Key Skills

Job Description

Career at WUR About Us Plenty of variety and challenges Pleasant working atmosphere Time for personal development Proper work-life balance Internationally leading Your job Have you ever asked yourself if it is possible to harness the economic potential of biodiversity without degrading the environment? Would you like to understand how we can develop markets for native plant species that benefit rural communities while conserving biodiversity? Are you proficient in Portuguese? Then this PhD might be your next step! The Cerrado is one of the world's biodiversity hotspots but it is increasingly threatened by agricultural expansion and global market pressures, creating tensions between conservation, economic development, and local livelihoods. Native Cerrado species such as macaúba, buriti and pequi not only have an important ecological role for the local ecosystems, but also have the potential to provide food, income, and other livelihood opportunities to the local communities This PhD position is part of the research project “Leveraging biodiversity for reshaping agricultural production in the Brazilian Cerrado”, which examines how native species can be integrated into farming systems to support biodiversity and improve local livelihoods without further conversion of natural vegetation. The project brings together the expertise from researchers in Brazil and the Netherlands to map current production of native species and their value chains, assess promising business opportunities, estimate future income potential, and test traceability approaches together with farmers, cooperatives, and companies. Your research will focus on understanding how native species are currently produced, managed and commercialized by smallholder farmers in the MATOPIBA region. By integrating data from primary household/farm surveys and secondary geospatial datasets, and using advanced econometric methods, you will evaluate if greater production diversity involving native species, the adoption of sustainable production practices, and specific market configurations can contribute to food security and biodiversity outcomes. You will have the opportunity to develop your own research questions within the broader objectives of the project. Start date: February 2027. Your Duties And Responsibilities Include design and implement large-scale household and farm-level surveys with smallholder farmers in the MATOPIBA region to collect socioeconomic and biodiversity field data; analyze geospatial and survey data using rigorous econometric methods; conduct workshops and focus group discussions with local stakeholders to analyze the political economy of current markets for native species; write research papers and present research findings at international academic conferences; collaborate with our research partners and contribute to the dissemination of project results. You will work here You will be based at the Forest and Nature Conservation Policy Group (FNP) at Wageningen University. The FNP group focuses on the political, socio-economic and cultural dimensions of forests and nature. Our research addresses major challenges including biodiversity conservation, deforestation, forest transitions, climate change and landscape management in both the Global North and Global South. You will be supervised by Dr. Jorge Sellare and Dr Verina Ingram . Your qualities We are looking for a researcher with a strong interest in agricultural economics, rural development, biodiversity conservation and sustainable land use. You enjoy working with quantitative data and are motivated to conduct research that combines rigorous econometric analysis with real-world challenges facing farmers and rural communities. Fieldwork in Brazil will be an important component of the PhD project, so you should be enthusiastic about working with farmers and able to spend time in rural areas under fieldwork conditions. You Also Possess a successfully completed MSc degree in agricultural economics, development economics, agricultural sciences or a closely related field; affinity with causal inference and an interest in developing your skills in impact evaluation and applied econometrics; good skills with statistical software such as R, Stata or Python; experience with data collection in rural areas, including field biodiversity data; proven excellent communication skills in Portuguese (level C1); knowledge of GIS and spatial data analysis is an advantage. For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level . Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognised Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here . We offer 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; 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 year-end 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 € 3,204.- per month rising to € 4,051.- 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. Coming from abroad 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. 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. Important information For more information about the position, please contact Jorge Sellare, Associate Professor, via email: [email protected]. Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Jessa Rozema, Corporate Recruiter, via email: [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 (max. 3 pages in total): Complete and up-to-date curriculum vitae (max. 2 pages); Motivation letter (max. 1 page). The maximum length of the documents must not exceed 3 pages. 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 28th of October 2026. The first interviews are scheduled for 4th and 5th November 2026. Additional Information Form For this position, you must fill in a mandatory form which will allow us to have a comprehensive view of your qualifications and better assess your fit for it. You can access the form using the link below: PhD: Economics of native species production and rural development in the Cerrado – Fill out form Your prompt response will ensure that your application continues to move forward in the evaluation process. We assure you that the information provided will be kept confidential and used solely for this application process. 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”. 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. Locations Wageningen Professional field PhD & EngD Educational level Masters degree Apply before 29-10-2026 Salary range €3048 - €3853 Hours 32 - 36

Core Responsibilities

Design and conduct household and farm surveys with smallholder farmers in Brazil, then analyze survey and geospatial data using econometric methods to assess links between native-species production, sustainable practices, food security, and biodiversity. Engage local stakeholders through workshops and focus groups, publish and present research findings, and collaborate with project partners on dissemination.

Requirements

Applicants must have a completed MSc in agricultural economics, development economics, agricultural sciences, or a related field, along with strong interest in rural development, biodiversity, and sustainable land use. They should have quantitative research skills, familiarity with statistical software such as R, Stata, or Python, excellent Portuguese at C1 level, and English at C1 level; rural fieldwork experience and GIS knowledge are advantageous.

Benefits

• Partially Paid Parental Leave
• Flexible Working Hours
• Sports Facilities
• Year-End Bonus
• Pension Scheme
• Fully Funded PhD Position
• Tailored Training Program
• Immigration and Relocation Support