In a new project "Usutu virus in the Netherlands: Zoonotic potential and fitness trade-offs in birds and mosquitoes", funded by the graduate school Production Ecology & Resource Conservation (PE&RC), the WU-Laboratory of Virology is looking for a highly motivated Postdoc candidate with relevant experience. The research is a collaboration between WU-Virology, WU-Entomology, Erasmus MC, and Wageningen Bioveterinary Research. The aim of the project is to gain insight into the zoonotic potential of contemporary Usutu virus strains and to study the fitness trade-offs caused by pathogenicity mutations in the viral genome, in mosquitoes and birds. The Postdoc will run his/her own research project and will assist in the supervision of BSc/MSc students and participate in Virology courses. The Postdoc will be actively involved in PhD co-supervision and will have the opportunity to write a personal grant (NWO Veni/Vidi, ERC or similar) in the 2nd year.

A PhD degree in Virology is a prerequisite. The candidate has experience with experimental research under BSL3 conditions on (arbo)viruses and/or mosquitoes. Expertise in working with flying insects and bioinformatics is an asset. The candidate should be able to work independently as well as in a smaller team, be creative and in possession of good communication skills (English writing and speaking).

We offer a full-time position (38 hours) for one year, with a possible extension for another 1,5 years (2,5 years in total), starting in Q1 of 2018.

Gross salary per month is based on scale 10 CAO NU, for a fulltime appointment, with a minimum
€ 2.588,= and a maximum of € 4.084,=, depending on experience. The Postdoc will be based at the Laboratory of Virology in Wageningen, and the project is embedded within the Graduate School "Production Ecology & Resource Conservation" (PE&RC, www.pe-rc.nl).

Wageningen University & Research

The Laboratory of Virology is part of the Plant Sciences Group of Wageningen University and is located on Wageningen Campus. Currently, about 25 researchers, including technicians, PhD students and Postdocs contribute to a lively, research-driven work environment. Research at the Laboratory of Virology focuses on plant-, insect- and arboviruses. The arbovirus group uses a state-of-the-art BSL3 facility to study the replication, transmission and evasion of (innate) immunity of human/animal viruses (Zika, West Nile, Usutu, chikungunya, Schmallenberg) that are transmitted by blood-feeding arthropods (mosquitoes, ticks and biting midges). We also work on the design of next-generation vaccines based on virus-like particles and RNA-based replicons.