Fixed-term

Project Assistant position in Biology

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Lund University Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world’s top universities. The University has around 47 000 students and more than 8 800 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain and improve our world and the human condition. Lund University welcomes applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We regard gender equality and diversity as a strength and an asset. Work duties The work entails to participate in and lead data collection within the framework of a long-term population study of insects (damselflies) that has been ongoing since the year 2000, i. e. for more than two decades. The work entails to assist with field experiment at Stensoffa Ecological Field Station, regular visits and re-visits to localities to estimate individual densities and marking of individuals in a mark-recapture study. During the visits and re-visits to known localities, we estimate population densities and colour morph frequencies in a standardized way during the summer months. The work also entails laboratory work where captured individuals are classified to phenotypic categories and morphometric data will be collected and registered in a database. Specimens will also be collected for later DNA-sequencing and molecular work. The work will be carried out within the framework of the research group “Population biology, micro- and macroevolution” and it is led by Professor Erik Svensson. With this announcement we intend to hire up to three project assistants during the field season from May 15 to September 15 2026, with flexible start and end dates. These dates can be adjusted slighty within each period depending on the field season. See under Selection Questions what periods you can choose between. Qualifications University education in ecology, evolution or conservation biology. Experiences: field work with insects. Knowledge: Good knowledge in written and spoken English. Competences: Basic knowledge about insects, identification and capture. Ability to work independently, as well as in a group. Valid Swedish driver´s license as we use car to drive to field localities Other merits Utbildning: University education in i biology (Master’s degree) Experiences: broad experience of biological work, ideally field experience with insects Knowledge: good communicative and cooperative skills Good leadership skills and ability to supervise students Administrative experience Computer experience and excellent digital skills. We will place great emphasis on personal skills. We will also consider ambition, drive and independence. Certain administrative tasks are also part of the work within the group. There will also be logistic in conjunction with the field work and supervision of Swedish and foreign students who will participate in the work Terms of employment Fixed-term employment during the period May 1 – September 15 2026. The scope of the employment: 70 % of full time Contact person: Professor Erik Svensson (erik.svensson@biol.lu.se) Instructions on how to apply Applications should include a cover letter stating the reasons why you are interested in the position, in what way the employment corresponds to your qualifications, and how the experience you gain as project assistant will facilitate your future career trajectories. The application should also contain a CV, degree certificate or equivalent, and other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for references, letters of recommendation, etc.). Within the Faculty of Science research and education is conducted within Astronomy, Biology, Physics, Geosciences, Chemistry, Mathematics, medical radiation physics, physical geography and Environmental Sciences. The Faculty of Science is organized into eight departments, gathered in the northern campus area in Lund. The Faculty of Science has approximately 1900 students, 330 PhD students and 730 employees. We kindly decline all sales and marketing contacts. Apply Now

Project assistant position – genomics

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Lund University Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world’s top universities. The University has around 47 000 students and more than 8 800 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain and improve our world and the human condition. Lund University welcomes applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We regard gender equality and diversity as a strength and an asset. Work duties Developing experimental design for disentangling the regulatory basis of gene expression in yeast. Developing repeatable bioinformatical workflows for analysis of transgressive gene expression in yeast. Support of- and carrying out bioinformatical analysis of polyploidy and aneuploidy. Supporting the preparation of figures for and writing of scientific results for publication. Qualifications PhD in evolutionary genomics or similar. Documented experience of analysis of gene expression. Coding experience in bash, python and R, as well as of a repeatable workflow approach i.e. nextflow or snake-make. A good ability to develop and conduct high quality research, assessed by a publication record with strong independent contributions and high-quality publications. Other merits Experience from working with yeast and hybrid genomics is meriting. Being familiar with working on the Dardel cluster and molecular lab training are meriting. We will place great emphasis on personal suitability. Consideration will also be given to i.e. good collaborative skills, and how the applicant’s experience and skills complement and strengthen the administrative work within the unit/department, as well as contribute to its future development Terms of employment Fixed-term employment, May 15th- August 14th at 100% employment. Contact person: Anna Runemark, lecturer, anna.runemark@biol.lu.se Instructions on how to apply Applications should include a 1 page cover letter stating the reasons why you are interested in the position and in what way the employment corresponds to your qualifications. The application should also contain a 1 page CV including contact information to two references and a link to your google scholar profile/ORCID id, and a PhD degree certificate or equivalent. Within the Faculty of Science research and education is conducted within Astronomy, Biology, Physics, Geosciences, Chemistry, Mathematics, medical radiation physics, physical geography and Environmental Sciences. The Faculty of Science is organized into eight departments, gathered in the northern campus area in Lund. The Faculty of Science has approximately 1900 students, 330 PhD students and 730 employees. We kindly decline all sales and marketing contacts. Apply Now

