Lecturer Plant Ecology & Nature Conservation

Do you have a passion for ecology and education? Do you enjoy teaching students how plant- and animal species interact with their environment? Do you enjoy showing them how we can apply this knowledge to predict consequences of climate and land-use change and safeguard biodiversity? If so, this opportunity could be the perfect fit for you!

At the Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation group, we work together to connect science and education from BSc to MSc level. We teach the general principles, latest developments, insights and ideas as well as the research skills necessary to understand, predict and manage the functioning of ecosystems and the services they provide. We are currently looking for a lecturer who is keen to join our teaching team. Your focus will be on organising and teaching (field) practicals for groups of students as well as supervising individual students with their BSc and MSc theses and internships. Other duties will range from course coordination, to lecturing and group supervision to developing exams. Besides teaching you are encouraged to advance your own research and integrate it with your teaching activities. The position is for three years.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• Teaching MSc and BSc level courses
• Supervising BSc and MSc students with their theses and Internships
• Prepare and coordinate teaching activities within the group and with other groups   

Your team
You will be embedded within the Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation group.  We study and teach the processes and underlying mechanisms that link biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and service delivery and aim to implement these insights in the design of effective biodiversity conservation strategies. The Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group teaches BSc and MSc courses with 65-450 students, mostly from the Forest and Nature Conservation and Biology programs. Most of our courses include excursions or field practicals and many are being taught in the period April-June when all staff members are teaching. Additionally, the PEN group annually supervises approximately 140 students with their BSc- and MSc theses and internships. The majority of the theses topics are strongly integrated into the research lines and projects of the staff members.

You have a passion for teaching and contact with students from different backgrounds and extensive knowledge, including field expertise, of Dutch habitats and ecosystems in which we teach many of our courses.

You also possess:

• A PhD degree in ecology, conservation biology, nature conservation, biology or similar
• good organizational and communication skills
• a team player attitude
• an analytical mindset
• fluency in English and Dutch (both C1-C2)

Please provide examples in your motivation letter that demonstrate that you possess these qualities. It would be appreciated if you do not use generative AI when writing your motivation letter.

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between €3.546,- and €5.538,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 10). Additionally, a contract for 32 hours can be discussed. As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended - if possible within (company) organizational circumstances - on good performance, upto a maximum of 3 years in total.

Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the "best university" in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.

WUR welcomes applications from international candidates. However, for applicants for this specific position from outside the EU/EFTA zone, immigration restrictions may apply based on Dutch and EU immigration laws. Such candidates may be eligible for an “orientationyear” in the Netherlands or a visa as a “knowledge migrant”. Also, please be aware that a good proficiency of the Dutch language is mandatory.

Do you want more information?
For more information about the position, please contact David Kleijn, Chairholder,  david.kleijn@wur.nl; +31 6 12037712

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Jessa Rozema, Corporate Recruiter, via jessa.rozema-stol@wur.nl

Ready to apply?
Click on the application button next to the vacancy on our website. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.

You can apply until 15 January 2026. The first interviews are scheduled for the afternoon of 28 January 2026.

Procedure
As part of our selection process, an assessment may be incorporated within the procedure

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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