Deadline: pre-applications: 15 June 2026, 14.00 CE(S)T ; full applications: 7 September 2026 14.00 CE(S)T

The PE&RC Graduate Programme call involves the funding of two PhD positions and aims to stimulate talented MSc students of Wageningen University (WU) to obtain their PhD at WU through research that is embedded in one of the WU-PE&RC chair groups and where the daily supervisor/(first) promotor is a PE&RC member. Supervisors (incl. promotors) can only be involved in one application. The grant covers the 4-year salary costs of the candidate plus related overhead (~34% of the salary costs). Direct research costs exceeding the overhead are to be covered by the chair group that is hosting the PhD candidate. Applications are written and submitted by candidates who have obtained or will obtain their WU MSc-degree between September 3, 2025 and September 7, 2026. Also candidates are eligible who have not formally received their MSc-degree but who have completed their MSc programme the September 7, 2026 at the latest. All applications need to be accompanied by a motivated letter of support from the main supervisor of the project. The first promotor is a WU PE&RC staff member with IUS promovendi.

Pre-application candidates:

In case a candidate is interested in this call one must submit a pre-application the June 15, 2026 at the latest by completing sections 1-5 of the application form (see Annex) to Theo.Jetten@wur.nl.

This pre-application is required, as it is used for a first selection of candidates, to ensure they are eligible, and is used to ensure the composition of the selection committee reflects the range of topics. Candidates that register later are not eligible.
It is not allowed to submit an application for a Wageningen University Graduate programme funding to two Graduate Schools, simultaneously.

Selection of the candidates:

A PE&RC selection committee, composed of PE&RC executive staff members will assess the pre-applications. Approximately eight to ten candidates will be invited to elaborate a full application, in which all sections of the application form have to be completed. A PE&RC selection committee, composed of PE&RC executive and academic staff members, will assess the full applications.

The written assessment of the applications will be based on:

• Quality of the candidate as shown by the Curriculum Vitae (60%, 50%);
• Motivation of the candidates and how they envisage their scientific contribution to the chair groups(s) in which they are embedded (40%, 25%);
• Scientific and/or societal impact of the proposed research (0%, 25%);
• Relevance of the proposed research to PE&RC given its mission: “Understanding the functioning of natural and managed ecosystems to improve the quality of life” and more specifically one of its themes: a. Re-design of (agro-) ecological systems; b. Ecology, biodiversity & conservation; c. One Health; d. Data and engineering science (pass threshold).

Please note that the first percentage between brackets represents the weight of this criterion during the pre-application; the second assessment represents the weight of this criterion during the full applications.

We would like to stress that in the last few years many very good to excellent candidates applied which made the competition very stiff. This also clearly demonstrates that applications need to convincingly show that the candidate not only belongs to the top of their class but also has a variety of competences needed to shine as a PhD-candidate.

The following competences will be considered when evaluating the quality of the candidate:

• A strong academic foundation- as a rule of thumb a grade of 8 or higher for the MSc-thesis is needed to qualify for the grant (in case a grade is not available yet an argued statement with respect to the expected grade for the MSc thesis should be provided by the supervisor of the thesis);
• Critical Thinking: The candidate should provide an example of their ability to think creatively and propose innovative solutions in a research context;
• Teamwork experience in research – While a PhD is often focused on person specific research, a PhD candidate works within the wider chair group team environment, contributing to education, scientific discussions. Demonstrate how you envisage contributing to this wider group;
• Communication Skills: the candidate should demonstrate the ability to communicate their research findings effectively to a wider audience.

From the full applications a maximum of four candidates (two candidates per position) will be invited to present themselves and their research in an interactive session with the selection committee. This will be in October/November 2026. In the presentation the candidate is asked to elaborate the research project with a focus on innovative aspects and scientific impact. On the basis of the presentation and the interview, the selection committee will then conclude its judgement and will announce the grant winners no later than early December 2026. The granted PhD projects must start at latest February 2027.