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Full Professor and Chair Nutritional Biology

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Full Professor and Chair Nutritional Biology
Economic and Environmental History Wageningen University & Research

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Job posted on September 6, 2025
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Job Description:
Vacancy

Full Professor and Chair Nutritional Biology

article_published_on_label September 5, 2025

Location Wageningen End date Mon 20 October 2025 Respond Click here to respond

Your job

Due to the upcoming retirement of our current chair holder, a vacancy has arisen for a Full Professor in the Nutritional Biology chair group, part of the Division of Human Nutrition and Health of Wageningen University & Research (WUR). The Division has an outstanding international reputation in research and education in the fields of nutrition and health and consists of five dedicated chair groups.

The mission of the Nutritional Biology group is to unravel the interplay between nutrition and human biology in relation to health, with the aim to maintain or improve a person’s physical and cognitive performance during ageing, acute or chronic disease, and rehabilitation. This translates into a focus on the (patho)physiology of musculoskeletal system, the brain, and the gastro-intestinal tract, with a specific interest in dietary protein. The work spans from human intervention, observational and biomarker studies, to (human) in vitro work, to animal and animal-replacing experiments, using state-of-the-art models and technologies.

The position of chair of the Nutritional Biology group offers you the opportunity to shape and expand your own research lines in synergy with the group’s scientific focus, while also developing your academic leadership profile. In this role, you will share responsibility for the academic and operational management of the group. Your responsibilities will include setting the research strategy, guiding a diverse team of scientists, lecturers, and support staff, and further strengthening the group’s national and international standing. In addition, you will contribute to high-quality education at the BSc, MSc, and PhD levels and help drive innovation in teaching, supporting WUR’s strong reputation in higher education.

The Nutritional Biology group consists of: 1 Chair Holder and Full Professor, 1 Personal and Full Professor and 1 Endowed (part-time) Professor, 1 Associate Professor, 9 Assistant Professors and Researchers, 4 Postdoctoral Researchers, and approximately 15 PhD candidates. The group is supported by a shared team of professionals including technicians, dieticians, nurses, and administrative staff.

The Division of Human Nutrition and Health comprises around 240 employees (part-time and full-time), including 125 PhD candidates and 20 postdocs. It includes five chair groups: 1) Nutrition, Metabolism and Genomics; 2) Global Nutrition; 3) Sensory Science and Eating Behaviour; 4) Nutrition and Disease; and 5) Nutritional Biology. The Division integrates expertise in nutrition across cellular, individual, and population levels, supported by state-of-the-art research infrastructure such as a dedicated human research unit, a research kitchen, and advanced laboratories for in vitro experimentation and analytical work.

More information on the group can be found on the website.

Your qualities

As a successful candidate, you will bring the following qualities and experience:

  • you hold a PhD degree and have an internationally recognized scientific track record in the field of nutrition and metabolism. Your academic background is in human nutrition, nutrient metabolism, human biology, (bio)medical science or a closely related discipline;
  • you have a clear long-term plan for research, teaching, and group development that aligns with or complements the existing strengths of the Nutritional Biology group;
  • you have experience in building and maintaining a broad (inter)national network across various sectors, including academic institutions, societal organizations, policy makers, and industry partners;
  • You have a successful track record in securing research funding from a variety of sources.
  • you are an experienced and inspiring teacher who enjoys engaging students in learning. You have supervised students from diverse backgrounds and contributed to curriculum innovation and the development of courses at Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD levels including the use of innovative teaching methods;
  • you have proven experience in leading multidisciplinary teams. Your leadership style is empathic and inclusive – you actively listen, value the perspectives of others and foster a culture in which everyone feels heard and appreciated. You focus on professional development, team building and creating synergy within the group.

We offer you

You will be working for an inspiring international organisation actively engaged in a large number of interdisciplinary projects all over the world. The scientific quality of Wageningen University & Research is affirmed by the prominent position we occupy in international rankings and citation indices.

We offer you a position as Full Professor and Chair of Nutritional Biology. Besides a competitive salary (maximum gross salary for starting chair holders is scale H2 step 13 € 10.441,- per month), we offer a number of additional benefits, such as an end-of-year extra month’s salary, a holiday allowance and a pension plan with the Dutch pension fund for government and education. International candidates moving to the Netherlands may benefit from a special tax relief, by which a part of their salary is exempt from tax for several years.

Working hours can be discussed to optimize the work-life balance (32-38 hours per week).

Coming from abroad.

We are a globally leading university in the 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.

The university’s highly qualified team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family. Furthermore, WUR offers a dual career programme for partners to assist your partner in finding a job or starting a business in the Netherlands. Furthermore, we assist you in finding schools for your children and advise you on finding housing in the region or elsewhere in the Netherlands. The Wageningen University & Research (WUR) International Community page contains practical information about what we do to support international employees and students coming to Wageningen.

Do you want more information?

Further information about the position can be acquired from prof. dr Han Zuilhof, chair of the Appointment Advisory Committee. E-mail: han.zuilhof@wur.nl

For more information about the procedure you can contact Ineke Ammerlaan, Secretary of the Appointment Advisory Committee (AAC). Email: ineke.ammerlaan@wur.nl

Application

You Are Invited To Address Your Application To Ineke Ammerlaan And Upload It Via Our Website. The Application Should Include (as Pdf Documents)
  • An application letter with curriculum vitae,
  • A separate list of publications,
  • Your vision on research and education in the domain of the chair (Max 2 pages),
  • A statement on your leadership style and experience (Max 2 pages).

The closing date of the vacancy is October 20, 2025. The Committee will inform you about the status of your application no later than November 15, 2025. The Committee will interview selected candidates for this position on November 25 and 26, 2025. The Committee will thereafter invite short-listed candidates for a second interview and a public lecture on December 15 and 16, 2025.

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.

We are

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is ‘To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life’.

We pursue this mission through a synergistic approach between Wageningen University and Wageningen Research Foundation (applied research). Our research focuses on questions within the domains of food, living environment, and society. With approximately 30 locations, 7,700 staff members, 2,500 PhD candidates, and over 13,000 students, Wageningen University & Research is among the world’s leading knowledge institutions in its domain. The integral approach to challenges and the collaboration across various disciplines form the core of the unique Wageningen approach.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR.

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.

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