Wageningen University Scholarship 2025-26 in Netherlands (Fully Funded)

Wageningen University & Research (WUR) in the Netherlands is offering a fully funded PhD opportunity within the Environmental Economics and Natural Resources (ENR) Group. This research-based role focuses on evaluating how offshore wind farms impact the fisheries sector in the Dutch North Sea. You’ll join the NO-REGRETS project, collaborate with multiple research institutes, and engage in data analysis, fieldwork, teaching, and tool development to inform marine policy. You must apply online via WUR’s vacancy portal by 15 September 2025.

Eligibility

• Completed MSc in economics, environmental science, or related field
• Strong quantitative skills (econometrics, spatial analysis, data science)
• Interest in marine sustainability and environmental economics
• Excellent English; Dutch proficiency or willingness to learn is a plus
• Eagerness to teach, supervise students, and work collaboratively 

Program Dates/Location

• Application Deadline: 15 September 2025
• Start Date: Likely late 2025 (for academic year 2025/2026)
• Duration: 4 years
• Location: Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands

Program Benefits

• Monthly salary starting at €2,901, increasing to €3,707 (year 4)
• Benefits: partially paid parental leave, flexible working hours, campus sports, year-end bonus (8.3%), pension scheme
• Support with relocation, visa, housing, and possibly partner job aid and tax exemptions for internationals
• Opportunity to contribute to impactful research, publications, and international conferences
• 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.

Research Areas

• Economics of Offshore Wind Farms
  • Economic impacts of OWFs on Dutch North Sea fisheries
  • Distributional effects on different fleets
  • Development of marine policy decision-support tools
  • Fieldwork & stakeholder surveys
• Ecological & Environmental Research (NO-REGRETS Project)
  • Hydrodynamics & sediment dynamics
  • Primary producers, plankton, fish life stages, benthic fauna
  • Marine mammals & seabirds biodiversity changes
  • Habitat shifts due to climate change
  • Economic trade-offs in natural capital & ecosystem services
  • Oceanographic cruises, remote sensing, biophysical modeling
• Fish Ecology
  • OWF impacts on small pelagic fish (herring, sprat, anchovy)
  • Effects of hard substrates on benthic communities & fish productivity
  • Attraction vs. production hypotheses
  • Acoustic surveys, current profiling, stomach content analysis

Required Documents 

• Curriculum Vitae (CV), updated and detailed
• Motivation letter, explaining your interest, fit, and relevant experience
• Contact details of two referees, for recommendation purposes

Application Process

• Provide all documents and apply online via WUR’s official portal (click vacancy page “apply” button)

For more detailed information, please visit the Wageningen University & Research official site.