Full Professor in Digitally Controlled Environmental Agriculture, Maastricht

Full Professor Digitally Controlled Environmental Agriculture

Maastricht University and the HAS green academy - university of applied sciences have joined forces to boost knowledge and education regarding Environment Agriculture and are looking for a Full Professor to power this boost.

Job Description

Globally, Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) is rapidly expanding. It includes high-tech greenhouse and vertical farm production of healthy vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers. Dutch technology and expertise provide an important basis for this growth. In an environment where temperature, light and fertigation can be controlled, the growing conditions can be optimally designed for the crop. It allows local-for-local production, optimal water and land usage and it is amenable to mechanization. CEA helps to reduce waste, labour, and transport. It contributes to increased food safety, food security and product quality.

Worldwide there is a shortage of farmer succession, and this is no different for the horticultural sector. Fortunately, the CEA sector envisages solutions to this problem. CEA is especially amenable to data driven crop management solutions. Data coming through sensors in the growth facility and on the plants give information on how to adapt the growing environment in terms of temperature, light, fertigation, plant pruning etcetera. The CEA grower of the future will thus be more reliant on a data-driven growth management system in the future, and the plant management in the greenhouse will be further automated.

We strive to improve CEA system designs and crop management standards by using technology that will serve plant (optimal growth conditions), people (fresh and healthy plants) and planet (sustainable production methodology). Via various "dashboards", the integration of data streams from the plant sensor, the greenhouse or vertical farm and the surrounding environment, is used to build a better understanding of the growing environment enabling improved crop management and advice. The management of the CEA systems is complex and needs a combination of grower experience with the crop (green fingers) and interpretation of continuous data coming from the production systems.

Where are you going to work?

The professor will be based at the Brightlands Future Farming Institute (BFFI) in Venlo but will have a close connection to (and work partially at) the Agri&Business department of HAS green academy in Venlo and Den Bosch.

You will be the bridge between HAS Green Academy and BFFI connecting both institutes, students, and researchers by building a knowledge infrastructure on the Brightlands Campus Greeport Venlo. This infrastructure will be closely linked to the educational programs of HAS Green Academy and UM.

Requirements

A clear vision, developing next level digital controlled environment agriculture

A track record in crop modelling and/or relevant crop growth management systems

Ability to network and translate this vision, in close cooperation with international scientist and industry, into relevant research proposals

Experience with, or ability to translate practical crop growth experience into relevant research topics for digital CEA

Ability to translate research findings to practical tools for CEA farm operations

Teaching experience in an appropriate field, both for students and the international horticultural sector

Ph.D. and equivalent experience in a relevant field

An international network within a relevant field and the ability to interact with and explain gained insights with growers, students, and society

A collaborative mind set. Preferably collaboration experience with crop physiologists and plant scientists

Experience with external grant acquisition

Excellent verbal and written communication skills in Dutch and English, as you will be working in an international and intercultural setting

What we offer

Good employment conditions. The position is graded in scale 16 according to UFO profile Professor, with corresponding salary based on experience ranging from€7405,00 and €9680,00 gross per month (based on a full-time employment of 38 hours per week). In addition to the monthly salary, an 8.0% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus apply.

An employment contract for a period of 12 months with a scope of 1,0 FTE. Upon proven suitability, the employment contract will be converted to an indefinite contract.

At Maastricht University, the well-being of our employees is of utmost importance, we offer flexible working hours and the possibility to work partly from home if the nature of your position allows it. You will receive a monthly commuting and internet allowance for this. If you work full-time, you will be entitled to 29 vacation days and 4 additional public holidays per year, namely carnival Monday, carnival Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day. If you choose to accumulate compensation hours, an additional 12 days will be added.

As Maastricht University, we offer various other excellent secondary employment conditions. These include a good pension scheme with the ABP and the opportunity for UM employees to participate in company fitness and make use of the extensive sports facilities that we also offer to our students.

Last but certainly not least, we provide the space and facilities for your personal and professional development. We facilitate this by offering a wide range of training programs and supporting various well-established initiatives such as 'acknowledge and appreciate'.

Curious?

Are you interested in this exciting position but still have questions? Feel free to contact Cyriel Mentink, Director Campus Development Venlo at



for more information.

Applying?

Or are you already convinced and ready to become our new Full Professor Digitally Controlled Environmental Agriculture? Apply now for this position. The vacancy will be open until we have found the right candidate.

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

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