Postdoctoral Fellow position in Experimental Systems Neuroscience

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Do you want to contribute to top quality medical research? The Stagkourakis Lab is recruiting for a highly independent postdoctoral researcher that can integrate within our existing team pursuing systems neuroscience projects. The lab is based at SciLifeLab (Sweden’s national center for advanced life science infrastructure) and the Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute. Our research focuses on the neural control of survival and homeostatic behaviors (including aggression, fear, and feeding), using large-scale neural recordings, advanced imaging, causal perturbations, and quantitative analysis in freely moving mice. For an overview of the lab’s research program and publications see here: https://www.scilifelab.se/researchers/stefanos-stagkourakis/ Essential technical expertise (Required) This position is intended for candidates who can immediately operate at a high experimental level. Applicants must have demonstrated, hands-on experience in at least one of the following core domains, and strong familiarity with the others: – Stereotaxic surgery in mice, including viral injections and/or implantations. – Large-scale electrophysiology, preferably Neuropixels or high-channel silicon probes, in vivo. –In vivo imaging, including miniscope and/or two-photon microscopy. – RNA sequencing or spatial transcriptomics. Candidates without substantial practical experience in stereotaxic surgery combined with neural recording or imaging will not be competitive for this position. Duties Research in our lab integrates a variety of approaches, making us open to individuals from diverse backgrounds. A foundation in quantitative fields (e.g., mathematics, engineering, computer science, physics) or prior experience in experimental techniques (e.g., molecular biology, high-channel density silicon probe electrophysiologyin vivoorin vitro, advanced animal behavior designs and analysis, miniscope or two-photon imaging) is advantageous. Candidates are expected to demonstrate previous productivity, often by publications, but not exclusively. A combination of at least some of the following skills is essential: A high degree of independence Ability to construct/maintain and use complex experimental setups Proficiency in “big” data analysis (using MATLAB or Python), or Candidates with demonstrated expertise in at least one, but ideally more, of the following domains are invited to apply: Design of novel, custom behavioral paradigms in mice. Use of hardware and (custom) software to interface and synchronize behavioral and neural recording setups. Familiarity with Arduino, Bonsai, DataJoint, and/or neural data recording platforms. Assembly, maintenance and use of complex electrophysiology or imaging systems. Combination of behavior with large-scale neural recordings using silicon probes, miniscope, or 2P imaging. Ability to explore and analyze large datasets using modern machine learning methods and a data-centered approach. Previous participation in collaborative projects with computational or experimental researchers. scRNA sequencing. Expertise in non-traditional animal models. Entry requirements Postdoctoral scholarships may be established for foreign researchers who pursue their merit in Sweden. A foreign researcher is a person living in another country who comes to Sweden with the intention of only staying in Sweden for all or part of their postdoctoral education at KI. Persons who are resident in Sweden and/or have carried out all or part of their academic education at KI or some other educational institution in Sweden cannot be considered for scholarships. The purpose of scholarships for postdoctoral qualification is to promote internationalization and contribute to research qualification after a doctorate or equivalent.A scholarship for carrying out postdoctoral research can be granted for a maximum of two years within a four-year period following the receipt of a doctoral degree or equivalent.To be eligible for a postdoctoral scholarship, the person must have obtained a doctorate, or a foreign degree deemed to be equivalent to a doctorate. Applicants who have not completed a doctorate at the end of the application period may also apply, provided that all requirements for a completed degree are met before the (intended) start date of the post-doctoral education. What do we offer? A creative and inspiring environment with wide-ranging expertise and interests. Karolinska Institutet is one of the world’s leading medical universities. Here, we conduct innovative medical research and provide the largest range of biomedical education in Sweden. At KI, you get to meet researchers working with a wide range of specialisms and methods, giving you ample opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience with the various scientific fields within medicine and health. It is the crossover collaborations, which have pushed KI to where it is today, at the forefront of global research. Several of the people you meet in healthcare are educated at KI. A close relationship with the health care providers is important for creating groundbreaking top quality education and research. Students and employees have free access to our modern gym facilities with trained staff on site. What we provide The Stagkourak is Lab offers a highly ambitious and technically advanced systems neuroscience environment, purpose-built for studying neural population dynamics and causal control of behavior in vivo. Experimental infrastructure in the lab includes:  Large-scale in vivo electrophysiology, including Neuropixels and custom high-channel silicon probes for brain-wide recordings in freely moving mice. In vitro and in vivo imaging platforms, including miniscope imaging and two-photon microscopy. An SLM-enabled two-photon system allowing optical holography and patterned photostimulation for causal, ensemble-level manipulation of neural activity. Fully equipped stereotaxic surgery and viral injection pipelines, including AAV-based circuit targeting. Advanced behavioral setups for studying aggression, fear, feeding, and other survival behaviors, with precise synchronization to neural and physiological recordings.   Computational and analytical support includes: Established pipelines for handling large-scale neural and behavioral datasets. Support for MATLAB- and Python-based analysis, including population-level and data-driven approaches. Close integration with computational collaborators and SciLifeLab data science expertise.   Training and mentorship:  Hands-on mentorship in experimental strategy, technical execution, and troubleshooting. Structured guidance in data analysis, figure generation, scientific writing, and grant development Opportunities to supervise students and contribute to building experimental and analytical pipelines Research environment and support:  Access to world-class infrastructure and core facilities at Karolinska Institute and SciLifeLab, including microscopy, sequencing, bioinformatics, and animal facilities. Administrative and technical support enabling researchers to focus on science. Exposure to a vibrant international neuroscience community through seminars, collaborations, and conferences. Our lab provides an environment for postdoctoral researchers who want to work at the technical frontier of systems neuroscience, take ownership of ambitious projects, and build a strong trajectory toward scientific

