Scientific Researcher Biological Control

As a researcher in biological control, you contribute to the further sustainability of the greenhouse horticulture sector. You work together with growers, suppliers, government bodies, and other researchers on new solutions for biological pest control.

Your work focuses on developing new systems for biological pest control and improving existing systems.

Within the Crop Health team, you are responsible for acquisition, project management, and conducting research.

Your duties and responsibilities include: 

• Acquiring research projects based on practical knowledge needs and maintaining contact with clients.
• Leading and coordinating research projects and conducting experiments with mites and insects in the laboratory and greenhouse.
• Evaluating new natural enemies (including insects, mites, and microorganisms) for pest control; developing methods to improve the establishment and performance of natural enemies in greenhouses; studying interactions between different species of natural enemies (ecosystem approach); and examining interactions between pests and natural enemies in relation to greenhouse climate, plant resilience, plant nutrition, biodiversity, and other pest control methods.
• Processing and interpreting research data and reporting results in reports, (web) articles, scientific publications, oral presentations, and newsletters.
• Supervising project staff (higher professional education level, junior university level), interns, and students.

Your team

You will work with other colleagues active in this field (2 scientific researchers, 6 applied researchers at higher/intermediate vocational level, PhD candidates, and interns). This group is part of the Crop Health team, which consists of 24 colleagues.

Your workplace will be Bleiswijk, where we have modern laboratory and greenhouse facilities. 

You will work here 

The Crop Health team is part of Wageningen Plant Research, where more than 100 other colleagues are working on sustainable greenhouse horticulture, both at our location in Bleiswijk and in Wageningen.

You have a passion for biological pest control and are driven to conduct application-oriented research aimed at making greenhouse horticulture more sustainable. You are enthusiastic, ambitious, communicatively strong, and a good multitasker.

You also possess: 

• a completed university degree in Biology, Ecology, or Crop Protection, with a specialization in entomology;
• a PhD and several years of work experience in this field;
• knowledge of and experience in greenhouse horticulture (preferred);
• experience in acquiring and leading research projects;
• excellent written and oral reporting and presentation skills, demonstrated by your publication list.

For this position, it is important to have sufficient proficiency in both Dutch and English. The required language level is C1.

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;
• 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 € 4,045.- and € 6,268.- for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale 11). Additionally, For this role a contract for 30 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

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

You will work 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 Caroline van der Salm, Teamlead Crop Health, via email caroline.vandersalm@wur.nl or Gerben Messelink, Senior researcher, via email: gerben.messelink@wur.nl.

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Ine van 't Land, Corporate Recruiter, via vacaturemeldingen.psg@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 Monday April 6, 2026. Internal candidates are preferred to apply before March 15, 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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