Within the chair group Horticulture and Product Physiology we are looking for a researcher to assist with molecular biology, tissue culture and biochemistry research and education in our group. Our group does research and education on growth, development, and quality of horticultural crops. Molecular and biochemical analyses are becoming more and more important for our group. It is your task to expand the molecular expertise in our group. Molecular cloning, cell biology and microscopy, production of transgenic plants using overexpression, or RNAi or CRISPR, transcript and genome analysis, and biochemical analyses of metabolites are all relevant for this job. You will be involved with the maintenance and organization of the molecular biology work in the lab, as well analytical equipment (HPLC, GC etc.). The work also includes the support and guidance of other researchers, postdocs, PhD students and/or MSc students that use these methods. You will also participate in education activities of the group, which includes assisting in practicals and research projects of students

More about your team and the chair group
The chair group Horticulture and Product Physiology conducts high impact research and educates students 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. The research and education contribute to sustainably feeding the World with healthy high-quality products.
The chair group is an international team consisting of 13 permanent staff members, about 25 PhD candidates and postdocs and guest researchers. Each year approximately 40 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.

• You have a University of Applied Sciences (HBO) BSc degree in Biology or Medical Laboratory Research (HLO) and preferably some years of work experience.
• You have experience and interest in the following fields and activities:
  • Plant sciences, molecular biology, biotechnology, and biochemistry, -including molecular cloning, and expression analysis;
  • Cell biology, microscopy, and tissue culture to generate transgenic plants;
  • Analytical biochemical equipment and methodology, such as HPLC and GC-MS;
• You feel comfortable in an international team consisting of research staff, PhD students, technicians, and BSc and MSc students;
• You take responsibility for your tasks and help others when needed;
• You have good organizational skills and can oversee multiple research projects.
• You can communicate well with researchers and project staff in English. This position requires a good English language proficiency (a minimum of CEFR B2 level). For more information about this proficiency level, please visit our special language page;
• Important competencies are: Result driven team player, Competent learner, Accurate with good eye for detail, planner and organiser.

We offer a meaningful and challenging position with, depending on your expertise and experience, a competitive salary from a minimum of € 2.579 to a maximum of € 3.895 for a full working week of 38 hours in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement Dutch Universities. The job is for a period of 12 months, after a positive evaluation, this can be extended. The job can be fulfilled part-time (>0.5 fte) or full-time.

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 can possibly be determined in consultation so that an optimal balance between work and private life is possible;
• excellent pension plan through ABP;
• 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;
• for a small fee, make use of the sports facilities on campus.

Wageningen University & Research

The mission of Wageningen University & Research 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, 6,000 employees, and 12,000 students, Wageningen University & Research 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.

For further information about working at Wageningen University & Research, take a look at thespecial career site.