Researcher in Land Use and Climate (LULUCF) at Wageningen University & Research, Netherlands (2026)
This exciting position offers the opportunity to contribute directly to Dutch and European climate policy, greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting, and the development of innovative methodologies for monitoring carbon removals and land-use change.
About the Position
Climate change mitigation requires accurate monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions, carbon sequestration, and land-use change. Wageningen Environmental Research (WENR) is seeking a motivated researcher to strengthen its work on Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF).
As part of the Sustainable Forest Ecosystems (SFE) team, you will contribute to internationally recognized research supporting:
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Paris Agreement reporting
European Union climate regulations
Dutch National Greenhouse Gas Inventory
Carbon farming methodologies
Climate mitigation policy
Your work will focus on improving scientific methods for estimating carbon stock changes, greenhouse gas emissions, and carbon removals across forests, agricultural lands, wetlands, grasslands, settlements, and other land-use categories.
Key Responsibilities
The selected researcher will contribute to several important national and international activities, including:
National Greenhouse Gas Inventory
Prepare greenhouse gas inventories for the Dutch LULUCF sector.
Support national projections used in the Dutch Climate and Energy Outlook.
Evaluate the impact of climate policies and mitigation measures.
Methodology Development
Improve methodologies for estimating carbon stock changes according to IPCC guidelines.
Develop higher-tier approaches for greenhouse gas reporting.
Advance spatially explicit land-use models and monitoring tools.
Data Management and Quality Assurance
Collect and integrate datasets from multiple sources.
Perform quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC).
Prepare datasets for national and international reporting.
Climate Policy Support
Translate scientific findings into practical policy advice.
Produce technical reports and climate assessment documents.
Support Dutch and European decision-makers with evidence-based recommendations.
Research Collaboration
Collaborate with researchers from Wageningen University & Research and international institutes.
Participate in the Horizon Europe NextGenCarbon project focusing on the contribution of European forests to greenhouse gas balances.
Research Development
Contribute to securing externally funded research projects.
Expand research activities in carbon accounting, land-use monitoring, and climate mitigation.
Research Areas
The position involves research in several interdisciplinary fields, including:
Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF)
Carbon accounting
Climate change mitigation
Forest ecology
Sustainable land management
Carbon sequestration
Greenhouse gas inventories
Spatial modelling
GIS applications
Environmental monitoring
Climate policy
Carbon farming
About the Sustainable Forest Ecosystems (SFE) Team
The successful candidate will join the Sustainable Forest Ecosystems (SFE) team at Wageningen Environmental Research.
The team consists of approximately 30 researchers working on:
Forest conservation
Forest restoration
Sustainable forest management
Biodiversity
Ecosystem services
Climate adaptation
Carbon sequestration
Ecological modelling
Researchers collaborate closely with national governments, European institutions, universities, and international research organizations.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants should possess:
Education
MSc or PhD in:
Forest and Nature Management
Biology
Environmental Sciences
Ecology
Forestry
Related disciplines
Required Knowledge
Applicants should demonstrate knowledge or experience in:
Carbon dynamics in European ecosystems
Greenhouse gas emissions from land use
Carbon sequestration
Forest ecology
Climate mitigation
Land-use monitoring
Desired Skills
Competitive candidates will have experience with:
Greenhouse gas inventories
European LULUCF reporting
EU LULUCF Regulation
Governance Regulation
IPCC reporting methodologies
Spatial modelling
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
R programming
Object-oriented programming (e.g., Java)
Data quality assurance (QA/QC)
Carbon accounting
Candidates with 4–8 years of relevant experience are preferred, although applicants with less experience and an excellent academic record are also encouraged to apply.
Language Requirements
Applicants must have:
English proficiency at C1 level or higher
Knowledge of Dutch is considered an advantage because part of the work supports Dutch climate policy.
Salary and Benefits
Wageningen University & Research offers an attractive employment package that includes:
Salary between €3,399 and €6,228 per month (Scale 10–11)
Flexible working hours
Possibility of a 28-hour contract
Excellent pension scheme
8.3% year-end bonus
Sports facilities on campus
Study leave
Sabbatical opportunities
Partially paid parental leave
Strong support for professional development and internal mobility
International Employee Support
Wageningen University provides extensive relocation assistance for international employees, including:
Visa and immigration support
Family relocation assistance
Welcome Center services
Housing guidance
Dutch banking assistance
School enrollment support
Dual Career Programme for partners
Information on possible tax exemptions for eligible international staff
Application Process
Applications must be submitted through the official Wageningen University recruitment system.
Applications should include all required documents as specified on the vacancy page.
Application Deadline: 17 August 2026
The first interview round is scheduled for 20 August 2026.
Please note that applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position may be filled before the official closing date.
Why Join Wageningen University & Research?
Wageningen University & Research is internationally recognized for its excellence in life sciences, agriculture, forestry, and environmental research.
Highlights include:
One of the world's leading universities in agriculture and environmental sciences
More than 7,600 employees
Over 13,000 students
Researchers from over 100 countries
Strong international collaborations
Green and sustainable campus
Opportunities to contribute to global climate solutions
Position Summary
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Position | Researcher – Land Use and Climate (LULUCF) |
| Institution | Wageningen University & Research |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Research Area | Climate, Forestry, Carbon Accounting, Land Use |
| Salary | €3,399–€6,228/month |
| Contract | One year (extendable) |
| Working Hours | 28–36 hours/week |
| Deadline | 17 August 2026 |
Official Application Link
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is this a postdoctoral position?
No. This is a Researcher position at Wageningen Environmental Research. Applicants with either an MSc or PhD are eligible, depending on their qualifications and experience.
What does LULUCF stand for?
LULUCF stands for Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry, a sector that measures greenhouse gas emissions and carbon removals associated with forests, croplands, grasslands, wetlands, and other land uses.
Who is eligible to apply?
Candidates with an MSc or PhD in Forestry, Ecology, Biology, Environmental Sciences, Forest and Nature Management, or related disciplines are encouraged to apply.
Is prior experience in greenhouse gas inventories required?
Experience with greenhouse gas inventories or land-use monitoring is highly desirable. Familiarity with the EU LULUCF Regulation and IPCC reporting guidelines is considered an advantage.
Which programming skills are required?
Applicants should have strong data analysis skills in R. Experience with GIS and object-oriented programming such as Java is also beneficial.
What is the salary range?
The gross monthly salary ranges from €3,399 to €6,228, depending on qualifications and experience.
Does Wageningen University support international researchers?
Yes. WUR provides comprehensive support, including visa assistance, relocation services, housing guidance, a Dual Career Programme, and Welcome Center services.
What is the application deadline?
Applications must be submitted by 17 August 2026, although the position may be filled earlier as applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
When are interviews expected?
The first interviews are planned for 20 August 2026.
What kind of projects will the selected researcher work on?
The researcher will contribute to national greenhouse gas inventories, carbon accounting methodologies, climate policy support, land-use monitoring, and Horizon Europe projects such as NextGenCarbon, focusing on the role of European forests in climate mitigation.
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