Do you have a passion for plant diseases and do you want to use it for one of the most innovative and world-leading sectors of agriculture: greenhouse horticulture? Or are you passionate about bacterial plant pathogens and motivated to establish a multidisciplinary bacterial research program at one of the best agricultural universities? Check our opportunities!
1 – PhD candidate insect resistance in Cucurbita:
Are you an enthusiastic and highly motivated PhD candidate that wants to contribute to making agriculture production more sustainable? And are you interested in the interaction between plants and insects, and would you like to combine lab and greenhouse work? Then we are looking for you!
Within the insect resistance team of Wageningen UR Plant Breeding we are looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate who is passionate about making our agricultural production more sustainable. Viruses cause considerable economic losses in Cucurbits, including pumpkin and squash (courgette). In these crops, the major viral diseases are transmitted by the cotton-melon-aphid Aphis gossypii and the silverleaf whitefly Bemisia tabaci. At the moment, spread of viruses is controlled by targeting the insects with pesticides. An alternative is using host plant resistance against the insects that transmit viruses. This would not only result in reduced transmission of several viruses, including newly emerging ones, it also lowers feeding-related damage of insects. Breeding of insect resistant varieties is therefore a durable strategy for both insect and virus control in Cucurbita.
In this project, you will try to find plant resistance to aphids and whiteflies in the Cucurbita germplasm, including the widely cultivated C. pepo, C. moschata and C. maxima, and (crossable) wild relatives. The most promising resistant sources will be genetically characterized using bi-parental mapping populations. The mechanism of resistance will be characterized using a range of approaches including a detailed characterization of insect biology and behaviour on, and transcriptomics and metabolomics of, resistant and susceptible plants.
As PhD candidate you will be using a variety of state of the art tools. Your activities will include the (molecular) genetic characterization of the resistance, genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and detailed analysis of life history components of aphids. This project is carried out in close collaboration with several breeding companies. The research is embedded within the chair Plant Breeding, and member of the Non-host and Insects Resistance group, which is led by Olga Visser. You will be co-supervised by Lotte Caarls and Roeland Voorrips.
We ask
- An MSc degree in plant sciences, plant breeding, or a related field.
- a strong background in molecular plant-insect interactions.
- You have experience with and enjoy working with insects and plants
- You are skilled in insect behavior assays and molecular or cellular biology techniques
- You are an enthusiastic, problem solving person.
- Excellent writing and oral communication in English. For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level.
We offer
Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:
- study leave and partially paid parental leave;
- working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
- the option to accrue additional compensation / holiday hours by working more, up to 40 hours per week;
- 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 December bonus of 8.3%;
- excellent pension scheme.
In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team.
The gross salary for the first year is € 2.541,- per month rising to € 3.247,- in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well.
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 16th consecutive time.
Coming from abroad
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. Applicants from abroad moving to the Netherlands may qualify for a special tax relief, known as the 30% ruling. Our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.
Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research’s International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees and students coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, we can assist you with any additional advice and information about helping your partner to find a job, housing, schooling, and other issues.
More information
For more information about this position, please contact Lotte Caarls, researcher insect resistance, +31 317 480 398 or by e-mail lotte.caarls@wur.nl
For more information about the procedure, please contact vacaturemeldingen.psg@wur.nl
Do you want to apply?
You can apply directly by uploading your CV and motivation letter, 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 8 July 2022. We hope to schedule the first job interviews on 15 July 2022. The preferred starting date for this position is September 1st 2022.
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.
We are
The mission of Wageningen University and 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, 7.200 employees and 13.200 students, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. An integrated approach to problems and the cooperation between various disciplines are at the heart of Wageningen’s unique approach. WUR has been named the best university of the Netherlands by students for the 17th time in a row.
Apply now
2 – Tenure Track Bacterial Plant Pathogens:
Are you passionate about bacterial plant pathogens? Are you motivated to establish a multidisciplinary bacterial research program? Are you keen to further develop yourself and excel in teaching? Do you have a relevant PhD? Then this position could be a perfect fit for you!
Teaching is our core business at the Laboratory of Phytopathology. We educate bachelor, master and PhD students, and we do this collectively.
Information about the subject:
Our current research portfolio mainly revolves around fungi and oomycetes. We plan to extend this portfolio with a research program focused on bacteria. As plant pathogens, bacteria can be devastating, and they are extremely difficult to control. Understanding bacterial lifestyles and their interactions with other microbial species to create niches in soil and host plants are rapidly developing fields of study.
In addition to exploring single bacterium-host interactions, we are also very interested in modulating the microbial complexity to support plant health. This new member of the team at the Laboratory of Phytopathology is a scientist with expertise in bacterial plant pathogens, and has a strong motivation to establish a multidisciplinary bacterial research program.
