Data specialist in crop systems analysis

at  Wageningen University Research

ARE YOU A CROP ECOLOGIST WITH EXPERIENCE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE OR A COMPUTER/DATA SCIENTIST WITH EXPERIENCE IN OR AFFINITY WITH WORKING ON AGRICULTURAL ISSUES? THEN THIS POSITION MIGHT BE SOMETHING FOR YOU!

Advancing towards a sustainable agriculture requires the design and development of more climate-resilient and biodiverse cropping systems. Key strategies to this end are the use of resilient and climate-adaptive crop types grown in diverse (e.g. mixed species) cropping systems. Aligned with these strategies, the Centre for Crop System Analysis (CSA) at Wageningen University & Research (WUR) focuses on obtaining scientific knowledge on plant‑plant and plant-environment interactions, as well as interactions at different trophic levels, to assist in elucidating the complex functioning of such diverse cropping systems.
In order to be relevant, this knowledge needs to be obtained at realistic temporal and spatial scales, which implies the generation and analysis of complex datasets. This calls for increased capacity to integrate and analyze differentially sourced data to build stronger data-driven models to draw conclusions and inform endeavors to sustainable agriculture.
CSA is therefore searching for a motivated data specialist to support our research at three levels: data management, data analysis, and in the programming of user-friendly tools for analysis and modelling.

The specific tasks include:

• Data management: You will design multi-level data flows, from data capture to analysis, to facilitate the organization of data (including data-streams from long-term systems experiments). You develop relational databases across different spatio-temporal domains, and different data types (e.g., meteorological data, sensor data, remote sensing images), and improve data management.
• Data analysis: You support scientific staff and thesis students with data analysis using relevant statistical packages and programing languages (e.g. R) as well as in learning the use of the scientific software/packages.
• Programming of user-friendly tools for analysis and modelling: You support the maintenance, documentation and improvement of scientific software for modelling, such as the crop models developed within CSA. You program packages (e.g. in R) for advanced statistical analyses designed in CSA, and make them available to researchers worldwide. You also program batch processing scripts for remote sensing imagery and data from other sources, and you support model development using said scientific software.

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• sabbatical leave, study leave, and 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, 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 of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between €3.186,- and €5.278,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 8-10).As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended - if possible within (company) organizational circumstances - on good performance. Of course, we would be happy to discuss this with you if you have any questions.
Wageningen University & Research encourages internal advancement opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. 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. Centre for Crop System Analysis (CSA)
The mission of CSA is to contribute to the development of high quality plant production in sustainable agro-ecosystems through research and teaching. The emphasis is on improvement and innovation of plant production at various levels of integration; from genotypes to cropping systems. Sustainable production of tropical perennial crops like cacao and implications for biodiversity and small-holder farmer livelihoods is a central theme of the CSA.

• Data management: You will design multi-level data flows, from data capture to analysis, to facilitate the organization of data (including data-streams from long-term systems experiments). You develop relational databases across different spatio-temporal domains, and different data types (e.g., meteorological data, sensor data, remote sensing images), and improve data management.
• Data analysis: You support scientific staff and thesis students with data analysis using relevant statistical packages and programing languages (e.g. R) as well as in learning the use of the scientific software/packages.
• Programming of user-friendly tools for analysis and modelling: You support the maintenance, documentation and improvement of scientific software for modelling, such as the crop models developed within CSA. You program packages (e.g. in R) for advanced statistical analyses designed in CSA, and make them available to researchers worldwide. You also program batch processing scripts for remote sensing imagery and data from other sources, and you support model development using said scientific software