About WIAS

The objective of the Graduate School Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences (WIAS) is to train PhD candidates to become professionally skilled scientists with strong theoretical backgrounds.

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WIAS aims to reach this goal by offering advanced education, opportunities for reflection on the scientific profession, and by giving PhD candidates the opportunity to communicate their research to the national and international scientific community.

WIAS is engaged in fundamental and strategic research and provides training for young researchers on societally relevant animals, ranging from commercial animals such as livestock and fish, to experimental animals such as zebrafish, mice and rats to companion animals and free ranging (wild) animals. WIAS is the only graduate school in the domain of fundamental and applied animal sciences in the Netherlands. WIAS was established on 25 May, 1993.

Mission and vision

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Our mission is to improve our understanding of animals and their various roles for mankind through fundamental and strategic research and training of early-stage researchers (PhD and postdoc).

Tasks of WIAS 

The task of WIAS is to enhance, support and monitor the progress and quality of the PhD candidate education programme and to safeguard and monitor the quality of the research from early-stage researchers in the thirteen chair groups of Wageningen University involved in WIAS.  

WIAS aims to provide optimal training and support for early-stage researchers to develop themselves as independent animal scientists at the highest international level.  

WIAS research

WIAS research aims to contribute to environmentally sustainable animal production systems, where animal health and welfare are guiding principles. It focuses on the performance of animals in nature and in food production systems and on transforming the latter systems to become more nature inclusive, climate smart, healthy, and circular (terrestrial and aquatic). In order to achieve this, WIAS researchers investigate the biological mechanisms of animals functioning in an evolutionary and ecological context at multiple levels, from molecule to (production) system. 

Clusters 

The three WIAS clusters (Population Dynamics and Genomics, Integrative Biology and Future Food Systems) address various aspects of the basic functioning of animals, animal and human health, animal welfare and resilience and the transition of animal production chains towards sustainable food systems. WIAS stimulates collaboration between chair groups and between clusters on key questions requiring interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches. We emphasise the alignment and complementarity between clusters as this is where many new insights and applications are generated by pursuing an integrated approach, with the aim of contributing to the major societal challenges within our domain. 

WIAS office

WIAS team

The WIAS office is responsible for the development and implementation of policies and procedures for early-stage researchers (PhD candidates and postdocs). 

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The scientific director (Prof. Hans Komen) and executive staff (WIAS office) are responsible for the execution of the research and education programme.

The WIAS office consists of executive secretary (Dr. Nicole Rodenburg), education coordinator (Dr. Paddy Haripersaud) and management assistant (Lisette Boon-Bourquin).

The WIAS office is supported by the Education and Research committees and the WAPS Council and advises the WIAS Board. The scientific director is selected from the WIAS-associated professors and is appointed for four years. Together with the advisory committee and groups, the WIAS office develops policy and procedures within the framework set by the Board.  

WIAS Governance 

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The WIAS Board is responsible for deciding on the strategy of the research and education programme. The Board is advised by the International Advisory Board and decides on proposals put forward by the WIAS office. 

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WIAS Board 

The WIAS Board is responsible for the strategy of the graduate school. The board makes the framework wherein the scientific director can implement his policy. The WIAS director and executive secretary prepare and attend the meetings. 

Board members are appointed for three years and can be reappointed once. The Board consists of 3 (associated) professors of the chair groups associated with WIAS, the chair of the WAPS Council and an external board member. 

Current composition: 

prof.dr.ir. F (Frank) van Langevelde Chair
prof.dr. WHM (Wim) van der Poel Board member
dr.ir. JE (Liesbeth) Bolhuis Board member
M (Marwa) Ahmed MSc Chair WAPS Council
Prof. Arjan Stegeman Utrecht University, external member

WIAS International Advisory Board 

The International Advisory Board (IAB) provides WIAS with advice and recommendations on strategic issues concerning the research and the educational programme of the Graduate School. International experts representing various research areas dealt with within the Graduate School constitute the IAB. 

