Do you have knowledge of the physicochemical aspects of materials, preferably food products? Are you an enthusiastic analytical technician? Do you enjoy collaborating with others and are you familiar with research and education in physics or physical chemistry? We are looking for a Technical Assistant, so read on!
As a Technical Assistant, you will contribute to supporting the teaching and research activities of the Laboratory of Physics and Physical Chemistry of Foods.
Your duties and responsibilities as a Technical Assistant:
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you coordinate and assist in the practical organization of educational activities, support students and PhD candidates in the use of our group’s equipment, and are responsible for maintaining this equipment;
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you test new equipment before it is purchased and help collect data for specific research activities;
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you are responsible for the procurement and management of chemicals and small laboratory equipment.
Your team
You will work within a team of five Technical Assistants at the Laboratory of Physics and Physical Chemistry of Foods (FPH).
Your workplace
The FPH Chair Group integrates food physics, mesostructure design and development, and application-oriented research to enable innovation more effectively. Our mission is to:
a) provide fundamental knowledge, novel mesostructures, and application concepts to academic partners, industry, and society; and
b) educate students to apply this integration throughout their future careers.
A central theme in our research is the mesoscale: the intermediate length scale between individual molecules and the final food product. Structures at this scale, typically ranging from a few nanometres to a few millimetres, strongly influence macroscopic properties such as texture, flow behaviour, stability, and appearance. By understanding how water, proteins, polysaccharides, fats, oils, and other components organize themselves at the mesoscale, we can better control food behaviour and develop innovative materials.
You are enthusiastic, flexible, and possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills. In addition, you have:
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a completed vocational (MBO) or bachelor's degree (HBO) in, for example, physical chemistry, analytical chemistry, or a related field;
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knowledge of the physicochemical aspects of materials, preferably food products;
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practical experience with a range of physical and chemical analytical techniques;
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a proactive team-oriented attitude and a willingness to take responsibility for the day-to-day operation of laboratory facilities;
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excellent communication skills in English.
In our international working environment there is an increasing amount of communication in English. For this position it is about language level B2.
Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:
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sabbatical leave, study leave, and 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 of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a gross salary of between €2818,- and €3764,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 8). Additionally, a contract for 32 hours a week 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.
If you are an internal employee, your current contract is the starting point. Ask your HR Business Partner about your situation specifically. 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.
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 “orientation year” in the Netherlands or a visa as a “knowledge migrant”.
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 dr. Leonard Sagis via email: [email protected].
Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Rutger Voorrips, Corporate Recruiter, via email: [email protected].
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 the 20th of July 2026. Internal candidates are preferred to apply before June 28th, 2026.
Applications are reviewed regularly. Therefore, the position may be filled before the stated closing date.
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.
