Phd position: Welfare assessment of fish in public aquaria

Aquariums and zoos are in a unique position to increase the understanding required to maintain and display a diverse variety of fish species in a positive state of wellbeing (Smith, 2023). We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join the project ‘Welfare assessment of fish in public aquaria’, a collaboration between Wageningen Livestock Research, Stichting Koninklijke Rotterdamse Diergaarde en Koninklijke Burgers’ Zoo, and funded as Public-Private Partnership by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature.

Positive animal welfare is a prerequisite for the existence of zoos and their unique role in the conservation of endangered species. Animals must be able to exhibit their natural behavior as much as possible, appropriate for their species-specific needs and legally stipulated in the Decree on Animal Keepers. This also applies to fish, for which, after lengthy scientific debate, it has only recently been established that this group of animals can consciously experience pain and stress, and also possesses more cognitive abilities than previously thought. Therefore, there is a lot of catching up to do to determine and possibly improve the welfare of fish in public aquariums.

As a PhD student, you will contribute to research to monitor fish welfare in public aquariums, identify distinguishing characteristics, and develop concrete solutions to improve welfare. Ultimately, you will contribute to a scientifically sound welfare assessment for fish in public aquariums. The majority of the research will take place on-site at the project partners Diergaarde Blijdorp and Burgers' Zoo, under the practical guidance of experienced experts. You will also collaborate with WUR researchers from various disciplines: animal physiology, animal welfare, marine ecology, and experimental zoology.

Your duties and responsibilities include: 

• Conduct research on fish welfare, behaviour and physiology.
• Collaborate with academic and societal partners.
• Disseminate research findings through publications, conference presentations, and research meetings.
• Contribute to teaching and supervision of students.

You will work here

The research is embedded within the chair Animal Breeding and Genomics, and member of the Wageningen Livestock Research team led by Prof. Roel Veerkamp. You will be co-supervised by dr. ir. Arjan Palstra (WUR-ABG) as co-promotor and daily supervisor, Prof. dr. ir. Henk Bovenhuis (WUR-ABG) as promotor, Prof. dr. Mario Calus (WUR-ABG). See the link to site Chairgroup Animal Breeding and Genomics Group | WUR. 

You are a highly motivated person with a genuine passion for both fundamental and applied research. You are curiosity driven, and have strong analytical and problem-solving skills. You are eager to learn new skills to combine different disciplines, and thrive in an independent as well as an collaborative international research environment.

You also possess: 

• A successfully completed MSc degree in Biology or related field.
• Expertise on fish welfare, behavior and physiology.
• Enthusiasm, creativity and affinity for the underwater world.
• The dedication to work outside office hours if the situation (experimentation, animal care, etc) would require it.
• The social skills to communicate and collaborate with academic colleagues, zoo personnel and the public.

For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognised 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. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 3,059.- per month rising to 3,881.- in the fourth year for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). We offer you a temporary contract for the duration of 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well.

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. If you come with a partner, we offer a Dual Career group program organized by our Welcome Center. This program helps your partner to get familiar with the Dutch culture, labour market and assists your partner to find a job.

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 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 Arjan Palstra, co-promotor and daily supervisor, via email: arjan.palstra@wur.nl of Ester Ellen, hiring manager, via email esther.ellen@wur.nll. 
Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Dax Teunissen, Corporate Recruiter, via recruitment.asg@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.

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

You can apply up to and including Wednesday March 18, 2026. The first interviews are scheduled for Tuesday March 24, 2026. Internal candidates are preferred to apply before Thursday February 26, 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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