Current composition: 

Prof. Graham Plastow University of Alberta, Canada; Chair
Prof. Gert Flik Radboud University, the Netherlands
Prof. Marion Koopmans Erasmus MC, the Netherlands
Prof. Jan Erik Lindberg Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden
Prof. Linda Keeling Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden
Prof. Norbert Sachser Münster University, Germany

WIAS Associated PhD Students (WAPS)

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The WAPS Council strives for a good education programme, contributes to future research plans, and facilitates contacts between WIAS PhD candidates. They monitor and act upon internal and external developments that might affect WIAS PhD candidates. 

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The WAPS Council holds meetings every six weeks, to which both the board and general members are invited.  

Members of the WIAS PhD council

M (Marwa) Ahmed MSc Chair of WAPS
EN (Erin) Henry MSc Secretary
LLW (Logan) Binch Member WPC
PM (Pedro) da Costa Sa Accie
I (Inês) Marcelino MSc Accie
B (Bernadett) Hegedüs Accie
TAM (Tobias) Niehoff MSc Member Education Committee
DL (Dayo) Jansen MSc Member Education Committee
S (Sudip) Debnath Member Education Committee
T (Tzayhri) Osorio Gallardo Social Media
MP (Mohak) Gujare MSc General member

Contact

For information or question regarding the WIAS PhD Council please contact us via: waps.wias@wur.nl.

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WIAS PhD council

Education and Research Committees 

The Education and Research committees advise the WIAS office on the PhD training programme and research strategy.  

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Education Committee (EC)

The EC advises the WIAS office on the PhD training program. The committee evaluates the PhD courses organised by WIAS and provides input and advice concerning PhD training within WIAS. The EC consists of three staff members (representatives of the three WIAS clusters), three PhD candidates and one Postdoc. EC members are appointed for three years and can be reappointed once. 

Current composition: 

dr. S (Sylvia) Brugman Chair, representative IB cluster
dr.ir. ATM (Ariette) van Knegsel representative FFS cluster
dr. R (Ronald) Osinga representative PDG cluster
dr. R (Roos) Molenaar Postdoc representative
DL (Dayo) Jansen MSc PhD representative
S (Sudip) Debnath PhD representative

Research Committee (RC) 

The RC advises the WIAS office on the research strategy and programme. The committee evaluates the PhD project proposals and PhD literature surveys, based on peer review reports. They also advise on the selection of WIAS and WGS grant applications, possible external speakers, strategic research themes and multidisciplinary workshops. The RC consists of five staff members, recruited from the WIAS-associated tenure track personnel and associate professors. RC members are appointed for three years and can be reappointed once. 

Current composition: 

dr.ir. EAM (Eddy) Bokkers Chair
dr. KJ (Katja) Teerds
dr.ir. AR (Anouschka) Hof
dr. RPMA (Richard) Crooijmans
dr. F (Fotini) Kokou

More information

Confidential advice

Graduate School confidential PhD advisors 

PhD candidates who face problems during their PhD programme can contact the PhD advisor(s) of their own graduate school. The PhD advisor gives confidential advice and coaching on how to tackle the problem or challenge, and when needed may direct the PhD candidate to other advice, support or counselling bodies within or outside the university. When needed and approved by the PhD candidate, the PhD advisor may take action to help the PhD candidate solve the problem. 

WIAS confidential PhD advisors: 

dr. N (Nicole) Rodenburg Executive secretary WIAS

WIAS Personal Development Coaches 

The Personal Development Coaches give advice to PhD candidates regarding their Training and Supervision Programme (TSP), the personal learning goals, and how to reach these. These coaches are: 

dr. M (Maria) Forlenza PhD
MS (Myrthe) Gilbert PhD MSc
dr.ir. MJM (Martin) Lankheet
dr. YCJ (Yvonne) Wientjes
dr.ir. G (Guido) Bosch

Assessment 

All publicly funded university research in the Netherlands is evaluated at regular intervals in compliance with a national standard evaluation protocol (SEP), as agreed by the Association of Universities in the Netherlands (VSNU), the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) and the Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW).

The evaluation process, which is applied at the research unit level, consists of a systematic external peer review conducted every six years, often based on an internal self-reflection, focused on what is achieved since the last external peer review. The last peer review took place in 2021. 

Documents: 

Strategy 

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