Internship Crop Scientist
Wageningen,
Netherlands
Join Farmvent's R&D team to pioneer the future of urban agriculture. As our Plant Sciences intern, you'll research on microgreens, leafy greens, and hydroponic substrates optimized for pre-sown cultivation in automated in-store vertical farms.
This is a hands-on opportunity to bridge cutting-edge plant science with real-world commercial applications in sustainable food production.
This position is both creative and rigorous by nature you need to think
outside the box. We expect the candidate to be proactive and have a "get it done"
spirit. To be successful, you will have solid solving problem skills.
Responsibilities
- Design and execute experiments with hydroponic substrates, microgreens, and herbs
- Optimize pre-sown cultivation protocols for in-store vertical farming systems
- Analyze growth data and translate findings into actionable insights
- Support farm operations and maintenance at client locations
- Work closely with our engineering and business team
Must Have
- Currently enrolled MSc student in Plant Sciences (or related field) at a Dutch institution
- Available for 4-5 months
- Startup mindset: scrappy, proactive, results-driven
- Passion for sustainable food systems and vertical farming
- Highly creative and autonomous
- You must remain enrolled at a Dutch higher education institution throughout the entire internship period
Nice to have
- Adapt quickly in a fast-paced startup environment
- Additional languages
- Work independently with remote communication tools
- Experience with hydroponic cultivation or substrate research
What We Offer
- 🌍 Real-world impact: Your R&D work directly shapes commercial vertical farming systems used by actual customers
- 💶 Competitive compensation: Monthly internship allowance plus travel reimbursement
- 🧠 Lead your own research: Full ownership of substrate and microgreens experiments from design to implementation
- 🚀 Startup immersion: Learn how innovations move from lab to market in a fast-paced agtech environment
- 🎓 WUR ecosystem access: Work in StartHub Wageningen with direct connections to founders, investors, and the university network
- 👥 Cross-functional learning: Collaborate with engineers, business teams, and clients—not just lab work
- 📈 Career launchpad: High-performing interns often transition to full-time roles post-graduation
- 🔬 Scientific mentorship: Guidance from experienced plant scientists with opportunities to contribute to publications
- 💪 Entrepreneurial skills: Gain business acumen, pitching experience, and startup methodology alongside technical expertise
- 🌱 Purpose-driven mission: Contribute to sustainable food systems while building a portfolio of tangible achievements
What's great in the job?
- Real ownership – You lead R&D project, not just assist. Your experiments determine what goes to market.
- Fast impact – See your work in actual clients within months. Startup speed vs. corporate bureaucracy.
- Full-cycle learning – Experience research → prototype → customer deployment. Gain both science and business skills.
- Founder access – Work directly with leadership in a small team where your voice actually matters.
- Perfect timing – Vertical farming is exploding. Build expertise in a booming field at ground level.
- WUR ecosystem – Located in StartHub on campus. Network with entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators.
- Scientific freedom – Design experiments, test hypotheses, learn from failures. Balance structure with creativity.
- Genuine mission – Tackle food security and sustainability with tangible solutions, not just paperwork.
- Human scale – Small passionate team, weekly celebrations, culture where you're valued not expendable.
- Inclusive culture: Collaborative team that values diverse perspectives
Our Product
Discover our products.
📍 Location: Plus Ultra II – Starthub Wageningen, Wageningen Campus
🗓 Duration: 4-5 months
💶 Internship compensation
🌎 About Farmvent
Farmvent is revolutionizing urban food production by bringing vertical farms directly into retail spaces and restaurants. We combine automation, IoT, and plant science to enable hyperlocal, sustainable food production at scale.
Our mission: Make fresh, locally-grown produce accessible everywhere while minimizing environmental impact.
We're proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive team.
