PhD in nutrition modelling for professional dietary guidance

Do you want to contribute to finding practical solutions for optimized nutrient adequacy, when shifting towards more plant-based diets in Europe? Are you interested to become part of our dynamic and interdisciplinary research team? Read on! 

The Chair Global Nutrition at Wageningen University, the Netherlands, is looking for highly skilled and motivated applicants for a PhD scholarship (DC12) focused on the development and validation of a modelling framework to support professionals to choose and advise foods, meals and diets with superior nutrient delivery, with the aim to find practical solutions for optimized nutrient adequacy when shifting towards more plant-based diets in Europe. 

You will use the Dutch Food Composition Table, updated with anti-nutrient content (phytate, tannins, oxalate), to apply and further develop mathematical models to estimate the absorbable micronutrient content from meals and dietary patterns.

You will build upon the existing Alpha framework (originally developed to model protein quality, see https://alpha-tool.eu) and further develop it as a research-oriented modelling and demonstration platform to calculate and explore absorbable iron, zinc, calcium and vitamin A in foods and meals. The platform will be used to simulate how relatively simple changes in food composition, meal structure, or dietary patterns may influence micronutrient adequacy.

In addition, you will evaluate how different professional user groups interpret and interact with modelling outputs in order to improve scientific usability and transparency.

MICROSUNSET is a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network (MSCA-DN) funded by the European Union, in which we have 12 open positions for Doctoral Candidates (DCs). We aim to create a network of early-stage researchers equipped with knowledge and skills - including entrepreneurship –to develop and support implementation strategies that address micronutrient deficiencies in Europe as diets shift toward more plant-based foods. 

For MICROSUNSET we will recruit 12 highly talented DCs, whose collective research will focus on bio-accessibility and bioavailability of micronutrients, and strategies to produce and process plant-based foods with enhanced concentration of micronutrients as an integrative part of sustainable and healthy diets. Development of analytical methods, digestion models, dietary modelling, and conducting consumer surveys will form part of the Doctoral Network’s tasks. 

The 12 PhD candidates will be based across seven different universities in Europe: four in Denmark (three at the Technical University of Denmark and one at the University of Copenhagen), two in Germany (Technical University of Munich), one in the Netherlands (Wageningen University), one in Ireland (University College Cork), two in the United Kingdom (University of Newcastle upon Tyne), and two in Finland (University of Helsinki). 

To train the DCs as the next generation of micronutrient researchers in our international and interdisciplinary program, MICROSUNSET brings together experts from several disciplines as supervisors, forming a consortium of seven beneficiaries (see above) and fourteen associated partners including six from industry and two start-ups.  Throughout the project, you will collaborate with other Doctoral Candidates (DCs) in the MICROSUNSET consortium to contribute to generating evidence-based knowledge about micronutrient content, intake, digestibility and bioavailability from plant-based diets. 

Your duties and responsibilities include: 

• enrol in the graduate school VLAG and comply with its doctoral training requirements;
• participate actively in the MICROSUNSET training (12 ECTS), dissemination, communication and exploitation activities;
• conduct high-quality research under supervision of a diverse scientific team;
• publish and present research results in international conference proceedings and peer-reviewed scientific journals;
• prepare and defend a doctoral thesis in the field of micronutrients and sustainable food products;
• support student supervision and contribute to teaching at BSc and MSc levels.

You will work here

You will be employed full-time at Wageningen University within the MSCA-DN MICROSUNSET for a period of 48 months. Your research is embedded within the chair Global Nutrition (https://www.wur.nl/en/chair-groups/human-nutrition-and-health/global-nutrition) at the Division of Human Nutrition and Health (https://www.wur.nl/en/chair-groups/human-nutrition-and-health), and is led by Dr Alida Melse-Boonstra (https://www.wur.nl/en/persons/drir-alida-melse-boonstra). 

You will be co-supervised by Dr Pol Grootswagers, Prof. Susanne Gjalsted (University of Copenhagen), Dr Tessa de Bie (Unilever) and Dr Ans Eilander (Unilever). 

Part of the PhD-study will take place as external stay at Unilever (Wageningen, the Netherlands) for 6 months, and at the University of Copenhagen (Denmark) for 2 months.

The envisaged start date of this appointment is June 1st, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.

You are a candidate with proven affinity to food composition tables and/or dietetics, and a structured and analytical approach to work and problem-solving. You have excellent social skills and are attracted to working in a large international multi-disciplinary project. 

You also possess: 

• a successfully completed MSc degree (120 ECTS points) in Human Nutrition, Food Science, or a closely related field;
• strong quantitative skills (e.g. R, Python, statistical or data modelling);
• experience with international collaboration and the ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams;
• experience with research dissemination – publications or conference presentation is an advantage;
• you comply with the mobility rule for this position (you must not have lived, studied, or worked in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the last 36 months).

For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognized Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here.

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

• 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 receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team.
The gross salary for the first year is € 3.059,- per month rising to € 3.881,-  in the fourth year,according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well. 

Salary, pension and terms of employment are in accordance with the requirements from the European Commission related to the MSCA programme.

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. 

Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for 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. 

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. We can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

For more information about the position, please contact dr. Alida Melse-Boonstra, Associate Professor, via +31 317 484317 or via email: alida.melse@wur.nl. 
Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Evelien Janssen, Corporate Recruiter, via email: evelien.janssen@wur.nl.

Ready to apply?
You can apply directly using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.

To apply, please send the following documents (max. 3 pages in total for both documents):

• Complete and up-to-date curriculum vitae;
• Motivation letter.

Please document in your CV that you fulfil the mobility requirements mentioned above. The maximum length of the documents must not exceed 3 pages. If it exceeds, applications will not be considered. 

Additional files such as grades and transcripts are not required during this stage and will not be considered.

You can apply up to and including 19 April 2026. The first interviews are scheduled for May 12 & 13 2026. 

Assessment of the candidates will be conducted by a local assessment committee which follows the MICROSUNSET recruitment procedure and the  Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (2005/251/EC), promoting an inclusive, merit-based, transparent, and unbiased recruitment process. After an eligibility check, assessment will be based on the qualification requirements listed above, as well as the grades from MSc/BSc education. A two-step procedure for applicant selection will be undertaken involving evaluation of the application and at least one interview.

Additional information form
For this position, you must fill in a mandatory form which will allow us to have a comprehensive view of your qualifications and better assess your fit for it. You can access the form using the link below:

https://forms.office.com/e/ZDz0FcjiN3

Your prompt response will ensure that your application continues to move forward in the evaluation process. We assure you that the information provided will be kept confidential and used solely for this application process.

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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