The Human Genetics department of the LUMC and the Institute Biology of the Leiden University are looking for a PhD candidate to study genome engineering in plants. As PhD candidate you will be a part of the research program , led by Profs M. Tijsterman and P. Hooykaas. The overarching aim of this program is to understand and exploit DNA repair and maintenance mechanisms, i.e. to work towards more efficient and safer genome editing and transgenesis in crop species. The plant Arabidopsis Thaliana will be used as a model system, but the research team also uses other genetic systems such as C. elegans, mouse and human cells. State-of-the-art molecular biology techniques (such as CRISPR/Cas9) and genomic approaches (NGS) are used in this genetically-oriented research program. You will work in a highly motivated and multidisciplinary team of researchers studying various aspects of genome stability and genome engineering. The research is in collaboration with a multinational world-leading (Agro-biotech) company.

You hold a master’s degree or equivalent in Biology or a similar field. A flexible work approach and excellent written and oral communication skills (in English) are essential, as well as the ability to work effectively within an international team. Above all, you are enthusiastic, ambitious and results driven.

Fixed-term contract: four years.

You will be employed on the basis of 36 hours per week. Appointment is for a maximum of four years, to be completed with a doctoral thesis. Your salary will start with € 2,279 gross per month in the first year, amounting to a maximum of  € 2,919  gross per month in the fourth year based on a fulltime position (scale for PhD students in the Collective Labour Agreement for University Hospitals).

The terms of employment offered by the LUMC are excellent. For example, you will receive 8% holiday pay, a year-end bonus, and a pension arrangement with the National Civil Pension Fund. Also, as an employee of one of the University Hospitals in the Netherlands, you can benefit from our collective health insurance policy.

Moreover, the LUMC offers excellent facilities in terms of education, child-care centers, and career advice. In addition, you may enjoy various leave arrangements and other extras. You can read more about these facilities elsewhere on this site.

LUMC

At the Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC), we are continually seeking to improve the quality of healthcare. The LUMC aims for excellence in patient care, research, teaching, training and continuing education.

http://www.lumc.nl/

Human Genetics

The Department of Human Genetics is a broadly oriented research department with focus on the (epi)genomic contribution to inherited and acquired diseases. The Department consists of twenty self-contained research groups that perform research in four different themes.

The Institute of Biology Leiden (IBL) is an internationally oriented institute for research and education in biology and is part of the Faculty of Science at Leiden University. At the IBL, research is aimed towards understanding and exploiting the roles of DNA repair mechanisms in current and future genome engineering strategies, with a special focus on plant biotechnology and crop development. Your workstation will be at the IBL.