PhD Position: growth-resilience trade-offs in plants

In plants there is a commonly observed trade-off between growth and stress tolerance. Therefore, a highly efficient strategy to survive adverse periods is to stop growing. Regarding flooding stress, it turns out that this is restricted to species from flood prone areas, only these have mastered the art of doing nothing, and are extremely flood tolerant as a result. An important aspect of stopping to grow is to ignore signals that indicate availability of resources (e.g. sugar/energy signalling) and to shut of signals that stimulate growth (hormone signals). At the same time plants have signals that indicate stress, for flooding the gaseous hormone ethylene is important here. 

This PhD project will dissect how distinct components of doing nothing (cell division, cell expansion, deposition of sugars into cell walls, maintenance costs), are regulated by the complex combination of resource, growth and stress signals. To do this end the project can make use of the contrasting behaviour between the model species Arabidopsis thaliana, that is bad at doing nothing when flooded, with the closely related Rorippa sylvestris, which excels at doing nothing when flooded. The project explores the hierarchy between resource, growth, and stress signals on control of growth cessation, builds regulatory networks using genome-scale technologies, and ultimately tests and validates hypotheses with gene-technologies.

Academically, we aim to provide novel insights into how robust and highly redundant growth regulatory networks can evolve, but also how they function to have dynamic growth rates and maintain energy balances. From a human utilitarian perspective, this proposal aims to contribute to crop improvement required to deal with an increased frequency of floods, droughts and other stresses caused by climate change.

(more info: h.van.veen@rug.nl)

What are you going to do?

We are looking for candidates with:

• a Master’s degree in Biology or related discipline.
• an affinity for plants, bioinformatics, ‘omics analysis, physiology and/or molecular biology.
• a motivation and passion for science.
• a high English proficiency.
• effective communication and collaborative abilities.

As a PhD candidate you are expected to develop and grow as a scientist culminating in a finished, approved and defended PhD thesis. Additionally, your work should move towards scientific publications. You will organize and shape your research into a thesis with multiple chapters where you will have room to explore physiology, development, molecular biology and bioinformatics on flooding stress acclimation with model and non-model plant species. The candidate will gain 30 ECTS in the PhD training programme (courses and attending scientific meetings). Additionally, 10% of your time will be reserved for teaching.

• 232 vacation hours per year, based on a 38-hour workweek (1.0 FTE). You can also work more or fewer hours in exchange for more or fewer free hours. For example, with a 40-hour workweek, you save 96 extra free hours, and with a 36-hour workweek, you lose 96 hours.
• End-of-year bonus of 8.3% and 8% holiday allowance.
• Extensive opportunities for personal and professional development.

At the University of Groningen (UG), researchers from all fields of academia and technology are working on academic challenges and societal questions. Lecturers prepare their students for meaningful careers within or outside the academic world. Interdisciplinary research and teaching, sharing of knowledge, collaboration with businesses, government institutions, and societal organizations are aspects that are of the utmost importance to this European top university. The UG aims to be an open academic community with an inclusive and safe working climate that invites you to add your value.

The Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) provides teaching and research across a wide range of disciplines, from physics and biology to artificial intelligence, mechanical engineering, and pharmacy. In close collaboration with partners from industry, healthcare, and society, we contribute to the urgent challenges of our time, such as energy, sustainability, digitization, and medical technology. Our community is open and informal, with more than 7,000 students, 1,000 PhD students, and 1,400 staff members from all over the world. If you would like to learn more about the Faculty of Science and Engineering, visit rug.nl/fse. 

You will work under the supervision of Hans van Veen at the Groningen Institute of Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen. GELIFES is a an institute that integrates many biological disciplines and model systems. GELIFES itself is part of the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) that covers the full range of natural sciences. Overall you will step in a rich environment that allows you to develop a broad and well rounded vision and understanding of science and its applications.

Do you have any questions or need more information?

Questions about the content of the job?
Hans van Veen (Assistant Professor): h.van.veen@rug.nl

Questions about your application process?
Kimberley ter Voorde - Speelman (Human Resources Assistant): k.m.ter.voorde-speelman@rug.nl