PhD on Modeling soil processes/functions in regenerative agriculture using

the LIFE Monitor

Not sure if you see your future in academia or in the industry? If you are a highly motivated, talented and enthusiastic individual with a strong background in ecology, data analysis, statistical methods and soil sciences, we can offer you both! If you want to be part of a large-scale project helping the Netherlands transition to regenerative agriculture from a unique perspective, this opportunity could be a perfect fit!

About the PHD

📍 Location: The PhD will be co-based at Antonie in Giesbeek and within the Soil Biology Lab in Wageningen.

ReGeNL is a national program to promote and help farmers to transition into regenerative agriculture. Regenerative agriculture is a promising avenue to support healthy, multi-functional and future-proof soils and farming systems. This transition doesn’t come without challenges and risks for the farmer. Together with regenerative Dutch farmers and all the partners, ReGeNL is developing a future-proof agricultural sector in which agriculture goes hand in hand with soil health and nature restoration, and a good revenue model for farmers. Your work will help to investigate the role of nematodes as a suitable indicator of soil health in regenerative agriculture in the Netherlands. This PhD will assess the interaction of soil management associated with regenerative agriculture in 12 landscapes in the Netherlands.

Nematodes are often not used as soil health indicators because of the expertise needed in their classification. In this PhD you will combine traditional morphological methods with exciting new developments for nematode imaging and AI classification methods.

Within the ReGeNL program Antonie is searching for a PhD in collaboration with the Soil Biology Group of Wageningen University. Antonie is a young company who has developed a unique technology called the LIFE Monitor. This technology images soil samples and AI identifies e.g., free living nematodes. You will test the applicability of image analyses for nematode classification and in addition utilise this methodology in combination with traditional morphological assessment to quantify the abundance, diversity and community dynamics of nematode populations in response to management.

The PhD will be part of a larger group of peer PhDs within the ReGeNL program and will be working alongside Antonie's LIFE monitor bio team, engineers and data scientists.

Required qualities

As a PhD you will receive support and mentorship in the design and implementation of your PhD project. You will develop a training and supervision plan with your supervisory team and be part of the ReGeNL training programme on Regenerative Agriculture.

The requirements for applicants is:

• A completed master’s degree in a field related to the topic the PhD project (e.g. biology, ecology, environmental science, agricultural science)
• Strong competency in statistical analyses
• Knowledge and experience in numerical or computational modelling
• Experience in machine learning and using python or similar languages.
• Laboratory experience in soil biology or ecology
• Excellent English writing and presenting skills - both written and spoken (minimum C1 level)
• Affinity with societal challenges in the domains of agriculture and food systems
• Motivation to work in a transdisciplinary project with many project partners and farmers
• Being a team player
• Dutch proficiency (or willingness to learn)

The PhD will be employed by Antonie under supervision of Dr. P.R. den Hartog and supervised by Dr. C. Vazquez Martin, Dr. P. Di Lonardo and Prof. R. Creamer of University of Wageningen from the Soil Biology group.

Where you will work:

At Antonie, we recognize that declining soil health and fertility pose critical threats to global agriculture and climate resilience, leading to reduced crop yields, water-related disasters, and diminished carbon storage. Guided by our vision that soil life—spanning micro-organisms to micro-fauna—is the ultimate indicator of soil health, our mission is to actively improve, determine, and monitor soil life to provide sustainable, science-backed advice. We are a deeply passionate, dream-driven team that sets the bar high, utilizing the latest research and validated methods to deliver state-of-the-art solutions. True connection, trust, and open communication are at the heart of how we collaborate with our customers and each other to flourish. By combining this collaborative spirit with rigorous scientific innovation, we strive to not only transform global soil health and productivity but also to foster an exceptional workplace where our people are proud to thrive, grow, and succeed together.

The Soil Biology group at Wageningen University and Research, integrates knowledge on soil biota across a range of scales from the microbe to the globe. Our mission is “to explore the potential of life to increase the quality of soil”. Our aim is to advance and share knowledge on how soil life can improve the quality and functioning of soils in agroecosystems around the world, and how land management may impact soil life. We are an international team of over 60 persons, with currently half being PhDs. We have excellent laboratory facilities and support for the development and implementation of soil biological methods.