Are you a skilled researcher in Plant biology, and intrigued by how plant viruses manipulate their host? We are now seeking a postdoctoral researcher for an ambitious proteomics project on plant viruses. At the University of Amsterdam (UvA), we study how RNA viruses interact with host proteins and impact protein translation. You will study the interface of RNA and plant proteins. In this project, we aim to develop methodology to identify and quantify RNA-binding proteins that differentially interact with RNA in response to a viral infection and plant immunity.

This proteomics project will be executed in close collaboration with two Postdocs, one PhD candidate and industry. You will be embedded in an interdisciplinary team that aims to provide breeding solutions for devastating plant diseases by studying the underpinning virulence mechanisms at the molecular level using state-of-the-art technologies

What are you going to do

You are expected:

• to develop and optimize a proteomics method that uses cross-linking and affinity purification to study RNA-binding proteome;
• to apply and implement advanced biochemistry, molecular biology, and cell biology to study plant RNA viruses;
• to generate novel molecular tools to study how protein translation impacts plant immunity;
• 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 and our university;
• to contribute as a (pro-)active team player to the organization of our laboratory.

What do we require

• A recent PhD degree in Plant biology with one or more publications as first author in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
• Preferentially, skilled in proteomics, plant biochemistry and big data (statistical) analyses including bioinformatics and scripting in Phyton, R studio, MaxQuant, Persues or related.
• Hands-on experience in and affinity with molecular biology (Gibson assembly, Goldengate, Gateway cloning strategies, CRISPR-Cas strategies, synthetic biology, plant transformations).
• An enthusiasm and willingness to become multidisciplinary with a keen eye on Plant virology and/or Plant-microbe interactions.
• An ambitious person that is a team player with an open character.
• An appreciation to contribute to valorization efforts and to foster collaborations with academic and industry partners.
• An understanding and acceptance of the sensitivity of confidentiality in public-private collaborations.
• Fluency in English, both written and spoken, with proven in experience in writing scientific papers / grants.
• Our selection will be based on your scientific track record, your vision on this research project, but most importantly your ambition, skills, and drive to foster your own (scientific) career.

Fixed-term contract: 12 months.

Our offer

A temporary contract for 30,4 - 38 hours a week, preferably starting on 1 March 2022, for the duration of 12 months. An extension for two years subsequently follows if we assess your performance positive.

The salary, depending on relevant work experience before the beginning of the employment contract, will be between €2,836 to €4,474 (scale 10) gross per month, based on a fulltime contract (38 hours a week). This is exclusive 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

Are you curious about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits like our excellent opportunities for study and development? Take a look here.

Questions

Do you have questions relating the content of the topic about this vacancy? Please contact:

• dr. Harrold van den Burg, Associate Professor (UvA profile)
• T. + 31 (0)20 525 7797

University of Amsterdam

With over 6000 employees, 30,000 students and a budget of more than 600 million euros, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) is an intellectual hub within the Netherlands. Teaching and research at the UvA are conducted within seven faculties: Humanities, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Economics and Business, Law, Science, Medicine and Dentistry. Housed on four city campuses in or near the heart of Amsterdam, where disciplines come together and interact, the faculties have close links with thousands of researchers and hundreds of institutions at home and abroad.  

The UvA’s students and employees are independent thinkers, competent rebels who dare to question dogmas and aren’t satisfied with easy answers and standard solutions. To work at the UvA is to work in an independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterised by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society.

Faculty of Science - Institute for Life Sciences

The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 7,000, as well as 1,600 members of staff working in education, research or support services. Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works, be it elementary particles, the birth of the universe or the functioning of the brain.

The Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences (SILS) is one of the largest institutes in the Faculty of Science that performs research on four different themes: Microbiology, Neurobiology, Cell and Systems biology and Green Life Sciences (GLS).

The mission – and passion – of Molecular Plant Pathology is to unravel the molecular processes underlying plant immunity as well as plant susceptibility to infectious diseases. Our ambition is to publish on a regular basis in high impact Scientific journals, while fostering the careers of our co-workers. We are dedicated to raising new generations of scientists, and to provide a meaningful contribution towards sustainable agriculture having less impact on our environment. We study these aspects by using state-of-the-art molecular techniques in high-tech labs and in modern greenhouses. This research enables us to develop and explore novel concepts on plant-microbe interactions and permits implementation and creative use of novel technologies in the fields of -omics, microscopy, (digital) phenotyping and genetic alteration of plants and pathogens.