Plant production in Europe is increasingly threatened by the emergence and spread of diverse plant pests, driven by factors such as global trade, climate change, and changing agricultural practices. These evolving challenges pose significant risks to agricultural sustainability and food security, highlighting the need for effective and innovative pest risk management strategies that adopt a systems-level perspective.
This PhD research project aims to advance the understanding of the behavioural, economic, and policy dimensions that shape pest risk management within European agricultural systems.
Effective pest risk management across the agri-value chain requires not only a biological and ecological understanding of pest spread, but also in-depth insight into how human behaviour, economic incentives, and policy instruments shape decision-making by key chain actors involved.
Positioned at the intersection of behavioural science, agricultural economics, and agricultural systems modelling, this PhD project will contribute to the development of modelling tools that integrate behavioural insights into bio-economic models to support the design of cost-effective and sustainable pest risk management strategies.
The PhD research will be conducted within the framework of the newly launched, multidisciplinary EU Horizon Europe project PhytoPRISM: A Platform for supporting a systems approach in Pest RISk Management, bringing together 15 leading research partners from 7 EU countries. This international consortium offers an unique opportunity for international collaboration, interdisciplinary knowledge exchange, and impactful scientific research at the forefront of European plant health policy and practice.
The PhD research addresses the following objectives:
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Behavioural analysis: Identify and analyse behavioural drivers influencing stakeholder decisions in pest risk management.
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Economic evaluation: Assess economic trade-offs between alternative phytosanitary measures, including prevention, eradication, and containment strategies.
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Incentives and policy analysis: Examine how economic incentives, institutional constraints, and policy instruments influence stakeholder behaviour and system efficiency.
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Model integration: Integrate behavioural responses into pest risk and bio-economic models to enhance decision support and strategy development for pest risk management..
The PhD project will take place within the Business Economics (BEC) group) of the Wageningen University, which is led by Prof. Alfons Oude Lansink (www.wur.eu/bec). BEC holds a strong position in interdisciplinary research with key areas, such as food supply chain economics, bio-economic modelling, and economics of food safety, plant & animal health.
We are looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated candidate with a strong interest in addressing scientific challenges through a systems-thinking approach. The ideal candidate will have the following profile:
A recently obtained Master’s degree in (agricultural) economics or similar field
Demonstrated affinity for agricultural production systems and European agri-food value chains
Experience with behavioural research and/or systems modelling is an advantage.
Strong quantitative skills and interest in statistical modelling, or simulation approaches.
Experience with R, STATA, Python or similar software.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary team.
Good communication skills; proficiency in spoken and written English (C1 level or equivalent) is a prerequisite.
Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:
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Partially paid parental leave;
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working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
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there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
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a fixed year-end bonus of 8.3%;
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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 Alfons Oude Lansink ([email protected]) or Monique Mourits ([email protected]).
Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Jouke van Oostenbrugge, Corporate Recruiter, via [email protected] .
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:
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a motivation letter (max 1 page) where you state why you are interested and what experience you have to address the aspects of the research project;
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a CV (max 2 pages) demonstrating your relevant experience;
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a maximum of two reference letters.
The maximum length of the documents must not exceed the indicated limits. 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 August 19, 2026. The first interviews are scheduled for August 25, 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
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.
