As a result of three PhD projects within Plant Breeding, we can appoint four PhD candidates for the following positions:

1. PhD candidate Aphid resistance in Capsicum
2. Two PhD candidates pulses without off-flavours
3. PhD candidates valorization of proteins from agricultural side streams

You can apply on more than one position.
Research will take place at: Plant Breeding

Do you want to use your passion for making our agricultural production more sustainable as a PhD candidate pulses without off-flavours? Are you an enthusiastic, problem solving person who likes to genetics approach for preventing off-flavours in pulses?

The growing world population demands new sustainable sources of protein and a transition from animal to a plant based protein sources. Legumes, and particularly pulses, are interesting alternatives for several reasons. Traditionally pulses have been eaten freshly or dried and rehydrated prior to consumption. In this form, a pulse-specific flavour is desired. However, in the new applications as ingredients in e.g. meat and dairy replacers, a pulse-specific flavour is not desired and is considered as an off-flavour. The pulse varieties currently available in the market have not been designed for such applications and the consequence is that off-flavours being present in the raw material and being developed during processing and conversion steps, impact consumer acceptance of the products.
In this project we will investigate off-flavors in pulses with a multidisciplinary team of process technologists and plant geneticists/breeders. Research will focus on off-flavours in two species, pea and faba bean. On the plant side this project aims to develops tools for breeding for new varieties of pulses that lack these off-flavours in the final product application.

To identify and develop new varieties of pulses that do not contain or do not produce off-flavours during processing will consist of two parallel approaches:

1. A reverse genetics approach in pea where candidate genes for off-flavours will be targeted and effect on off-flavours evaluated;
2. A forward genetics approach where a genetically diverse collection of faba bean accessions will be phenotyped for off-flavours and genetic markers identified using a Genome Wide Association Study (GWAS).

One of the PhD students will be working on pea and identify genes involved in off-flavours using a reverse genetics approach while the other PhD student will focus on a GWAS for off-flavours in faba bean. Indicate your preferences in the application letter, if applicable.

• An MSc in Plant Sciences or Biology, with preference for candidates with good background in Genetics and Breeding.
• An enthusiastic, problem solving person who likes to work in a multidisciplinary team
• Experience with molecular techniques and knowledge in genetics
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills in English (a minimum of CEFR C2 level). For more information about this proficiency level, please visit our special language page
• A team player who can also work independently
• An interest in (co-)supervising (under) graduate students

You will receive a funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team. We offer a temporary contract for a period of 1 year with extension of 3 years after successful evaluation. The gross salary for the first year is € 2.395,- per month rising to € 3.061,- in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreement (scale P). This is based on a full working week of 38 hours.

In addition, we offer:

• 8% holiday allowance
• a structural end-of year bonus of 8.3%
• excellent training opportunities and secondary employment conditions
• flexible working hours that we determine together in good consultation
• excellent pension plan through ABP
• 232 vacation hours, the option to purchase extra and good supplementary leave schemes
• a flexible model to put together part of your employment conditions yourself, such as a bicycle plan
• a lively workplace on the Wageningen Campus
• make use of the sports facilities on campus for a small fee.

Wageningen University & Research stimulates internal career opportunities and mobility with our internal recruitment policy. There are ample opportunities for personal initiative in a learning environment. With us you get a versatile job in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere, with students and staff from over 100 countries around the world.

You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the "Best University" in the Netherlands for the 15th consecutive time.

Wageningen University & Research

Plant Breeding , Wageningen University & Research is a merged unit of Wageningen Research and Wageningen University with around 200 people including MSc and PhD students and guest workers. It is a highly international group with more than 50 nationalities organised in ten research groups. We conduct fundamental, strategic and applied research and provide teaching at all educational (BSc, MSc and PhD) levels. Our research focusses on unravelling the genetic basis of traits which are relevant to achieve a sustainable agri- and horticulture. We conduct this research often together or in partnership with breeding companies, local, regional and state governments.
Our objective is to raise the productivity of agriculture in a sustainable and socially acceptable manner and increase the resilience of systems to deliver food security, feed, fuel, fibre and ornamental services under current and future climate and resource availability. As guiding principles we work synergistically in teams, like to express and base our opinions on sound science and operate self-conscientiously in our networks to have impact and attract and serve our clients' needs. We strongly believe in diversity and inclusiveness to strengthen our teams, their modus operandi and their impact. We advise the public and the private sector and provide training in areas of our expertise.

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, 6.500 employees, and 12.000 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. We have been named Best Employer in Education category 2019-2020.
Click here for more information about working at Wageningen University & Research. More information about Wageningen Campus you can find here.