Project Leader position in Animal Studies and Bacterial Infectious Diseases

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Your job Do you want to contribute to research that truly makes an impact for both animals and people? As a (Senior) Project Leader in animal studies and bacterial infectious diseases within the Bacteriology department, you will work on innovative animal studies that contribute to the development of new treatment and prevention methods for bacterial infectious diseases in livestock. You combine subject-matter expertise with project leadership in a dynamic research environment with clear societal relevance. Within Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR), applied bacteriological animal research is currently conducted on, among others, streptococci, E. coli and APP in pigs, and salmonella, campylobacter and coccidiosis/clostridium in poultry. Your role In this position, you act as project leader for animal studies commissioned by both public and private parties. You are (jointly) responsible for designing, planning, coordinating and monitoring these studies. You ensure that projects are carried out carefully, efficiently and in accordance with applicable protocols, timelines and budgets. You maintain a strong focus on quality and animal welfare and ensure clear reporting of research results. Your tasks and responsibilities Designing, planning, coordinating and monitoring animal studies, including alignment with internal teams and external clients. Supervising critical phases of animal studies, such as vaccination or challenge moments (carried out by animal caretakers). Supporting analysts in the development of new laboratory tests and analyses. Analysing, summarising and reporting research results for internal projects, external clients and scientific publications. Building and maintaining relationships with relevant internal and external stakeholders. Contributing to the acquisition of projects to strengthen the portfolio of public–private and commercial projects. Work is conducted with pathogens in high biosafety classes (veterinary BSL-4 and human BSL-3). This means strict access and quarantine regulations apply. For certain activities, an additional quarantine period applies in accordance with EU regulations. This means employees may not keep cloven-hoofed animals and must avoid contact with such animals and visits to poultry production companies for 72 hours after these activities. Your team You will work within WBVR, where research into infectious animal diseases has direct societal value. Within the Bacteriology department, efforts focus on reducing bacterial infections in livestock and limiting their impact on animal health and welfare. You will collaborate closely with experienced researchers, project leaders, laboratory analysts and biotechnicians. Your workplace WBVR has high-quality animal facilities where animal welfare is central. WBVR operates unique animal facilities in Lelystad (two locations, veterinary BSL 1–4) and works closely with Wageningen Livestock Research (WLR) on the interaction between infectious diseases and husbandry-related factors such as nutrition, environmental enrichment and microbial environmental status. You will work in a multidisciplinary team within a socially relevant research environment. Your qualities Article 9 certification (Experiments on Animals Act) – required. Completed university degree in Life Sciences or Veterinary Medicine – required. Background in veterinary diseases in livestock is an advantage. PhD in bacteriology or immunology is an advantage. Proactive attitude and strong organisational skills. Flexible and comfortable working across different projects, teams and contexts. Strong verbal and written communication skills. Team player with the ability to build and strengthen external collaborations. Skills in conducting client discussions that result in project acquisition. In our international working environment, English is increasingly used. Do you not yet meet the required language level? No problem – we support you through Wageningen in’to Language. Room to grow Do you see yourself in this role but do not (yet) meet all the listed requirements? Do you have relevant and solid work experience? Then we warmly invite you to apply. We explicitly see this position as an opportunity for further professional development. We offer Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include: working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance; sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave; there is a strong focus on vitality; a fixed year-end bonus of 8,3%; excellent pension scheme. In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. We offer, depending on your experience, a competitive gross salary of between € 3,399,- and € 7,068,- for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale10-12). Additionally, For this role a contract for 32 hours can be discussed. As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended. Of course, we are happy to have a conversation with you if you have any questions about this. Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes. You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. Coming from abroad Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees. Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family. If you come with a partner, we offer a Dual Career group program organized by our Welcome Center. This program helps your partner to get familiar with the Dutch culture, labour market and assists your partner to find a job. Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research’s International Communitypage contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, our Welcome Center can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example housing, opening a bank account or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands. Do you want more info? For more information about the position, please contact Dr. Manouk Vrieling, senior researcher,

