Are you a postdoc candidate with a fundamental interest in photosynthetic light acclimation in plants? Do you have a background in protein biochemistry, fluorescence microscopy and/or biophysics? Would you like to work together in a multi-disciplinary team of researchers? We have a vacancy for a postdoc position on investigating light acclimation of plants with the use of advanced optical microscopy and mass spectrometry.

Background information: Light drives photosynthesis and as such powers life on earth. In the field plants need to cope with constantly changing light conditions. This requires a flexible photosynthetic machinery. Light energy is converted into chemical energy in the thylakoid membrane, composed of lipids, proteins and pigments. The thylakoid structure and organisation can dynamically switch to optimize light harvesting and maintain efficient photosynthesis under different light intensities and spectra. At present it is unclear how the thylakoid structure is regulated and which factors control the changes in its organisation and architecture. The research team will use a combination of microscopy, spectroscopy, molecular biology and biochemistry, to reveal how the thylakoid structure is controlled at the molecular level. The goal is to provide new key insights into the adaptation of the thylakoid machinery to different light conditions.

You will be part of an NWO Vidi project, together with three other researchers you will investigate how plants adapt their photosynthetic light-harvesting machinery to the ever changing light conditions. To answer this question you will:

• Treat plants with specific light conditions and analyze the post-translational modifications of photosynthetic proteins with mass spectrometry and other biochemical methods;
• use expansion microscopy to resolve the thylakoid structure and protein locations,
• perform additional experiments with advanced microscopy setups in the Wageningen MicroSpectroscopy Research Facility (https://www.wur.nl/en/Value-Creation-Cooperation/Microspectroscopy-Research-Facility.htm);
• analyze complex data;
• collaborate with other members of the Laboratory of Biophysics (more information on our team can be found at (http://www.bip.wur.nl/UK/);
• disseminate your results by writing articles for leading peer-reviewed journals and presenting at international conferences.

• A PhD degree in biochemistry, biophysics and/or optical microscopy;
• experience with designing and independently performing experiments;
• experience in the field of advanced optical spectroscopy or protein biochemistry, preferably with applications to plants;
• excellent skills in data analysis and analysis of complex problems;
• excellent English language proficiency (a minimum of CEFR C2 level);
• excellent communication, presentation, and writing skills.

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• Sabbatical leave, study leave, and paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• the option to accrue additional holiday hours by working more, up to 40 hours per week;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed December bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 2.836,- and € 4.474,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU)(scale 10).

Wageningen University & Research encourages internal advancement opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a unique position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.
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 16th consecutive time.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees. Applicants from abroad moving to the Netherlands may qualify for a special tax relief, known as the 30% ruling. Our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees and students coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, we can assist you with any additional advice and information about helping your partner to find a job, housing, schooling, and other issues.

Wageningen University & Research

The mission of Wageningen University and Research is "To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life". Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment.

With its roughly 30 branches, 6.800 employees and 12.900 students, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. An integrated approach to problems and the cooperation between various disciplines are at the heart of Wageningen's unique approach. WUR has been named Best Employer in the Education category for 2019-2020.

Read the 5 reasons why your future collaegues enjoy working at WUR and watch this video to get an idea of our green campus!

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.