We are looking for a PhD candidate for the project "Light harvesting and electron transport in plants with extraordinary photosynthesis". You will be part of a multidisciplinary project that will combine biophysics, physiology, biochemistry, modelling and genetics to understand very high photosynthetic rates in C3 plants. This particular programme will investigate how light-harvesting and electron and proton transport is organised, functions and is regulated in C3 plants with exceptional photosynthetic properties. The project will be supervised by Prof Herbert van Amerongen and Dr Jeremy Harbinson.
Background information: A typical C3 crop plant, like wheat or tomato, will have a maximum photosynthetic rate of about 30 µmol m-2 s-1. A small number of exceptional C3 plants achieve much higher assimilation rates than this - at irradiances of 2 000 µmol m-2 s-1 the light response curves of leaves of these plants will not have saturated and they have CO2 fixation rates of over 50 µmol m-2 s-1: C3 leaves with C4 rates of photosynthesis! We have a programme to understand how these high rates of photosynthesis are achieved, both in terms of function and genetics. Ultimately, we want to explain what makes these leaves so special in terms of their biophysical, physiological and biochemical properties. Hirschfeldia incana is a member of the Brassicaceae with the high rates of photosynthesis that interest us. The Brassicaceae includes Arabidopsis and several crop plants such as Brassica rapa and B. oleracea. It is thus a physiologically and genetically well understood genus. We will exploit this knowledge in our project. As a physiological reference - a plant with crop plant rates of photosynthesis, we will use Brassica nigra. We will therefore compare leaves with crop plant rates of photosynthesis with the Usain Bolt of the photosynthesis world. To do this we will use a range of advanced biophysical and physiological tools to measure photosynthesis and its operation and regulation in folio and in vitro; If this kind of research would interest you and you enjoy understanding complicated systems then this could be the project for you.

• an MSc or 1st or 2nd class BSc with Honours in biophysics, plant physiology, biochemistry, or related fields with an interest in photosynthesis research;
• a strong interest in experimental research;
• research experience is required (eg thesis research or similar);
• a collaborative worker with good communication skills;
• a good command of the English language is critical.

We offer you a temporary position for a period of 1.5 years with extension of 2.5 years after successful evaluation. Gross salary per month € 2325,-. in the first year rising up to € 2972,- per month in the fourth year.

In addition, we offer

• 8% holiday allowance;
• a structural year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent training opportunities and secondary employment conditions;
• flexible working hours and holidays; excellent pension plan through ABP;
• 232 vacation hours based on a working week of 38 hours, the option to purchase extra and good supplementary leave schemes;
• a choice model to put together part of your employment conditions yourself, such as a bicycle plan;
• a lively workplace where you can easily make contacts and where many activities take place on the Wageningen Campus. A place where education, research and business are represented;
• use the sports facilities on campus against reduced fee.
• we stimulate internal growth opportunities and mobility with an active and internal recruitment policy. There are ample opportunities for own initiative in a creative learning environment.

Wageningen University & Research

The mission of our University is to explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life. Within Wageningen University & Research, nine specialised research institutes from the Wageningen Research Foundation and Wageningen University have joined forces to help answer the most important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With approximately 30 locations, 5,000 employees, and 10,000 students, it is one of the leading organisations in its domain worldwide. An integrated approach to problems and the cooperation between various disciplines are at the heart of the unique approach of Wageningen.

The Laboratory of Biophysics (BIP) engages in research of the physical aspects of life processes and teaching of the fundamentals of physics and biophysics and their application in the life sciences. The research of BIP relies on both optical and magnetic resonance techniques.

BIP is a dynamic international team comprising around 10 staff members, 15 PhD students and post-docs. More information on our team can be found at http://www.bip.wur.nl/UK/. BIP is embedded in the BioMolecular Sciences cluster and participates in the MicroSpectroscopy Research Facility and the MAGNEtic resonance research FacilitY of Wageningen university & Research.

Equal opportunities employer
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.