We invite applications from highly motivated candidates with relevant research experience and a passion for studying insect development.
Most molecular information about insect embryogenesis has come from studies of model-organisms like Drosophila melanogaster. However, understanding the extent of gene expression variation during embryogenesis from diverse insect lineages could elucidate broad developmental constraints and novelty during insect evolution. Towards this end, the PhD student will combine in vivo documentation of embryogenesis of several phylogenetically diverse insect species and transcriptional analysis from next-generation sequencing to identify temporal gene expression dynamics in a comparative manner.

The successful candidate will have an MSc degree in Biology. Students with an interest in insect embryogenesis and development, transcriptomics, gene expression analyses, evolutionary biology, and bioinformatics are encouraged to apply.
We are looking for a highly motivated insect biologist who can work in a collaborative and multidisciplinary team. The candidate should know or be willing to learn protocols for setting up insect cultures, next-gen sequencing methods and analyses, and computer programming languages. The candidate will be proficient in the English language. Within the Biosystematics group, PhD students have the opportunity to assist in teaching of undergraduates and / or two courses Biodiversity of the Netherlands and Webs of Terrestrial Diversity.

Applications should include:

• a cover letter including a statement about your motivation to apply and your requirements for the position;
• curriculum vitae;
• copies of your University degree.

We offer a full-time position (38 hours), initially for 1 year after which a go/no go decision will be taken on extension with another three years.

Gross salary per month €2222 in the first year rising to €2840 per month in the fourth year, for a fulltime appointment. The candidate will be based at the Biosystematics group.

Wageningen University & Research

The PhD project will be imbedded within The Graduate School Experimental Plant Sciences (EPS) under the supervision of Dr. Sabrina Simon in the Biosystematics Group, Wageningen University&Research. The inter-university Graduate School 'Experimental Plant Sciences' (EPS) is a collaborative research and teaching institution of Wageningen University (WU), Radboud University (RU), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU), Leiden University (LU), University of Amsterdam (UvA), Utrecht University (UU) and University of Groningen (RUG). The mission of EPS is to organize the training of PhD students and postdocs to become self-reliant researchers.

The Biosystematics Group is part of the Plant Science Group and works closely together with other groups within Wageningen University.
The group research themes are:
(1) origin and maintenance of plant and insect biodiversity,
(2) speciation, domestication and plant-animal interactions,
(3) applying phylogenetic patterns to test hypotheses on underlying evolutionary processes.

Wageningen University and Research : Delivering a substantial contribution to the quality of life. That is our focus - each and every day. Within our domain, healthy food and living environment, we search for answers to issues affecting society - such as sustainable food production, climate change and alternative source of energy. Of course, we do not do this alone. Every day, 6,500 people work on 'the quality of life', turning ideas into reality, on a global scale. Would you like to be one of these people? We give you the space you need to fulfil your potetential and to floow your ambition.

For further information about working at Wageningen UR, take a look at www.jobsat.wur.nl.