PhD position in Understanding and Decreasing N2O emissions in Deammonification

Do you want to shape the future of sustainable wastewater treatment? Do you enjoy working together with stakeholders from the water sector on fundamental research questions? Do you want to better understand nitrous oxide emissions from deammonification technologies to improve their sustainability?

Your job

Do you want to shape the future of sustainable wastewater treatment? Do you enjoy working together with stakeholders from the water sector on fundamental research questions? Do you want to better understand nitrous oxide emissions from deammonification technologies to improve their sustainability?

Environmental Technology at Wageningen University & Research is looking for a PhD candidate for the research project UNITED. Within UNITED (Understanding and Narrowing Impacts of Targeted N2O Emissions in Deammonification), several stakeholders from the water sector (including technology providers and end users like water authorities and companies) have joined forces with Environmental Technology at Wageningen University & Research to study the mechanisms behind nitrous oxide emissions from deammonification reactors.

Nitrous oxide emissions have a large impact on the CO2 footprint of wastewater treatment plants and they prevent the Dutch water authorities to become climate neutral by 2035. The aim of the research project UNITED is to use the increased understanding of nitrous oxide production to come up with mitigation measures. You will study the N2O production data of several full scale deammonification reactors. You will experimentally study the effect of electron donor and acceptor availability to identify strategies for reduction N2O production. Specifically, your duties and responsibilities include

• Conduct bioreactor experiments to obtain fundamental insights in the contribution of different N2O production pathways in deammonification reactors under relevant conditions.
• Analyse N2O production data of several full scale deammonification reactors located at wastewater treatment plants in the Netherlands, as well as (the variation in) composition of the rejection water typically treated in these reactors.
• Develop and test mitigation measures in a full scale deammonification reactor.
• Pro-actively communicate your research findings with partners within and outside of the UNITED consortium.
• Publish your research in peer-reviewed journals and present your research at (inter)national conferences.

You will work here

The research is embedded within Environmental Technology. You will be co-supervised by Dr. Paula van den Brink and by Prof. Annemiek ter Heijne.

Your qualities

You are a pro-active communicator who enjoys working together with people from different backgrounds and organizations. You are well capable to switch from fundamental discussions with scientific peers to formulating the relevance of your research within the broader scope of water treatment. You have experience with laboratory and bioreactor experiments, and with data analysis.

You also possess:

• A successfully completed MSc degree in environmental sciences, water technology, biotechnology, chemical engineering, biobased sciences or a closely related field.
• The availability to start your PhD on December 1, 2026.
• Hands-on experience with experimental methods (in water technology) for biological nitrogen removal and characterization.
• Proven experience with data analysis.
• The ability to bridge fundamental knowledge with applied process engineering concepts.

For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognised Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here. A good command of the Dutch language is considered an asset.

We offer

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• 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 year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team.
The gross salary for the first year is € 3,059.- per month rising to € 3,881.- in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well.

We encourage development and internal mobility within our organisation. Our recruitment and selection policy sets out the conditions that apply specifically to you as a (former) employee. If you have any questions, we are happy to help.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment.

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.

Important information

For more information about the position, please contact dr. Paula van den Brink, assistant professor via email: paula.vandenbrink@wur.nl.

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Evelien Janssen, Corporate Recruiter, via email: evelien.janssen@wur.nl.

Ready 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. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.

To apply, please send the following documents (max. 3 pages in total ):

• Complete and up-to-date curriculum vitae (max. 2 pages);
• Motivation letter (max. 1 page).

The maximum length of the documents must not exceed 3 pages. If it exceeds, applications will not be considered. Additional files such as grades and transcripts are not required during this stage and will not be considered.

You can apply up to and including 5 October 2026. The first interviews are scheduled for 15 October 2026.

Additional information form
For this position, you must fill in a mandatory form which will allow us to have a comprehensive view of your qualifications and better assess your fit for it. You can access the form using the link below:

PhD position in Understanding and Decreasing N2O emissions in Deammonification - Form

Your prompt response will ensure that your application continues to move forward in the evaluation process. We assure you that the information provided will be kept confidential and used solely for this application process.

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.