The successful applicant will work as a Postdoctoral Researcher on a TKI project entitled “Transcriptional networks up- and downstream of the negative regulators of plant immunity DMR6 and DLO1”, which is a collaboration between Utrecht University and the vegetable breeding company Enza zaden. The selected candidate will work under supervision of Prof. dr. Guido Van den Ackerveken at the Plant-Microbe Interactions group.

The project is aimed at further understanding plant disease susceptibility, a process that is both scientifically important as well as applicable in developing disease resistant crops. We previously identified several susceptibility (S) genes in the model plant Arabidopsis. Two of these S genes are DMR6 and DLO1 that are both activated during pathogen infection and in response to salicylic acid (SA). In wild type plants, the activation of DMR6 and DLO1 is thought to down-regulate the plant’s immune response, which would otherwise be too strong and inhibit plant growth. The oxidoreductases encoded by DMR6 and DLO1 have been shown to be SA hydroxylases that reduce the level of the immune hormone.

The aim of this project is to gain insight into the regulation of the DMR6 and DLO1 genes, the altered expression of plant genes in the dmr6 and dlo1 mutants and how that is linked to immunity and growth. Such knowledge is important to understand which defense pathways are triggered in the resistant mutants, and how DMR6 and DLO1 control this in wild-type plants.

The Postdoc project at Utrecht University will utilize RNA-Seq and bioinformatics to provide insight into regulatory mechanisms, as well as genetic approaches to understand the fine-tuning of plant defense.

• a PhD in Molecular Biology/Bioinformatics, and/or Experimental Plant Sciences;
• a strong background in genetic and molecular techniques, experience in RNA-Seq and bioinformatic analysis, and affinity with translational science;
• excellent English oral, written and presentation skills.

We offer a temporary position (1.0 FTE) for 18 months. The gross salary - depending on previous qualifications and experience  - ranges between €3,173 and €4,166 (scale 10 according to the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities) gross per month for a full-time employment. Salaries are supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8 % and a year-end bonus of 8.3 % per year. We offer a pension scheme, (partly paid) parental leave, collective insurance schemes and flexible employment conditions (multiple choice model). More information is available at: working at Utrecht University.

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The Plant-Microbe Interactions group of the Department of Biology aims to explore and exploit the plant's natural immune system. Our research is focused on understanding the molecular and biological details of how pathogens infect plants, how resistant plants successfully defend themselves, and how beneficial microbes in the root microbiome promote plant growth and defense. The research goals are being achieved by using model and crop plant species in combination with state-of-the-art techniques and methods in Phytopathology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Genomics and Bioinformatics. With our fundamental research we aim to provide a rational basis for developing sustainable strategies for disease resistance in next-generation crops.