Full Professor and Chair Bioprocess Engineering

Due to the upcoming retirement of the current chair holder, a vacancy has arisen for a Full Professor in the Bioprocess Engineering chair group, part of Wageningen University & Research (WUR). The group has an outstanding international reputation in research and education in the field of bioprocess engineering.

The mission of the Bioprocess Engineering group is to understand, harness, and expand nature’s potential for biomanufacturing while educating and training future generations of bioprocess scientists and engineers, and lay the basis for value creation. This translates into research on developing innovative and scalable bio-based processes to produce biopharmaceuticals, healthy food ingredients, materials, chemicals, and biofuels. The group strives to understand, explore, exploit, and enhance cells, processes, and technologies for more efficient and sustainable bioproduction of high-quality bio-based products in a sustainable and cost-effective way, preventing the depletion of natural resources. This is achieved by utilizing biocatalysts such as bacteria, algae, yeasts, fungi, animal cells, and enzymes, and building upon a strong combination of core process engineering, (synthetic) biology and computational expertise. The group is responsible for a large part of the courses in the biotechnology curriculum (7 BSc and 9 MSc courses) and supports about 15 BSc theses, 60 MSc theses and 45 internships yearly.

The position of chair of the Bioprocess Engineering group offers you the opportunity to shape and expand your own research lines in synergy with the group’s scientific focus, while also developing your academic leadership profile. In this role, you will share responsibility for the academic and operational management of the group. In this role, you are responsible for both the academic and operational management of the group. Your responsibilities will include setting up the research strategy together with your team, guiding a diverse team of scientists, lecturers, and support staff, and further strengthening the group’s national and international standing. In addition, you will contribute to high-quality education at the BSc, MSc, and PhD levels and help drive innovation in teaching, supporting WUR’s strong reputation in higher education.

The Bioprocess Engineering group consists of the chair group and the pilot facility AlgaePARC. The chair group harbours 1 Chair Holder and Full Professor, 3 Personal Professors, 3 Associate Professors and one special part time associate professor, 6 Assistant Professors, 3 lecturers, 4 Postdoctoral Researchers, and approximately 60 PhD candidates. The group is supported by a shared team of professionals including 3 research managers, 6 technicians, and 2 secretaries. The group is divided into 6 themes being Biomanufacturing and Digital Twins, Biorefinery, Animal cell technology, Microalgal Biotechnology, Microbial Biotechnology, and Cellular Agriculture. At AlgaePARC 3 technicians and a business developer are employed.

More information on the group can be found on their Bioprocess Engineering | WUR

As a successful candidate, you will bring the following qualities and experience:

• you hold a PhD degree and have an internationally recognized scientific track record in the field of Bioprocess Engineering. Your academic background is in bioprocess technology, biochemical engineering, industrial microbiology, industrial biotechnology or a closely related discipline.
• you have a clear long-term plan for research, teaching, and group development that aligns with or complements the existing strengths of the Bioprocess Engineering group.
• you have experience in building and maintaining a broad (inter)national network across various sectors, including academic institutions, societal organizations, policy makers, and industry partners.
• you have a successful track record in securing research funding from a variety of sources.
• you are an experienced and inspiring teacher who enjoys engaging students in learning. You have supervised students from diverse backgrounds and contributed to curriculum innovation and the development of courses at Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD levels including the use of innovative teaching methods.
• you have proven experience in leading multidisciplinary teams. Your leadership style is empathic and inclusive – you actively listen, value the perspectives of others and foster a culture in which everyone feels heard and appreciated. You focus on professional development, team building and creating synergy within the group.
• You have proven experience in financial and personnel management. As a WUR chair holder, you will be responsible for the group’s financial planning and personnel leadership.
• You are enthusiastic about representing the field and the group in research, education, and outreach. As a WUR chair holder, you are expected to contribute to WUR's strategy and represent WUR in (inter)national networks.

You will be working for an inspiring international organisation actively engaged in a large number of interdisciplinary projects all over the world. The scientific quality of Wageningen University & Research is affirmed by the prominent position we occupy in international rankings and citation indices.

We offer you a position as Full Professor and Chair of Bioprocess Engineering. Besides a competitive salary (maximum gross salary for starting chair holders is scale H2 step 13 € 10.441,- per month), we offer a number of additional benefits, such as an end-of-year extra month’s salary, a holiday allowance and a pension plan with the Dutch pension fund for government and education. International candidates moving to the Netherlands may benefit from a special tax relief, by which a part of their salary is exempt from tax for several years.

Working hours can be discussed to optimize the work-life balance (32-38 hours per week).

We are a globally leading university in the 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.
The university’s highly qualified team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family. Furthermore, WUR offers a dual career programme for partners to assist your partner in finding a job or starting a business in the Netherlands. Furthermore, we assist you in finding schools for your children and advise you on finding housing in the region or elsewhere in the Netherlands. The Wageningen University & Research (WUR) InternationalCommunity page contains practical information about what we do to support international employees and students coming to Wageningen.

Further information about the position can be acquired from Prof. Dr  Annemiek ter Heijne, chair of the Appointment Advisory Committee. E-mail: annemiek.terheijne@wur.nl

For more information about the procedure you can contact Ineke Ammerlaan, Secretary of the Appointment Advisory Committee (AAC). Email: ineke.ammerlaan@wur.nl

Application

You are invited to address your application to Ineke Ammerlaan and upload it via our website. The application should include (as pdf documents):

• An application letter with curriculum vitae,
• A separate list of publications,
• Your vision on research and education in the domain of the chair (Max 2 pages),
• A statement on your leadership style and experience (Max 2 pages).

The closing date of the vacancy is 22 February 2026.  The Committee will inform you about the status of your application no later than 13 March 2026. The Committee will interview selected candidates for this position on 7 and 10 April 2026. The Committee will thereafter invite short-listed candidates for a second interview and a public lecture on 26 and 27 May 2026.

Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone's unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.

​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 the video below 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.

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