PhD position on Microbes for Stress Resilient Roots (1.0 FTE)

Are you intrigued how to prepare crop plants for the rapidly changing climate? And do you want to explore how microbes, by reshaping individual root cell types, improve plant stress resilience? Then join our cutting-edge research team as a PhD candidate.

We have recently identified the microbes that induce cell-type-specific-stress resilience in sorghum roots. Your project will focus on understanding what the mechanism of action is of this novel class of microbes and how plant stress responses are modulated by microbes. Your goal will be to characterize the transcriptional changes elicited in roots by selected microbes, identify plant- and microbe-derived signals crucial to establish their interactions, define the dynamics and robustness of the microbial activity and its consequences for the plant stress resilience.

In your research you will use a variety of techniques and tools, including histology and microscopy, genomics, comparative gene expression analyses, high-throughput phenotyping, and plant physiology. You will be responsible for developing and executing experiments, data analysis and presentation of project results in a form of manuscripts and oral presentations. Next to your research activities you will get the opportunity to develop your teaching skills, to mentor undergraduate students and be involved in outreach activities.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, curious, and motivated candidate who meets several or all of the following criteria:
    

• A MSc degree in Plant Biology, Biotechnology, Molecular Biology or related field;
• Strong interest in plant developmental biology and plant-environment interactions;
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills;
• A good command of written and spoken English
• You enjoy to actively contribute to the team’s objectives, collaborate with the other team members to accomplish team goals, and bring a creative and independent way of thinking.

We consider it a plus if you bring the following:

• Affinity with plant-microbe interactions and/or plant physiology;
• Experience with microscopy and molecular biology techniques;
• Basic bioinformatic skills (e.g. basic command of R).

• an exciting project investigating novel methods of improving plant stress resilience;
• a position for 4 years;
• a full-time gross salary that starts at €2,770 and increases to €3,539 per month (scale P of the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities (cao));
• 8% holiday bonus and 8.3% end-of-year bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave, and flexible employment conditions  based on the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities.

In addition to the employment conditions from the CAO for Dutch Universities, Utrecht University has a number of its own arrangements. These include agreements on professional development, leave arrangements, sports and cultural schemes and you get discounts on software and other IT products. We also give you the opportunity to expand your terms of employment through the Employment Conditions Selection Model. This is how we encourage you to grow.

For more information, please visit working at Utrecht University.

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

At the Faculty of Science, there are 6 departments to make a fundamental connection with: Biology, Chemistry, Information and Computing Sciences, Mathematics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Physics. Each of these is made up of distinct institutes that work together to focus on answering some of humanity’s most pressing problems. More fundamental still are the individual research groups – the building blocks of our ambitious scientific projects.

You will be working in the team of Dr Dorota Kawa embedded in the Plant Stress Resilience and Plant-Environment Signaling chair groups. By being part of two groups you get the chance to work in an interdisciplinary and dynamic team of researchers that share many common interests and approaches. Our diverse and international research groups are embedded within the Institute of Environmental Biology of the Department of Biology. You will work in an inclusive, collaborative, creative and motivating environment. You will have access to world class research facilities and will benefit from our extensive national/international collaborations (including those with industry), facilitating network building, essential to future jobs.