Researcher in Plant Resilience

Ready to make a real difference in sustainable horticulture? As a higher professional education (HBO) researcher in plant resilience, you will contribute to research into new solutions for the prevention and control of plant diseases and pests in greenhouse horticulture. You will contribute to the development of sustainable cultivation systems in which the use of chemical plant protection products can be further reduced or eliminated. 

Your work focuses on practical research in the greenhouse and laboratory to provide answers to research questions from growers, suppliers and government bodies.

Within the plant health team, you will be responsible for coordinating and carrying out trials involving plant diseases and pests in the laboratory and greenhouse, both at the experimental farm in Bleiswijk and in the field.

Your tasks and responsibilities as a plant resilience researcher (HBO level) are: 

• conducting  trials involving plant diseases and pests in the laboratory and greenhouse;
• designing,  organising and carrying out experiments;
• processing, interpreting and reporting research data, and contributing to reports, (web) articles and newsletters;
• supervising interns and students.

Your team

You will be working alongside other colleagues involved in this area (5 research scientists, 4 higher vocational education researchers, and interns). This group forms part of the plant health team, which comprises 24 colleagues. You will be based in Bleiswijk, where we have modern laboratory and greenhouse facilities. 

You will work here 

The crop health team is part of Wageningen Plant Research, where over 100 other colleagues are actively working towards sustainable greenhouse horticulture, both at our site in Bleiswijk and in Wageningen.

You have an interest in plant resilience and are driven to conduct application-oriented research aimed at making greenhouse horticulture more sustainable. You are enthusiastic, flexible, a strong communicator, and a good planner and multi-tasker.

You also posses: 

• a completed higher professional education (HBO) degree in plant pathology, applied biology or biological laboratory science;
• you have demonstrable experience in setting up, coordinating and carrying out laboratory and greenhouse trials for plant health research;
• you have experience with bioassays and microscopy; additional experience with other (bio)chemical analytical methods is an advantage;
• knowledge of and experience in greenhouse horticulture is an advantage;
• category B driving licence.

For this role, it is important to have a good command of both Dutch and English. The language level required for this role is B2. If you do not yet have this level, we will of course help you and you can contact our language centre, Wageningen in’to Language 

You will see that there are plenty of challenges ahead of you. These challenges can also be seen as opportunities for development. So, if you do not yet have the track record specified in the vacancy but do have solid work experience, we would still like to invite you to apply.

Scale 7 up to and including 10
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”.

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

• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• 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. We offer, depending on your experience, a competitive gross salary of between €2.979,- and €4.374,- for a full-This position is for 24 hour a week. As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended - if possible within (company) organizational circumstances - on good performance. 

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.

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 Caroline van der Salm, teamlead, via e-mail: caroline.vandersalm@wur.nl or via +31 317-484355 or with Gerben Messelink, senior researcher, via e-mail: gerben.messelink@wur.nl or +31 317-485649.

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Ine van’t Land, Corporate Recruiter, via email: ine.vantland@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 up to and including 18 May 2026. Internal candidates are preferred to apply before 3 May 2026.

We review applications on a rolling basis, including before the closing date. As a result, the vacancy may close earlier than indicated.

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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