This call is aimed at MSc students/young researchers who have written their own PhD project. Staff members of the graduate schools PE&RC, EPS, WIAS, VLAG, WIMEK and WASS can apply as the main applicant. The research subject must fit within the research missions of the Knowledge and Innovation Agendas of the TKIs indicated in the call text (see links below). Applications for EngD projects can be submitted for the TKI Horticulture and Starting Materials only.

The Career Committee of the PE&RC PhD Council is excited to invite you  to their upcoming Career Talk! 

NWO Life is an annual scientific conference for Life scientists that offers inspiration in several ways: enjoy sessions with world-leading keynotes and researchers. Share your research with a full spectrum of life scientists at all career stages. Gain new perspectives by fresh insights from other experts.

After 12 years we will say good-bye to our current director Bas Zwaan. We hope to welcome you on 2 July 13:15h on Bas's farewell symposium.

We are honored to announce the appointment of Prof. Ellis Hoffland as the new Scientific Director of PE&RC.  As a highly valued member of our community, Prof. Hoffland is a leading expert on soil fertility, plant nutrition and soil plant relationships. She brings a wealth of experience along with a strong commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and scientific excellence.

As of 1 September 2026, I am pleased to take on the role of scientific director of PE&RC. This position brings together two areas I greatly value: education and policy. I have long known PE&RC for its strong support of both PhD candidates and their supervisors. It is an honour to contribute to its continued success and to help shape its future direction in the challenging times ahead.

With PhD candidates as its primary stakeholders, PE&RC can take pride in its education and training programme: well-structured while offering flexibility in content, and with clear attention to personal development. Main challenges are probably the current “publication crisis,” the emergence of AI, and the evolving role of science in society. These require us to reflect on their implications for the role of scientists and, consequently, for the PhD programme. Continued attention to the wellbeing and work–life balance of PhD candidates will remain essential. 

Within WUR’s matrix structure I believe it is important to safeguard the graduate schools’ responsibility for research policy. Being connected to de PhD candidates and their chair groups, graduate schools have a strong information position with respect to developments in science. With WU being one faculty, graduate schools are in an excellent position to support the development of research policy and to ensure its effective implementation across the Science Groups.

I look forward to working on this together with the excellent team in the PE&RC office, a supportive Board, and our colleagues in the Wageningen Graduate Schools. I am grateful to build on the work of Bas, whose tremendous contribution over the past 12 years has shaped PE&RC into what it is today. Many thanks, Bas!

Prof. Ellis Hoffland

This PE&RC Newsletter is published once a month and will round up useful information, relevant news, upcoming events and job opportunities. 

Interested in expanding your international network and advancing your research? The PE&RC Visiting Scientist Grant provides an opportunity to host an international researcher within your PE&RC group for up to six months. This collaboration fosters the exchange of knowledge and perspectives, contributing to the scientific quality of research within PE&RC. 

The current economic system serves a problematic purpose: facilitating perpetual material expansion at the expense of ecosystems and communities. During this seminar and interactive dialogue session, we will explore the connection between climate and biodiversity loss and the ever-growing material demand of the economy, with particular focus on nature conservation and agri-food systems.

Don’t forget to sign up for the annual PhD & Postdoc Meeting on April 13th, 2026, organized by the Netherlands Society for Evolutionary Biology (NLSEB) Junior Board! The program features two workshops: Advanced academic research AI prompting by Elian Wils from Aisee.nl and Scientific Integrity by Dr. Melissah Rowe from NIOO-KNAW. 

WUR researchers Vera Ros and Eveline Verhulst have each been awarded a prestigious NWO Vici grant. Ros will investigate how ‘hidden’ virus infections influence insect life. Verhulst will study which genes drive female development in insects. 

This PE&RC Newsletter is published once a month and will round up useful information, relevant news, upcoming events and job opportunities. 

This PE&RC Newsletter is published once a month and will round up useful information, relevant news, upcoming events and job opportunities. 

This PE&RC Newsletter is published once a month and will round up useful information, relevant news, upcoming events and job opportunities. 

This PE&RC Newsletter is published once a month and will round up useful information, relevant news, upcoming events and job opportunities. Click here for the link

This PE&RC Newsletter is published once a month and will round up useful information, relevant news, upcoming events and job opportunities.

On Thursday 28 August, we will organise the annual PE&RC Summer BBQ from 17:00 onwards. 

All members, so PhDs, postdocs ánd academic staff of all partner institutes of PE&RC are invited! 

This event will take place at Wageningen Campus, on the terrace in front of Unifarm.  

We ask for a contribution of € 25,- per person. This fee includes a tasty BBQ dinner with drinks!  For non-Wageningen based PE&RC members there will be a travel compensation deducted from the fee Amsterdam and Leiden members: bbq free of charge Utrecht: BBQ fee € 10,- Nijmegen: € 15,- We hope to see all of you at this BBQ!! 

PE&RC Cancellation Conditions

IMPORTANT: ALWAYS read the Cancellation conditions for PE&RC courses and activities. Please register below (registration closes Friday 15 August 2025)

This PE&RC Newsletter is published once a month and will round up useful information, relevant news, upcoming events and job opportunities.

The Career Committee of the PE&RC PhD Council and the Wageningen Doctoral Council are excited to announce the second speaker in the PE&RC CAREER Talk Series 2025. This series, hosted by the Career Committee of the PE&RC PhD Council, is designed to Create Advanced Routes for Exploration and Expansion of Resources (CAREER).

We are pleased to welcome drs. Audrey Peters, Manager of Operations and Product Innovations, and Project Leader of Making the Labour Market Transparent for Young Researchers. Previously, drs. Peters held several management roles at the University of Amsterdam and worked as a coach and trainer for academic staff. She will be joining us as the second speaker in the 2025 series.

Have you ever thought about life beyond your PhD or postdoc in terms of career opportunities? Did you know that around 70% of PhDs and 80% of postdocs consider careers outside academia? But where do you start? Even if you identify relevant organizations or sectors, how do you know if you are a good fit? And once you do, how can you connect with them?

To help answer these questions, AcademicTransfer has developed a toolbox for young researchers exploring their next career step. In this workshop, drs. Peters will introduce you to these tools and demonstrate how they can support your career journey in research in the Netherlands.

When: 10 June 2025, 12:00 – 13:00 CEST

Where: Online via MS Teams

Registration: https://forms.office.com/e/7r2uxx26K5

drs. Peters will give a 30-minute presentation followed by an interactive Q&A session.

Best regards,
The Career Committee of the PE&RC PhD Council
The Communications Team of Wageningen Doctoral Council

The Executive Board of Wageningen University & Research has appointed Prof. Sytze de Bruin as professor and chair of the Geo-information Science group as of 1 June 2025. He succeeds Prof. Alexander Klippel.

The Executive Board of Wageningen University & Research has appointed Prof. Sytze de Bruin as professor and chair of the Geo-information Science group as of 1 June 2025. He succeeds Prof. Alexander Klippel.The Executive Board of Wageningen University & Research has appointed Prof. Sytze de Bruin as professor and chair of the Geo-information Science group as of 1 June 2025. He succeeds Prof. Alexander Klippel.

This PE&RC Newsletter is published once a month and will round up useful information, relevant news, upcoming events and job opportunities.