Your job at Rijk Zwaan!

As a Crop Physiology Researcher, you will be part of an enthusiastic team focused on improving crops and cultivation processes. You will investigate how genetics and environmental factors combine to influence plant development, providing valuable insights. You will take the lead in research projects on crop life cycles, flowering and the influence of environmental factors on growth, development and (seed) yield. In doing so, you combine internal knowledge with scientific insights and translate them into clear hypotheses and an appropriate research approach. You design and conduct experiments, analyze the results, and translate your findings into practical knowledge. In doing so, you work closely with technicians, fellow researchers, and external partners. Your tasks include:

• Tracking academic literature and inter-group communication
• Designing hypothesis-driven experiments and trials
• Coordination, execution, data analysis and reporting to various stakeholders
• Working with technicians and/or supervising interns

Where will you be working?
Rijk Zwaan is an international family business with its head office in De Lier, near Delft. Every day we enjoy working on developing vegetable varieties and supplying seeds to growers all over the world. From this position, we actively contribute to a sustainable and healthy food supply.As a researcher, you will become part of the Crop Physiology team: five driven specialists who enthusiastically research how plants respond to factors such as light, temperature and drought. The team is part of the Seed Technology department, where some 45 colleagues work together on innovative solutions for seed and plant quality. You carry out research for both greenhouse crops in De Lier and field crops in Fijnaart. Therefore, flexibility is important: you will work at both locations and use modern facilities, including climate chambers. Besides your regular colleagues, you will also collaborate a lot with researchers from other departments and breeders.
Wouter, Research Analyst"Linking science to practice is the strength of our department. While we work together to achieve the best results, it is the diversity of topics and personalities that motivates us and leads to new discoveries”.
What do you bring?

You feel completely at home in a dynamic environment and easily switch between multiple projects. With your proactive and, you know how to deal with changing circumstances and various priorities. You effortlessly bridge the gap between research and practice: you translate research results into practice and convert practical challenges into clear research questions. Thanks to your creativity, you constantly find new solutions to achieve your research goals. Moreover, you know how to communicate your knowledge clearly and inspire colleagues to achieve the best results together.

• A PhD in plant science or physiology, with solid knowledge of flowering and life cycle regulation
• Experience with controlled environments such as climate chambers and high-tech greenhouses
• A good command of both Dutch and English
• A driving licence

What can you expect from us?

You will work in an international environment and actively contribute to our sustainable mission: improving the global food supply. Within our open and people-oriented corporate culture, we would like to offer you the following:

• Immediate permanent contract for 32-38 hours per week
• A good salary based on job level and experience
• 25 holidays and a vitality day
• The possibility to buy extra holidays
• Various training opportunities through our Rijk Zwaan Academy
• A good balance between work and private life

Would you like to know more about our terms of employment? Then take a look at our terms of employment page.
Interested?
Work on tomorrow’s vegetables as a Crop Physiology Researcher! Click “Apply” and upload your CV and motivation. You will receive a response within 10 working days. An assessment is part of the procedure.

• Tracking academic literature and inter-group communication
• Designing hypothesis-driven experiments and trials
• Coordination, execution, data analysis and reporting to various stakeholders
• Working with technicians and/or supervising intern