Joint PhD with Wageningen University (WU) & Federal University of Technology Minna (FUTMINNA) – ‘Predictive model development for African countries with app demonstration in Nigeria’

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Publicado hace 2 semanas

Are you passionate about improving food safety from farm to fork? Do you want to apply for a multi-disciplinary & innovative project aiming to improve food safety in African countries? Then we may be looking for you.

In the context of a recently granted Horizon Europe project, UP-RISE, we are offering a 4 years joint PhD-position in collaboration between Wageningen University & FUTMINNA.

The UP-RISE EU-African Union (AU) project integrates food safety practices associated to mycotoxin contamination into all aspects of food production, distribution, marketing and consumption in the AU and provides tangible tools and strategies to enhance inclusive participation in the improved African Food Safety System (AFSS) at the local, national and regional level. UP-RISE activities are aligned with the current AU Food Safety Strategy for Africa, focusing on 3 regions of the AU with field work in 5 target member states (Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Kenya, and South-Africa). UP-RISE assembles 5 building blocks for knowledge generation and implementation:

  1. Roadmaps for a shared quality culture and possible integration of the informal sector in the AFSS;
  2. Strengthening the food safety regulatory framework with focus on mycotoxins in both formal and informal sectors;
  3. Early warning to prevent mycotoxin contamination and adapt to climate change;
  4. Prevention of food losses and improving food safety by providing innovative microbiome-based solutions for mycotoxin reduction and nutritious food and
  5. Co-creation, training and mentoring. In total, nine joint PhD students will work in a complementary way to contribute to the building blocks, each with a specific focus on a fermented food value chain.

You will be responsible for building block No 3, relating to the Development of predictive models for mycotoxins in five African countries, and the development of an app for demonstration purposes in Nigeria.

You will work here
We are searching for a PhD Researcher who will be based at the Business Economics group (Wageningen University) and the Africa Centre of Excellence for Mycotoxin and Food Safety – ACEMFS (futminna.edu.ng) at the Federal University of Technology Minna, Nigeria. and will join the research teams of prof. Van der Fels-Klerx (WU) & prof. Hussaini Anthony Makun (FUTMINNA) in a challenging and inspiring environment.

Collaboration lies at the heart of these activities, as you will have the opportunity to work with researchers and stakeholders from different European and African regions and sectors. By fostering interdisciplinary connections, you will contribute to a better understanding of resilient, inclusive and safe food systems.

Requirements

Specific Requirements

We are seeking candidates with the following qualities:

  • a master’s degree in quantitative economics, food safety, food science, modelling/mathematics, or equivalent;
  • demonstrated excellence in academic performance;
  • a strong interest in food safety, business economics, quantitative analyses, predictive modelling, and statistics;
  • hands-on experience in modelling and coding (e.g. R, Python);
  • experience or a strong interest in data-interpretation on the abovementioned techniques;
  • excellent English writing and communication skills are mandatory, fulfilling the minimal entry requirements to start a PhD at WU and the entry requirements at Africa Centre of Excellence for Mycotoxin and Food Safety – Why Apply
  • enthusiasm to work in a multi-disciplinary, international and intellectually challenging environment;
  • a commitment to maintaining high standards of
  • quality, integrity, creativity, and cooperation;
  • flexiblility, responsibility and ability to work independently as well as in team;
  • willingness to collaborate with researchers at the Wageningen University & FUTMINNA, and (inter)national partners;
  • availability to travel as needed.

Additional Information

Benefits

The selected candidate will be employed by Wageningen University for the initial 2 years of the PhD program and will subsequently transition to FUTMINNA for the remaining 2 years.

Your terms of employment at Wageningen University (for 2 years)
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;
  • the option to accrue additional compensation / holiday hours by working more;
  • 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 December 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. The gross salary for the first year is € 2.770 – per month rising to € 3.539,- 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 (to a total of 4 years) if you perform well.

There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a unique position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the “Best University” in the Netherlands for the 18th consecutive time.

Coming from abroad
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. Applicants from abroad moving to the Netherlands may qualify for a special tax relief, known as the 30% ruling. 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 and students coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, we can assist you with any additional advice and information about helping your partner to find a job, housing, schooling, and other issues.

Selection process

For more information about this position, please contact: prof. HJ (Ine) van der Fels-Klerx, food safety economics, by email: ine.vanderfels@wur.nl.

For more information about the procedure, please contact:Noorien Abbas, Corporate Recruiter, by email: recruitment.ssg@wur.nl

Do you want to apply?
You can apply directly using the apply button on the career page on the website of Wageningen University. Please upload your application before 12 December 2023. Preferred starting date of the position is January 2024.

Please submit a cover letter in which you specify why you are interested in the position and why you consider yourself a suitable candidate (400 words max), a full CV, and names of at least 2 contact persons (with name, e-mail, address, phone number).

Don’t wait with your application. As soon as we have received your application and we see a match, we will invite you for an interview.

Additional comments

For more information about this position, please contact: prof. HJ (Ine) van der Fels-Klerx, food safety economics, by email: ine.vanderfels@wur.nl.

For more information about the procedure, please contact:Noorien Abbas, Corporate Recruiter, by email: recruitment.ssg@wur.nl

Do you want to apply?
You can apply directly using the apply button on the career page on the website of Wageningen University. Please upload your application before 12 December 2023. Preferred starting date of the position is January 2024.

Please submit a cover letter in which you specify why you are interested in the position and why you consider yourself a suitable candidate (400 words max), a full CV, and names of at least 2 contact persons (with name, e-mail, address, phone number).

Don’t wait with your application. As soon as we have received your application and we see a match, we will invite you for an interview.

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