The Plant Physiology research group of the Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, one of the eight institutes of the University of Amsterdam’s Faculty of Science (FNWI) investigates the molecular and physiological basis of plant signaling cascades in response to biotic stress, with a focus on the role of plant metabolites. With an omics toolbox we identify not only metabolites but also genes and proteins in plants and insects that are important for the interactions between the two organisms.

Our research is done by a multidisciplinary team of international researchers, PhD candidates and technicians with expertise in analytical chemistry, biochemistry and molecular biology. We often collaborate with other departments in the institute and with external partners, such as other universities and the (plant-breeding) industry.

We study how insects deploy proteinaceous effectors to modulate plant defenses. Understanding the mechanism of such effectors and identification of the plant proteins with which they interact is important for developing more resistant plants, in collaboration with the plant-breeding industry.

Are you a skilled researcher in Plant Biology and intrigued by how pest insects, such as thrips, modulate plant defenses? And how their pathogens, such as microsporidia, and the plant viruses that they vector manipulate their insect hosts? We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher for an ambitious project studying the effectorome of thrips and the in-planta interactome.

This project is part of a larger consortium at the UvA, thus requiring team spirit and collaborative skills. You will be embedded in an interdisciplinary team with three other researchers who aim to provide breeding solutions for devastating plant diseases by studying the underpinning mechanisms at the molecular level, using state-of-the-art technologies.

What are you going to do?
In this project we aim to determine the effect of microsporidia and viruses on the effectorome of thrips and on the plant proteins with which relevant effectors interact. We seek to determine whether manipulation of these plant targets alters the success of thrips.

You are expected:

• to work with plants, insects and viruses and to perform bio-assays;
• to analyze RNAseq and proteomics data;
• to apply and implement advanced biochemistry, molecular biology, and cell biology;
• to use molecular tools to manipulate genes and gene expression in planta;
• to report and present your work progress on a regular basis to our industrial partners;
• to actively participate in scientific discussions in our research field.