As a junior researcher you will contribute to research on trends and risks of (tropical) infectious diseases on Aruba. We are looking for someone with expertise and knowledge in a wide range of (tropical) infectious diseases, including zoonotic and vector-borne diseases. The junior researcher should also have expertise with biostatistics (preferably R) and qualitative research techniques, and should have a skillset in data visualization. Experience in working with the Caribbean islands is a preference. As a junior researcher, you are happy to perform interviews in field communities of Aruba. You will be able to work independently in the field and supervise a group of BSc and MSc students.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• Visualisation of the data in reader-friendly & publishable figures.
• Translate questionnaires in English, Spanish or Papiemento.
• Perform a desk review of literature on risk factors for a set of infectious diseases on the Caribbean islands.
• Perform and supervise the implementation of surveys and focus groups among community members of Aruba.
• Observational research in communities of Aruba.
• Perform analysis of the surveys and focus groups, using quantitative analytics and qualitative transcription.
• Prepare a scientific manuscript for submission to a Journal for publication.

This project is for a duration of two to three months, starting from October 1st 2024, or upon negotiation.

You will work independently in Aruba for the total duration of the project, but in close collaboration with the University of Aruba, and supervised by the Wageningen University & Research. 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;
• The position will offer a 0.85 FTE.
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 3.226 and € 3.877 for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 10.4). We offer you a two-month contract.

Wageningen University & Research encourages internal advancement opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a unique position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the “Best University” in the Netherlands for the 19th consecutive time. 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. You are proactive and take initiative in organizing.

You also possess:

• A MSc. degree in epidemiology, infectious diseases, or another relevant public health field.
• Experience in performing both quantitative and qualitative research analysis techniques (e.g. R, Atlas.ti).
• Research experience on the Dutch Caribbean islands is an asset.
• Fluent in Dutch and English, including strong written skills. Fluency in Spanish and Papiemento is a strong asset.

Health and Society
The group is part of the Department of Social Sciences at Wageningen University & Research. Our research focuses on the sociological study of public health, health promotion and health protection, in resource poor and research rich contexts, with emphasis on (1) the social, natural and built environment, and (2) the role of actors and social institutions in advancing health and wellbeing. More information about Health and Society can be found at hso. For more information about this position, please contact Dr. ir. Natalie Vinkeles Melchers, Assistant Professor Health and Society, email: natalie.vinkelesmelchers@wur.nl.

For more information about the procedure, please contact Jeanine van 't Veer-Drost, corporate recruiter SSG, recruitment.ssg@wur.nl, tel. 0317 481 707

Do you want 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.

This vacancy will be listed up to and including 3 September 2024. We hope to schedule the first job interviews on 5th of September between 10.30 and 16.00 hrs CEST.

Procedure
As part of our selection process, an assessment may be incorporated within the procedure

Equal opportunities
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) employs a large number of people with very different backgrounds and qualities, who inspire and motivate each other. We want every talent to feel at home in our organisation and be offered the same career opportunities. We therefore especially welcome applications from people who are underrepresented at WUR. A good example of how WUR deals with inclusiveness can be read on the page working at WUR with a functional impairment.