MAE invests in science-driven teaching and contributes extensively to several bachelor and master programs within WUR. Our teaching for example includes state-of-the-art underwater biodiversity monitoring techniques and scientific diving. Of particular focus is the Bachelor Marine Sciences, which started with 100+ students in 2023, and the newly initiated Shared Marine underwater Research Facility (SMuRF), where chair groups collaboratively work on a variety of research topics together with students. The new Bachelor and the development of facilities to accommodate student research will remain a major focus for the group in the coming years.
Your qualities
- You are a scholar with a PhD degree and an internationally proven scientific track record in the field of marine ecology (such as marine molecular ecology, marine animal eco-physiology, ecological (field) research).
- You have the experience and skills to develop long-term strategic ideas into concrete plans – for example, in understanding and supporting national and international developments, particularly in ecosystem transitions.
- You are an approachable and empathetic mentor and an effective communicator. You have experience in providing motivating and inclusive leadership in a multidisciplinary team, fostering collaboration, scientific cohesion, and synergy while supporting the professional development and well-being of team members. You see value in generating trust and collaboration in a team and stimulating a healthy life-work balance.
- You have proven experience and success in attracting funding for scientific research in an (inter)national context.
- You have and are able to further develop and maintain a broad (inter)national network with different partners (e.g., academic institutes, societal organizations, policymakers, private sector). You foster collaboration between the team and the network.
- You have a passion for, and ample experience in, BSc, MSc and PhD education in an international context, and in the individual supervision of students and PhD candidates. You have long-term strategic ideas on education and concrete plans for the further development and innovation of MAE education.
- You have experience in representing and communicating research subject areas to the wider community and in contributing to the societal debate, for example through appearances in the media.
Your team
MAE comprises over 50 members working full time or part time from diverse international backgrounds, including 24 scientific and educational staff members, 24 PhD candidates, and 2 research assistants. MAE is part of the graduate school Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences (WIAS) and one of the 12 chair groups within the department of Animal Sciences (ASG) of WUR.
The marine aquaculture facilities in CARUS enables the chair group to conduct high-end eco-physiological research on marine animals bred there in the vicinity of on-campus research facilities. Furthermore, MAE occupies the leading role in developing larger-scale modular Shared Marine underwater Research Facilities (SMuRF) within CARUS and facilitating collaborations herein between chair groups. Additionally, MAE maintains a shared molecular laboratory where we conduct DNA and RNA analyses to study marine life and ecosystems. Our research focuses on environmental DNA (eDNA)-based biodiversity assessments, whole-genome sequencing, DNA methylation, and transcriptomic analyses. Lastly, MAE has access to international field locations in Kenya, Saba, Croatia and on Svalbard, and collaborations with scientists in the Bahamas. Within the field locations we perform monitoring and restoration projects also using scientific diving.
MAE is part of a cluster with the chair groups Animal Breeding and Genomics (ABG) and Infectious Disease Epidemiology (IDE), where collaboration is strengthened through joint PhD projects and shared administrative support. MAE maintains active collaborations with chair groups across the science groups, including Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management (AEW), Environmental Policy (ENP), Physical Chemistry and Soft Matter (PCC), Geo-information Science and Remote Sensing (GRS), Cultural Geography (GEO), and Aquaculture Biology and Fisheries Ecology (AFI). MAE also maintains strong ties with Wageningen Marine Research (WMR), strengthened through joint appointments. Moreover, the MAE group collaborates nationally and internally with other universities and research institutes (such as NIOZ, Wetsus, Van Hall Larenstein, Naturalis, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam, Delft University of Technology and University of Twente).
Salary: Maximum gross salary for starting chair holders is €10,441 per month
Application deadline: May 8, 2026
