Leo Marcelis

Wageningen University & Research is recruiting 2 PhD candidates for the GreenControl programme in plant physiology , horticulture , sensing, and modelling. The positions are embedded in the Horticulture and Product Physiology group at Wageningen University & Research and are led by Prof. Leo Marcelis together with team members including Silvère Vialet-Chabrand . The research focuses on plant-centred climate control in controlled environments such as greenhouses and vertical farms. PhD 1: Thermal Imaging & Crop Canopy Transpiration Work on methods to quantify canopy transpiration using thermal imaging, microclimate sensing, image processing, and multilayer energy-balance modelling. The project studies how temperature, humidity, airflow, and light affect stomatal behaviour and water use. PhD 2: Chlorophyll Fluorescence Imaging & Canopy Photosynthesis Develop approaches to monitor canopy photosynthesis using chlorophyll fluorescence imaging, leaf-level validation sensors, and multilayer photosynthesis models. The project examines how microclimate gradients affect electron transport, photosynthetic efficiency, and yield. Eligibility highlights: applicants should hold an MSc in plant sciences, plant physiology, environmental sciences, physics, engineering, computational biology, or a related field. Experience in experimental plant physiology, modelling, data analysis, sensor interpretation, or image processing is preferred. Strong English skills are required, with C1 level expected. Funding: both positions are fully funded PhD appointments. Salary starts at €3,059 per month in year 1 and rises to €3,881 per month in year 4, with a temporary 18-month contract that can be extended for the project duration if performance is good. Application window: apply via the WUR vacancy page by 27 May 2026 . Submit a CV and motivation letter (maximum 3 pages total). First interviews are scheduled for 9 June 2026. Programme context: GreenControl is funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) and companies, and involves PhD students across Wageningen, Delft, Eindhoven, and Twente working with industry and growers on practical climate-control strategies.

Wageningen University & Research is advertising multiple openings in the plant domain, including PhD and postdoc opportunities in plant science, controlled-environment agriculture, mechanobiology, and insect developmental biology. PhD: Chlorophyll Fluorescence Imaging & Canopy Photosynthesis This project focuses on plant physiology, chlorophyll fluorescence imaging, canopy-level photosynthesis, microclimate gradients, and greenhouse/vertical-farm experiments. The work is embedded in the Horticulture and Product Physiology group at Wageningen University & Research and linked to the GreenControl programme, funded by NWO and industry partners. The project is supervised in the team of Silvere Vialet-Chabrand and Prof. Leo Marcelis. Applicants need a completed MSc in plant sciences, plant physiology, environmental sciences, physics, engineering, computational biology, or a related field, plus experience in experimental plant physiology, modelling/data analysis, or image processing. English at C1 level is expected. The position is fully funded and includes a salary, training, and a temporary contract with extension based on performance. PhD: Evolution of novel female sexual differentiation genes in parasitoid wasps This PhD is in entomology, molecular biology, insect development, sex determination, genomics, transcriptomics, phylogenetics, RNA interference, and CRISPR/Cas9. The project studies parasitoid wasps such as Nasonia vitripennis and related species to understand female sexual differentiation and the evolution of novel genes. It is embedded in the Laboratory of Entomology and supervised by Prof. Bregje Wertheim, Dr. Eveline Verhulst, and Dr. Julien Rougeot. Applicants should have a completed MSc in biology or biotechnology, with affinity for molecular biology, bioinformatics, small insects, microinjection, and scientific writing. English at C1 level is expected. The PhD is fully funded and part of an NWO-funded VICI project. Postdoc: GreenTE seed germination This postdoctoral position is in plant science, biochemistry, mechanobiology, seed germination, and plant molecular biology. The GreenTE project investigates how plants sense and respond to mechanical stimuli, with this subproject focusing on how mechanical responses during seed germination are converted into biochemical signals and integrated with transcriptome, translatome, and phosphoproteome data. The work is based at the Wageningen Seed Science Centre under the supervision of Prof. dr. Leónie Bentsink. Applicants need a PhD in Plant Science and/or Biochemistry, experience in interdisciplinary research and plant molecular biology, and strong English communication skills at C1 level. The postdoc is part of a consortium of seven Dutch universities and offers a competitive salary and a one-year contract extendable for two more years. Application window The PhD positions close in May 2026 (20–26 May depending on the vacancy). The postdoc closes on 11 May 2026. Applications must be submitted through the WUR vacancy pages, and only applications submitted via the website will be considered. Additional vacancies mentioned The post also lists a greenhouse climate technical specialist role and an electrical technician role at WUR, but these are not academic degree openings. The post highlights WUR’s international environment, visa support, and standard employment benefits.

