Postdoctoral Researcher: Developing and Testing Next-Generation Fishing Gear to Minimize the Climate and Ecological Impact of Flatfish Trawling

Your job

Are you passionate about reducing the ecological, biodiversity, and climate impacts of commercial flatfish trawling? Do you enjoy synthesizing research insights to develop and test next-generation fishing gear? Are you excited by out-of-the-box thinking and engineering challenges? If so, this postdoctoral position is the perfect opportunity for you!

Fisheries targeting sole and plaice typically use heavy tickler chains dragged through the sediment to startle and catch fish. However, this method leads to: (1) low catch selectivity with high bycatch, (2) high fuel costs due to increased drag, and (3) significant environmental impacts, including bottom disturbance, CO2 emissions, and the release of pollutants. As a result, there is an urgent need for more sustainable fishing techniques that do not rely on tickler chains.

Supported by the Applied and Engineering Sciences of NWO (Netherlands Science Foundation), Wageningen University, Wageningen Marine Research, and Delft University of Technology, this project aims to develop more efficient and environmentally friendly fishing techniques. You as Postdoc will play a key role in designing and testing next-generation fishing gear that selectively stimulates flatfish to leave the sediment, making them easier to capture in the net.

You will work closely with two PhD candidates:

• one focusing on the behavior of sole and plaice, specifically their escape responses to various acoustic, optical, and mechanical stimuli;
• the other at Delft University of Technology, working on the engineering aspects of fluid-dynamics-based stimuli.

Additionally, you will collaborate with fisheries experts from Wageningen Marine Research. By integrating the findings from these research areas, you will design and test prototype fishing gear for flatfish. The construction and experimental work will be supported by two technicians.

This position offers the opportunity to work within an interdisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and technicians at the Experimental Zoology Group of Wageningen University, in close cooperation with Wageningen Marine Research and the Department of Maritime & Transport Technology at Delft University of Technology. Together, we aim to develop sustainable fishing techniques grounded in a deep understanding of flatfish escape behavior and swimming biomechanics.

Your Duties and Responsibilities:

• Design, construction and testing of prototypes of novel gear for flatfish fishing.
• Publishing your findings in scientific journals, integrating research from (bio)mechanics, and fisheries perspectives.
• Communicating about the project with stakeholders and the general public through several channels (e.g., social media).

Your qualities

You are a highly motivated individual with the following competencies and skills:

• Proficiency in mechanical design, construction, and experimental analysis.
• Strong communication skills and a genuine interest in interdisciplinary collaboration.
• A critical thinker, with the ability to express complex ideas clearly and scientifically.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.

You also have:

• A PhD degree in biomechanics, mechanical engineering, control engineering or a related field.
• Knowledge of fluid dynamics.
• Affinity for animal research.

In our international working environment, there is an increasing amount of communication in English. For this position it is about language level C1.

We offer you

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;
• 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 end-of-year 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 € 3.378,- and € 5.331,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 10). Additionally, a contract for 0,8 FTE can be discussed. We are offering you a temporary contract for a maximum of two years, with a performance review after one year to determine whether the contract will be continued or not, based on your achievements. Of course, we are happy to have a conversation with you if you have any questions about this.

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 20th consecutive time.

Coming from abroad
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.

Do you want more information?

For more information about this position, please contact Prof. Johan van Leeuwen, professor of animal mechanics, telephone +31317482267, email: johan.vanleeuwen@wur.nl or Dr Martin Lankheet, associate professor of experimental zoology, email: martin.lankheet@wur.nl

For more information about the procedure, please contact Noorien Abbas, corporate recruiter, noorien.abbas@wur.nl  

Do you want 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.

This vacancy will be listed up to and including 27-June-2025. We hope to schedule the first job interviews on 03-July-2025.

Procedure
As part of our selection process, an assessment may be incorporated within the procedure.

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.