Are you looking for an exciting PhD project to tackle fundamental questions in plant science? Are you interested in exploring how plants perceive and respond to their environment? Do you have affinity with plant physiology and molecular biology? And do you want to do research in a multicultural and stimulating academic environment?

We are looking for a motivated PhD candidate to work on an NWO-funded project to study the mechanisms underlying green light sensing in plants. The selected candidate will work in close collaboration with a postdoctoral researcher on this project. They will become a member of the Retrograde Signalling team, which is embedded in the chair group of Plant Physiology.
Project description: Plants dynamically respond to their light environment, to optimize light capture for photosynthesis. The means by which blue, red and far-red light are perceived by different plant photoreceptor proteins are well-understood. However, it remains unknown how plants sense green light. In this project, we aim to find out how plants perceive and respond to green light, and how this helps them to survive (shaded) environments where light quality fluctuates. The work will be performed in model species Arabidopsis thaliana and follows a multidisciplinary approach using physiological, molecular, and modelling techniques.

The research is embedded within the chair Plant Physiology, and part of the Retrograde Signalling team, which is led by Dr. Charlotte Gommers. The selected candidate will be co-supervised by Prof. Christa Testerink.

You:

• Have a successfully completed MSc degree in Plant Sciences, Molecular Biology, (Plant) Biotechnology or equivalent study.
• Have excellent English language proficiency. For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level or higher.
• Have hands-on experience in molecular biology. Experience in microscopy is a plus.
• Have a proven affinity with plant physiology.
• Work efficiently and accurately and are highly motivated to do fundamental research.
• Are willing to contribute to teaching and mentoring of MSc and BSc students.
• Have strong communication skills and work well in a small team.
• Contribute to an open and inclusive atmosphere.

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

• study leave and partially 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 compensation / 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 receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team.
The gross salary for the first year is € 2.443,- per month rising to € 3.122,- in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well.

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 17th 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.

Equal opportunities
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) employs a large number of people with very different backgrounds and qualities, who inspire and motivate each other. We want every talent to feel at home in our organisation and be offered the same career opportunities. We therefore especially welcome applications from people who are underrepresented at WUR. For more information please go to our inclusivity page. A good example of how WUR deals with inclusiveness can be read on the page working at WUR with a functional impairment.

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 the best university of the Netherlands by students for the 17th time in a row.
Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch this video to get an idea of our green campus!