The candidate will be placed in a Tenure Track trajectory and should fulfill the requirements established by Wageningen University for this position concerning scientific publications, project acquisition, and educational activities.
In this challenging career trajectory:
- You acquire, lead and
implement, together with the chair holder and other staff members, innovative and creative (inter-)national research projects for our group; - You collaborate with your colleagues and supervise PhD students, BSc and MSc thesis students, and you develop and teach courses;
- You contribute to the further development of the Laboratory of Phytopathology.
The WUR Tenure Track is a career path for scientists who pursue to excel in education and research. We seek to attract scientific talent and stimulate and support their development.
We ask
- a PhD in phytopathology, (molecular) plant-microbe interactions, and strong expertise in bacterial genetics, (molecular) ecology, and evolution
- a good record of scientific publications in peer-reviewed international journals;
- relevant teaching experience;
- excellent English language proficiency (a minimum of CEFR C2 level). For more information about this proficiency level, please visit our special language page.
We offer
Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:
- a sabbatical leave, study leave, and paid parental leave;
- working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-private life balance;
- the option to accrue additional flexible hours by working more, up to 40 hours per week;
- 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 December bonus of 8.3%;
- an excellent pension scheme.
In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will be offered a fixed-term, 7-year contract which, upon positive evaluation based on the criteria elaborated in the University’s Tenure Track policy, can lead to a permanent employment contract as a professor. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross starting salary of between € 3.746,- and € 5.127,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 11).
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 The Netherlands, and at a university that has been chosen as the “Best University” in the Netherlands for the 17th consecutive time.
Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research center 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 new international employees. Applicants from abroad moving to the Netherlands may qualify for special tax relief, known as the 30% ruling. Our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.
Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research’s International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees and students coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, we can assist you with additional advice and information about helping your partner find a job, housing, schooling, and other issues.
More information
For more information about this position, please contact Prof. Gert Kema, by phone at +31(0) 317.480632 or by email at gert.kema@wur.nl
For more information about the procedure, please contact Ine van’t Land, recruiter, by phone at +31317483096 or email at ine.vantland@wur.nl
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 July – August, 2022. We hope to schedule the first job interviews in week 36.
3 – Researcher Plant Resilience:
Do you have a passion for plant diseases and do you want to use it for one of the most innovative and world-leading sectors of agriculture: greenhouse horticulture. Do you enjoy working on new solutions for growers and companies?
As a phytopathology researcher:
- You will work closely together in a group of thirteen fellow researchers in the field of phytopathology within the plant health, soil and water team, which consists of approximately 38 researchers.
- You contribute to the development of sustainable systems for the prevention and (biological) control of plant diseases;
- You will carry out tests with plant diseases in the lab and greenhouse, both at the test farm in Bleiswijk and in practice;
- You take part in design, organization and execution of experiments;
- You take part in processing, interpretating and reporting of the research data, and you contribute to reports, (web) articles and newsletters.
We ask
Are you the enthusiastic, ambitious and communicative colleague who will join our team? Do you recognize yourself in the following? You are a researcher with a HBO or bachelor’s degree in phytopathology, applied biology or biological laboratory research; You have demonstrable experience in setting up, coordinating and executing lab and greenhouse tests for phytopathology research;
- You have experience with greenhouse horticulture and bioassays. Knowledge in colorimetric and spectrophotometric analyses is an advantage;
- You have excellent oral and written command of both Dutch and English (level B2/C1);
- You have good report skills written and orally;
- You are environmentally aware, creative, diligent; good at planning and organizing and you possess good analytical insight and stress-tolerance;
- You have a driver’s license B.
We offer
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 option to accrue additional compensation hours by working more, up to 40 hours per week;
- 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 December bonus of 4%;
- 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 €2.376,- and €3.619,- for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale 7-8). Additionally, a contract for 0.8 FTE can be discussed.
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 multi-faceted 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 17th consecutive time.
Coming from abroad
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. Applicants from abroad moving to the Netherlands may qualify for a special tax relief, known as the 30% ruling. Our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.
Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research’s International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees and students coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, we can assist you with any additional advice and information about helping your partner to find a job, housing, schooling, and other issues.
More information
Do you want more information?
For more information about this position, please contact Caroline van der Salm, Teamleader, phone +31 (0)317-484355 or by e-mail; caroline.vandersalm@wur.nl or with Kirsten Leiss, researcher Plant Resilience by phone +31(0) 317481747 ofre-mail: kirtsen.leiss@wur.nl.
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 31 July 2022. We hope to schedule the first job interviews soon after this closing date.