PhD Position: AOP approaches to link chemical exposures to chemicals to adverse outcomes

Are you a talented aspiring researcher who is interested in improving risk assessment methods that truly benefits biodiversity and people? Do you want to better understand species sensitivity towards chemicals? Then read on and apply!

We invite applications for the PhD position entitled: ‘AOP approaches to link chemical exposures to chemicals to adverse outcomes’. This research will be performed at the Toxicology department of Wageningen University, in close collaboration with fall a cooperation with the Environmental Risk Assessment Team of Wageningen Environmental Research and the Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality group of Wageningen University, all belonging to Wageningen University & Research.

In this cooperation, you will co-develop an assessment framework for understanding the underlying mechanisms causing adverse effects of chemicals and to identify the key molecular initiating events driving biochemical and biological traits which may result in some species more sensitive than others. Such a mechanistic approach is essential to increase understand and predict toxicity.

In the EnSa (early environmental safety) project you will collaborate with researchers from the Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management, Toxicology and Environmental Technology groups of Wageningen University, and will be encouraged to collaborate with other researchers within WUR, for example through the Wageningen Biodiversity Initiative (WUR launches Wageningen Biodiversity Initiative - WUR).

Specific objectives include, but are not limited to:

• Collect and curate mode of action, molecular initiating and other biochemical or individual level key events;
• Identify the major data gaps (e g. mechanistic understanding of links between exposures and effects, quantitively link species-specific sensitivity to certain chemical modes of action);
• Perform single species toxicodynamic ecotoxicity experiments to fill the data gaps, applying molecular/biochemical tools including omics
• Apply the developed data repository for targeted proof of concept studies;
• Explore the usefulness of quantitative adverse outcome pathways, a generalized extrapolation framework and expand their application domains across-species and a wider range of chemicals;
• Contribute to the main aim to extrapolate the sensitivity of surrogate species to other species via understanding of the underlying toxicity mechanisms leading from exposures to adverse outcomes.

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, up to 40 hours per week;
• 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 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 19th 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.

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 & Researchs 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 for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, 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. Wageningen University & Research
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, 7,200 employees (6,400 fte) and 13,200 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.. An integrated approach to problems and the cooperation between various disciplines are at the heart of Wageningen’s unique approach. WUR has been named Best Employer in the Education category for 2019-2020.

These are the points our employees list as good reasons to come work at WUR: read the 5 reasons to come work at WUR

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated. For this PhD position, we are searching an enthusiastic result-driven candidate with:

• an MSc degree in a relevant discipline in environmental sciences, molecular life sciences, biology or related area;
• the ability to work in multidisciplinary and international teams;
• oral and written proficiency in English (C1 level);
• Experience with the development and use of ecotoxicological models and biostatistical approaches is an advantage.

The PhD project will take place within the Environmental Toxicology team of the department of Toxicology of Wageningen University (Toxicology - WUR). You will be supervised by Prof. Nico van den Brink and Prof. Paul van den Brink of the Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management group of Wageningen University. For more information about this position, please contact prof Nico van den Brink, professor Environmental Toxicology at the sub-department of Toxicology: nico.vandenbrink@wur.nl.

For more information about the procedure, please contact Rutger Voorrips, Corporate Recruiter, rutger.voorrips@wur.nl

Do you want 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.

This vacancy will be listed up to and including March 10th, 2024. We hope to schedule the first job interviews shortly after the closing date.

Equal opportunities
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) employs a large number of people with very different backgrounds and qualities, who inspire and motivate each other. We want every talent to feel at home in our organisation and be offered the same career opportunities. We therefore especially welcome applications from people who are underrepresented at WUR. A good example of how WUR deals with inclusiveness can be read on the page working at WUR with a functional impairment.