Are you looking for a challenging job at the crossroad of plant physiology and molecular biology? At Horticulture & Product Physiology, we are looking for a dedicated and organized research and education assistant to strengthen our laboratory team. Molecular and biochemical analyses are becoming increasingly important for our research.
With your knowledge you strengthen our group to expand the molecular expertise on cloning, transcript or genome analysis, microscopy, production of transgenic plants, and biochemical analyses of metabolites.
You will collaborate with, support, and guide researchers, postdocs, Ph.D. students, and BSc/MSc students in our international team. As a key member of our laboratory team, you will:
- Execute and assist in molecular biology experiments, including DNA and RNA extraction, (q)PCR, and genotyping
- Execute and assist in plant tissue culture, transformation (overexpression, RNAi or CRISPR), and maintenance of transgenic plant materials
- Give input to experimental setups to MSc and PhD students
- Participate in education activities including assisting in practicals and research projects for students
- Prepare and maintain accurate records of laboratory experiments and data
- Maintain laboratory equipment and ensure compliance with safety regulations
Your qualities You are a pro-active, accurate and organized team player, and you enjoy working in a fast-paced environment. Furthermore, we ask:
- BSc degree from a university of applied sciences specializing in plant sciences, Molecular Plant Physiology, Biotechnology, or a related topic;
- proven experience and problem-solving skills for methods in molecular biology and plant physiology;
- experience or interest in one of the following fields is a plus: HPLC, (confocal) microscopy, laboratory data management, or lab management;
- affinity for organizing day-to-day operations in the laboratory, such as ordering, administration, maintenance, and troubleshooting;
- good proficiency in English, both oral and written. For more information about this proficiency level, please visit our special language page.
We offer you Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:
- sabbatical leave, 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 of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 3.024,- and € 4.317,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 9). Additionally, a contract for 0.7 FTE can be discussed.
Initially, we offer you a one-year contract, which will then be extended to an open-ended contract if there is mutual enthusiasm. Of course, we would be happy to discuss this with you if you have any questions. 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 18th 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.
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. For instance under the “30% rule”, certain categories of international staff can receive tax exemption on approximately 30% of their gross salary.
Do you want more information? For more information about this position, please contact Katharina Hanika (operations manager) e-mail: katharina.hanika@wur.nl For more information about the procedure, please contact Dax Teunissen, recruiter, e-mail: vacaturemeldingen.psg@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 September 17, 2023. We hope to schedule the first job interviews on September 27, 2023 (round 1) and October 6, 2023 (round 2).
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.
Wageningen University & Research 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, 7,200 employees (6,400 fte) and 13,200 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.
You will work here The chair group Horticulture and Product Physiology conducts high-impact research and educates students by providing the scientific basis required to answer questions that are of utmost importance for sustainable crop production and product quality in horticulture.
The research focus is on how physiological processes in crops, plants and plant organs interact with the abiotic environment and how this affects crop production and product quality. Questions arising from horticultural practice are translated into fundamental research topics, aiming to explain mechanisms. Research and education contribute to sustainably feeding the World with healthy and high-quality products.
In our work, we closely collaborate with other universities and industry partners. The chair group is an international team consisting of 20 permanent staff members, about 40PhD candidates and postdocs and a number of guest researchers. Each year about 45 MSc students conduct their thesis study (a 6-month research) at our group.
We organize and participate in a variety of courses for BSc and MSc students to transfer knowledge on horticulture (pre- and post-harvest), environmental physiology and product quality..