
- Dr. Ep Heuvelink
This provides an opportunity to work in a research environment combining crop physiology, crop modelling, greenhouse technology and resource efficiency.
Documents Required
Applicants must submit a limited set of documents.
The application should include:
- Complete and up-to-date CV – maximum 2 pages
- Motivation letter – maximum 1 page
The total length of the documents must not exceed 3 pages.
This requirement is important because applications exceeding the maximum document length will not be considered.
At this stage, applicants do not need to submit grades or academic transcripts. The vacancy information states that additional files such as grades and transcripts are not required and will not be considered during this stage.
Applicants must also complete a mandatory additional information form, which allows the recruitment team to assess their qualifications and suitability for the position.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should apply through the official Wageningen University & Research vacancy page using the Apply button.
Only applications submitted through the WUR website will be considered.
Applicants should prepare their CV and motivation letter carefully and ensure that the combined documents do not exceed the required three-page limit.
The application deadline is:
Monday, 7 September 2026
The first interviews are scheduled for:
22 or 23 September 2026
Candidates should therefore submit their applications before the deadline and complete the mandatory additional information form as part of the application process.
Contact Information
For questions about the research position, applicants can contact:
Dr. Ana Cristina Zepeda
Assistant Professor
Email: Cristina.zepeda@wur.nl
Dr. Ep Heuvelink
Associate Professor
Email: ep.heuvelink@wur.nl
For questions about the recruitment procedure:
Noorien Abbas
Corporate Recruiter
Email: vacaturemeldingen.psg@wur.nl
Why Apply for This PhD?
This PhD position offers an opportunity to work on an emerging research area at the intersection of crop physiology, mathematical modelling, greenhouse technology and sustainable agriculture.
The project is especially relevant for researchers interested in using quantitative and computational approaches to solve real-world challenges in food production.
The international consortium also provides opportunities for collaboration with researchers and industry partners in both Europe and the United States.
By working on crop models for innovative greenhouse systems, the successful candidate will contribute to research aimed at improving resource efficiency, reducing fossil energy consumption and making controlled-environment agriculture more resilient.
The position also combines research with professional development, training and interaction with an interdisciplinary scientific community.
Important Dates
Application Deadline: 7 September 2026
First Interviews: 22–23 September 2026
PhD Start: The vacancy information provided does not state a specific start date.
Final Thoughts
The PhD Position: Modelling Crop Growth and Resource Use at Wageningen University & Research is a fully funded doctoral opportunity for candidates with an MSc in Plant Sciences, Biosystems Engineering, Computational Biology or a related field.
The research focuses on developing mechanistic crop models for new greenhouse production systems, including vertical farming, single-truss tomato cultivation and semi-closed greenhouse systems.
Candidates with experience in process-based modelling, data analysis, programming and quantitative biological research may be particularly well suited to the position.
With a starting salary of €3,204 per month, rising to €4,051 per month in the fourth year, plus employee benefits and a tailored training programme, the position offers both financial support and a strong international research environment.
If your academic background matches the requirements and you are interested in sustainable greenhouse technology, crop modelling and resource-efficient food production, this PhD position at Wageningen University & Research could be a strong opportunity to consider.
Deadline: 7 September 2026.
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