The Animal Sciences Group (ASG) at Wageningen University & Research (WUR) in the Netherlands is recruiting a motivated Ph.D. candidate for a fully funded four-year position to develop predictive artificial intelligence (AI) models for pathogen dynamics and disease correlates in animals.
Digital Biology Investment Programme
This PhD position is embedded in WUR’s ambitious investment initiative: “Digital Biology – Integrating Behaviour, Health and Biodiversity in Animal Science.” The project is jointly hosted by Wageningen BioVeterinary Research (WBVR) in Lelystad and Wageningen Marine Research (WMR), in close collaboration with Wageningen University and the WIAS Graduate School.
The research addresses the urgent challenge of predicting how environmental stressors, genetics, and host immunity interact to drive pathogen spread and disease outcomes in wildlife, livestock, and aquaculture species. The PhD researcher will develop AI-based decision-support and simulation tools to identify early disease correlates, optimize vaccine development strategies, and design preventative health frameworks.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop, evaluate, and deploy machine learning and deep learning models to predict host-pathogen interactions and disease outcomes.
- Integrate multi-omic (genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic) data and environmental parameters into predictive neural networks.
- Analyze large-scale epidemiological datasets from wild animal populations and commercial aquaculture/livestock systems.
- Collaborate with a cohort of seven PhD students within the Digital Biology programme and industry partners.
- Write scientific papers leading to a Ph.D. dissertation and present results at international conferences.
What WUR Offers
- A fully funded PhD position for 4 years (38 hours per week).
- Gross monthly salary starting at €3,059 in the first year, rising to €3,881 in the fourth year (under the CAO-NU).
- 8.3% year-end bonus, pension scheme, and comprehensive social security benefits.
- Professional training courses through the WIAS Graduate School.
- Relocation support, including visa assistance and housing guidance.
Required Qualifications
- M.Sc. degree in Bioinformatics, Data Science, Quantitative Genetics, Computational Biology, Computer Science, or related quantitative disciplines.
- Strong programming skills in Python and/or R.
- Experience with machine learning frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow) and handling high-dimensional biological data.
- Strong interest in animal health, infectious diseases, or veterinary science.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills in English.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online via the official WUR vacancy portal. Please upload a single PDF containing your cover letter and CV before the vacancy deadline. Inquiries can be sent to the project supervisors at WBVR.