Machine Learning/AI Researcher and Project Leader

Are you an experienced machine learning and data science professional who wants to make a real-world impact? Do you have a specialisation in machine learning and affinity with project management? Do you want to apply advanced AI solutions to contribute to a more sustainable and better world? We, Wageningen Food & Biobased Research (WFBR), are looking for a researcher data & modelling. Are you the one who will strengthen our team?

What will you do? As a machine learning researcher, you will initiate and work on innovative data-driven solutions in the bioeconomy and food domains. One example is improving fermentation screening for plant-based ingredients, a process that is traditionally slow because each substrate-strain combination behaves differently. By applying machine learning to historical experimental data, we can predict high-potential combinations that support the creation of innovative and sustainable food products. Another example is using large language model (LLM) tools to automatically extract and structure fragmented information from internal and external sources for use in our digital solutions.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• initiation of new projects / ideas for acquisition by shaping new applied research propositions and supplying the insights needed to convey the value of AI solutions to partners & clients;
• leading projects in which you and your team design and develop new AI solutions. Off course translating research questions into robust machine learning implementations, including preprocessing, model training, validation and deployment is part of your role;
• collaborating enthusiastically with domain specialists and software developers to integrate data-driven models with mechanistic or physics-based models and domain expertise;
• showing thought leadership on applying data & AI-solutions in the food & biobased domain: where are the big leaps, how can we actively bring the benefits of data & AI to our customers in this domain?

Your team You will work as an expert within the expertise group Wageningen Food & Biobased Research. Together with the adjoining expertise Computer Vision it comprises about 16 diverse specialists ranging from software development to AI/ML research. At DSI, our mission is to unlock the full potential of data and AI to help transform food and biobased systems into sustainable, resilient and innovative sectors - through science, collaboration and real-world application.

Our projects require close interaction with WFBR domain specialists, with whom you will play a key role in translating state-of-the-art digital techniques into models that meet their scientific and operational needs.

You will work here WFBR operates at the intersection of science, industry and government, delivering applied research and innovation projects funded by both public and private partners. You will be part of a multidisciplinary environment within WFBR, working closely with experts in food technology, microbiology and chemistry. Knowledge sharing is central to how we work: we meet several times a week in Wageningen to exchange ideas, review project progress, and continuously improve our approaches. You will collaborate with business developers, researchers, software developers and clients. You will contribute to impactful applied research in the domains of food and biobased materials., You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment.

You have solid experience with AI- and machine-learning-based approaches and easily connect with colleagues from other areas of expertise, enjoying the dynamics of multidisciplinary teamwork. You are comfortable explaining complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders/colleagues and can translate digital approaches into practical, usable solutions. You are proactive, innovative and a strong team player who contributes positively to collaboration and project success., * a PhD in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Computer Science or a related field;

• at least 3 years of hands-on experience in AI / machine learning development (excluding PhD);
• proven expertise in machine learning and generative AI methodologies (in the range of: LLMs, RAG systems, agentic AI, feature engineering, model selection and validation, supervised and unsupervised learning, optimization techniques, (deep) neural networks, probabilistic methods and statistics, data visualization, natural language processing);
• experience or strong affinity with incorporating domain knowledge and constraints into data-driven models (Hybrid Modelling). Knowledge & experience in food and biobased domains is a plus;
• proficiency in Python and modern machine-learning development, including version control (Git), testing, and reproducibility; experience with cloud-based solutions (e.g., Azure) is a plus.

In our international working environment there is an increasing amount of communication in English. For this position, a C1 level of proficiency in English is required.

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

• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• 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 of course receive a good salary. We offer, depending on your experience, a competitive gross salary of between €4220,- and €6471,- for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale 11). Additionally, For this role a contract for 30 hours a week can be discussed. As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended - if possible within (company) organizational circumstances - on good performance. Of course, we are happy to have a conversation with you if you have any questions about this.

Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.

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., 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. If you come with a partner, we offer a Dual Career group program organized by our Welcome Center. This program helps your partner to get familiar with the Dutch culture, labour market and assists your partner to find a job.