Wageningen University & Research
2 months ago
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PhD position in Modelling Crop Growth and Resource Use in Greenhouse Systems Wageningen University & Research in Netherlands
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Computer Science
Funding
Fully funded PhD position. Gross salary starts at €3,204 per month in the first year and rises to €4,051 per month in the fourth year according to the Dutch university collective labour agreement (scale P). Temporary contract for 18 months, extendable for the project duration if performance is good.
Deadline
Sep 7, 2026
Country
Netherlands
University
Wageningen University & Research

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About this position
Wageningen University & Research is advertising a PhD position in Modelling Crop Growth and Resource Use within the chair group Horticulture and Product Physiology. The project focuses on greenhouse crop modelling, plant physiology, resource-use efficiency, and controlled environment agriculture, with applications to innovative systems such as single-truss tomato, vertical farms, and semi-closed greenhouses.
The PhD candidate will develop mechanistic crop models to predict plant growth, yield, carbon allocation, and resource use under dynamic environments. The work includes model development and validation using existing datasets, targeted climate chamber and greenhouse experiments, and integration of crop and greenhouse models to evaluate innovative production systems. The project is embedded in the broader Greenhouses in Transition consortium, which connects universities and industry partners from the Netherlands and the United States.
Supervision is by Prof. Dr. Leo Marcelis, with co-supervision from Dr. Ana Cristina Zepeda and Dr. Ep Heuvelink. The role is based at Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands. The position is fully funded and includes a salary according to the Dutch university collective labour agreement, starting at €3,204 per month in year 1 and rising to €4,051 per month in year 4.
Applicants should hold a completed MSc degree in Plant Sciences, Biosystems Engineering, Computational Biology, or a related field. Experience with process-based modelling, data analysis, programming (Python, MATLAB, or R), or quantitative analysis of biological systems is desirable. Strong English communication skills and an interest in translating physiological knowledge into mechanistic models are required.
The application deadline is 7 September 2026. Applicants must apply via the vacancy page on the WUR website and submit a CV (max. 2 pages) and a motivation letter (max. 1 page), with a total maximum of 3 pages. Only applications submitted through the website will be considered.
Funding details
Fully funded PhD position. Gross salary starts at €3,204 per month in the first year and rises to €4,051 per month in the fourth year according to the Dutch university collective labour agreement (scale P). Temporary contract for 18 months, extendable for the project duration if performance is good.
What's required
Completed MSc degree in Plant Sciences, Biosystems Engineering, Computational Biology, or a related field; experience with process-based modelling, data analysis, programming (e.g. Python, MATLAB or R), or quantitative analysis of biological systems; interest in crop physiology and translating physiological knowledge into mechanistic crop models; collaborative attitude, curiosity, and ability to work independently and in an interdisciplinary team; excellent communication skills and good proficiency in English (oral and written).
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