Job for Researchers: Data scientist (assistant professor) in Nutrition & Health Research

About the role

Wageningen University & Research is seeking an ambitious data scientist for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position at the intersection of data science, nutrition, and health. You will contribute to cutting-edge research and education within the Division of Human Nutrition and Health, working with a unique collection of large-scale, deeply phenotyped and genotyped human dietary intervention and cohort studies. This role is part of the Academic Career Framework (ACF), which emphasizes quality over quantity, team collaboration, and open science.

Responsibilities

• Integrate complex datasets – including dietary, lifestyle, multi-omics, functional, sensor, and clinical data – to investigate relationships with short- and long-term health outcomes.
• Apply advanced AI methods (machine learning, knowledge-based approaches) to high-dimensional biological data to uncover novel nutritional insights.
• Teach and supervise Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD students in data science, nutrition, and health.
• Collaborate with nutritionists, epidemiologists, (molecular) biologists, and other data scientists within a WUR-wide interdisciplinary network.

Requirements

You hold a PhD and have good English communication skills (C2 level). You are a motivated data scientist eager to build an academic career in nutrition and health research.

What we offer

• A fixed-term contract of 18 months, with the possibility of a permanent position upon positive evaluation.
• A competitive gross salary between €4,728 and €7,297 per month (scale 11-12, based on 38 hours/week) under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU).
• Excellent pension scheme and a pleasant, internationally oriented working environment on the greenest campus in the Netherlands.
• Support for international employees: visa application assistance, partner job search help, housing, schooling, and possible tax exemption (30% ruling) for the first five years.
• Opportunities for personal development and internal mobility.

How to apply

Submit your application via the WUR vacancy website by August 24, 2026. Internal candidates are encouraged to apply by July 12, 2026. Only applications submitted through the official portal will be considered. For questions about the position, contact Prof. Lydia Afman (+31 317 485789) or Dr. Fränzel van Duijnhoven (+31 317 485375). For procedural questions, contact Evelien Janssen, Corporate Recruiter. Wageningen University & Research values diversity and inclusion and recruits directly for this vacancy; no agencies please.

Original vacancy