Wageningen University & Research is advertising a fully funded PhD position in optimizing canopy photosynthesis in controlled environment agriculture (CEA) . The project sits in the Horticulture and Product Physiology group and focuses on understanding how photosynthesis performs over hours, days, and weeks in realistic greenhouse and vertical farming conditions. The research combines plant physiology , ecophysiology , crop modelling , image processing , and data analysis . You will work with chlorophyll fluorescence imaging, leaf-level validation sensors, and microclimate measurements to identify photosynthetic limitations, regulatory processes, and acclimation effects that are often missed when looking only at short time scales. The goal is to translate these physiological insights into actionable climate-control strategies for more efficient and sustainable indoor farming. The project is part of the GreenControl programme , funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) and 11 companies. Within this programme, the PhD will collaborate with another PhD in the same group, as well as researchers, technology providers, and growers across multiple disciplines. This makes the position especially relevant for candidates interested in applied plant science, sustainable food production, and industry-linked research. Eligibility highlights include a completed MSc degree in plant sciences, plant physiology, ecophysiology, environmental sciences, or a related field. The ideal candidate should have experience in experimental plant physiology, modelling/data analysis, or image processing, along with strong communication skills, creativity, and a collaborative mindset. Excellent English is required, with a stated expectation of C1 level ; in some cases, an internationally recognised English proficiency certificate may be needed. The position offers a salary from €3,059 per month in year one to €3,881 per month in year four, based on a 38-hour work week, plus a tailored course programme and standard WUR employment benefits. The contract is initially for 18 months and may be extended for the project duration if performance is satisfactory. The application deadline is 2 July 2026 . Applicants must submit a CV and motivation letter through the WUR vacancy page; the combined documents must not exceed 3 pages. Only applications submitted via the official website will be considered.

Wageningen University & Research is inviting applications for a PhD position in Controlled Environment Agriculture focused on optimizing canopy photosynthesis . The project sits within the Horticulture and Product Physiology chair and the GreenControl programme, which is funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) and industry partners. The research is based in Wageningen, the Netherlands, and is part of a broader effort to improve greenhouse and vertical-farm production through plant physiology, modelling, and data-driven climate control. The PhD candidate will study how photosynthesis operates across different temporal and spatial scales in crops grown under realistic greenhouse and vertical farming conditions. The work combines chlorophyll fluorescence imaging , leaf-level validation sensors, microclimate measurements, and modelling tools to identify photosynthetic limitations, regulatory processes, and acclimation responses. The goal is to translate physiological insights into actionable strategies for improving crop performance, resource-use efficiency, and sustainable food production. Research themes include canopy photosynthesis, plant productivity, advanced phenotyping, environmental and lighting manipulation experiments, process-based crop modelling, and optimization of controlled environment agriculture systems. The project involves collaboration with technology providers, growers, and researchers, and is designed to produce results that can be used directly in operational climate-control strategies. Applicants should have a completed MSc degree in plant sciences, plant physiology or ecophysiology, environmental sciences, or a related field. The ideal candidate has an interest in plant physiology, photosynthesis, crop modelling, and controlled environment agriculture, plus experience or affinity with data analysis, image processing, and programming in R, Python, or MATLAB . Strong communication skills, creativity, independence, and the ability to work in an international research environment are important. English proficiency at C1 level is expected, and an internationally recognised English certificate may sometimes be required. This is a fully funded 4-year PhD position . The salary starts at €3,059 per month in year one and rises to €3,881 per month in year four, based on a 38-hour work week. WUR also highlights employment benefits such as work-life balance arrangements, a year-end bonus, pension scheme, campus sports facilities, and support for international staff, including visa guidance and practical relocation information. The application deadline is 2 July 2026 . To apply, candidates must submit a CV and motivation letter through the official WUR vacancy page; the combined length of the documents must not exceed 3 pages. Only applications submitted via the website will be considered.