In the NWO-KIC project MicroHealth, we will study the role of the microbiome in the relationship between soil, agricultural products and health of humans. This relationship has enormous societal implications because agriculture has a large impact on our environment and food is the number one driver of human health.

In MicroHealth, with a team of plant and human biologists, sociologists and data analysts, we will establish the connection between the impact of agriculture on the soil and plant quality/microbiome and the consequences for the health of humans, as well as the social and political context of this connection.

We will achieve this by (1) studying the impact of farming strategies on the soil and crop microbiome and nutritional composition; (2) through advanced data analysis this will be coupled to human health through an intervention study in the HELIUS cohort tracing microbiome changes and its relation to health status; (3) this is embedded in research on opportunities and conflicts in policies and stakeholder-networks and microbiome-related health practises at the household level.

For activity 1) we are looking for a PhD student, who, with help by a technician, will be responsible for field and greenhouse research into the effects of fertiliser use on the microbiome and nutritional composition of a number of open field crops. You will collaborate with other PhDs and postdocs who will work on the other activities.

If you enjoy working in an interdisciplinary research team and are eager to contribute to the understanding of how plants interact with other organisms, then the Plant Hormone Biology group, which is part of the Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences in the Faculty of Science at the University of Amsterdam, is the place to be.

The mission of the Plant Hormone Biology group is to understand the chemical communication of plants with other organisms in their environment. With an international and diverse team of post-docs, PhDs and technicians with expertise varying from analytical chemistry to biochemistry and molecular biology we study how plants use signaling molecules to affect the behaviour of other organisms in the rhizosphere. This includes communication with microbial communities that have been shown to play a crucial role in the protection of plants against a range of stresses.

Our research is aimed at understanding the biological relevance of this chemical communication and use it as a basis for improving resistance and harnessing the potential of beneficial root microbes resulting in improved stress resilience in crops for sustainable food production with reduced inputs.

What are you going to do?
You will plan, carry out and analyse experiments under field and greenhouse conditions in which we will determine what the effect is of fertiliser use on the microbiome and nutritional composition (using metabolomics analysis) of a number of open field vegetable crops. Part of the field produced crops will be used in an intervention study in the HELIUS cohort by team members at AUMC. In the controlled conditions experiment you will investigate the mechanisms underlying the effects of the different fertilisers on microbiome recruitment and nutritional composition, for example identify the signalling molecules that drive differences in the microbiome.

Tasks and responsibilities:

• complete a PhD thesis within the official appointment duration of four years;
• perform your experiments in a systematic and well controlled manner and keep accurate records by

properly documenting and organizing your work;

• be an active member of the research group and take responsibility for shared tasks. Discuss your work

with group members and during consortium meetings. Incorporate feedback and give input to others;

• report your results to the MicroHealth consortium;
• present your work at (inter)national scientific meetings;
• take a leading role in writing and publishing manuscripts;
• participate in the Faculty of Science PhD training program and the training program of the

Experimental School of Plant Sciences;

• assist in teaching and supervising Bachelor and Master theses and tutoring students;