PhD: Olfactory training for cognitive health

Please note: due to interaction with Dutch-speaking participants, fluency in Dutch is a must-have.

As part of an NWO-Vici project, Wageningen University & Research is looking for a PhD candidate to set up and conduct intervention studies on olfactory training, cognition and brain plasticity.

In this PhD project, you will study whether daily smell training can improve olfactory and cognitive functioning, and whether these effects can be strengthened by adding multisensory immersive Virtual Reality. You will work with older adults and patient groups, including individuals with mild cognitive impairment, and combine sensory testing, cognitive assessments, behavioral measurements and neuroimaging-related outcomes.

About the PhD project

Loss of smell is increasingly recognized as an early marker of cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia. The olfactory system is closely connected to brain regions involved in memory and cognition, including the entorhinal cortex and hippocampus. The olfactory bulb, the first central relay station for smell processing, may therefore play an important role in the link between olfactory functioning and cognitive health.

Olfactory training is one of the few treatments currently available to improve smell function. Emerging evidence suggests that it may also have positive effects on cognitive functioning. However, it is still unclear whether these effects are sustained over time, whether they are present in people at increased risk of cognitive decline, and whether multisensory approaches can further enhance the benefits of training.

The aim of this PhD project is to investigate whether standard and VR-supported olfactory training can improve olfactory function, cognitive functioning and related brain outcomes. In the end, this project will contribute to new insights into smell as a modifiable factor for cognitive health.

Your role in this project

You will set up and conduct a randomized controlled intervention study, assess changes in smell function, cognitive performance, and relevant health-related characteristics over time. You will also become automatically involved in more technological advancements of putting virtual reality into practice. In a subset of participants, advanced MRI brain imaging will be done to investigate changes in the olfactory bulb and connected brain regions, which will be executed by a collaborating postdoc.

You will be responsible for the day-to-day coordination of the studies, including participant recruitment, planning and conducting measurements, monitoring intervention adherence, managing data quality and analyzing longitudinal outcomes. 

As part of your PhD trajectory, you will:

• conduct high-quality scientific research within the field of sensory science and cognitive health;
• set up and coordinate a randomized controlled intervention study in older adults;
• perform olfactory testing, cognitive assessments, questionnaires and behavioral measurements;
• contribute to the implementation and evaluation of multisensory VR-supported olfactory training;
• collaborate with academic and clinical partners, and patient organizations;
• publish findings in international peer-reviewed journals and present your work at (inter)national conferences;
• supervise BSc and MSc students;  
• contribute to teaching activities within the Division of Human Nutrition and Health.

Where will you work?

The project is embedded within the Sensory Science and Eating Behavior and Nutritional Biology chair groups at the Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University & Research. You will work in an interdisciplinary and internationally recognized research environment with vast expertise in sensory science, human (neuro-)physiology and human intervention studies. 

The project will be supervised by dr. Yannick Vermeiren and Associate Professor Sanne Boesveldt and involves collaborations with clinical partners. The preferred starting date is 1st of November 2026.

You hold a Master's degree in one of the following fields or a related discipline Biomedical sciences, (cognitive) Neuroscience; Health Sciences; Nutrition and Health;

Also, you 

• have a profound interest in sensory (neuro)science and cognitive brain health;
• enjoy working with older adults;
• are comfortable coordinating complex human intervention studies;
• have strong organizational and project management skills;
• good data analytical skills;
• are interested in technological advancements, such as with virtual reality in practice;
• enjoy working in multidisciplinary teams;
• have excellent communication skills in Dutch (minimum CEFR C1 level - advanced);

Please note: due to interaction with Dutch speaking participants from The Netherlands, fluency in Dutch is a must have.

For this PhD position, next to excellent Dutch language proficiency, 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 in 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. 

We encourage development and internal mobility within our organisation. Our recruitment and selection policy sets out the conditions that apply specifically to you as a (former) employee. If you have any questions, we are happy to help.

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. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, our Welcome Center can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example housing, opening a bank account, dual career programs 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. Sanne Boesveldt via e-mail; sanne.boesveldt@wur.nl or dr. Yannick Vermeiren via e-mail; yannick.vermeiren@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 ):

• Complete and up-to-date curriculum vitae (max. 2 pages);
• Motivation letter (max. 1 page) in Dutch. Only letters in Dutch will be accepted and reviewed. 

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 Monday August 31st, 2026. The first interviews are preferably scheduled in the week of September 21st, 2026.

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:

Additional information form for PhD position: Olfactory training for cognitive health – Fill out form

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

​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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