PhD Positions – Quantitative impact of yeast cell death on (anaerobic) processes

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Your job Do you have a passion for understanding cellular mechanisms and microbial physiology, and translating this to bioprocesses? Are you curious to understand more on how yeast cell death factors impact physiology? This PhD position might be for you! In this specific project, you will increase our understanding on how yeast cell death factors impact physiology and what evolutionary trade-offs are between cell death and survival at the culture level. One specific, and highly relevant condition that you will investigate is anaerobicity. This knowledge will be used to improve the bioproduction of chemicals, including ethanol as done in Brazilian biorefineries. Understanding and Postponing Yeast Cell Death (UPsYDe) to improve production is a doctoral network of 13 PhD candidates funded by Horizon Europe: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. UPsYDe consists of seven host institutes (Wageningen Universiteit, Universidade do Minho, Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, Austrian Centre for Industrial Biotechnology, Imperial College London, Università degli Studi di Milano Bicocca and Chalmers Tekniska Högskola) together with fifteen associated partners, ranging from start-up to large biotechnology companies and renowned research institutes. This consortium aims to understand how yeast cells die under industrial process conditions and to use this knowledge to improve biomanufacturing. Different yeast species play a vital role in industrial biotechnology for the sustainable production of a wide range of products, for example ethanol as a biofuel or protein ingredients for alternatives to animal-based products. However, also the lifespan of these yeast cells is finite, and their death negatively impacts processes: for example, process duration or product quality. Fundamental research has revealed that yeast cells can die in different ways, i.e., different regulated cell death programs are present and (genetic) factors involved in these processes are being uncovered. However, in the context of industrial processes, regulated cell death has received little attention. Therefore, we will integrate fundamental cell and molecular biology, systems and synthetic biology with bioprocess and metabolic engineering to improve both our understanding of these cell death processes as well as the survival and performance of different yeast species in industrial bioprocesses. Each of 13 doctoral projects will focus on a different aspect, more detailed information can be found on upsyde.eu, but in strong synergy with the other projects. At Wageningen we are looking for two PhD candidates. Each PhD will receive a strongly interdisciplinary training alongside performing exciting research. This includes secondments at two or more partners in the consortium. Your duties and responsibilities include: identify the mechanisms behind anaerobic yeast cell death; quantify the impact of yeast cell death factors on yeast physiology; detect evolutionary trade-offs between cell death and survival at the culture level; improve prolonged (anaerobic) bioproduction by S. cerevisiae; work together with the other 12 DCs to integrate and translate knowledge to other yeast species. You will work here The research is embedded within the chair Bioprocess Engineering, and is part of the Microbial Biotechnology team, which is led by Prof. Dr. Ruud Weusthuis and Dr. Mark Bisschops. You will be supervised by Dr. Mark Bisschops. Within the project, you will collaborate with the other consortium members of UPsYDE and especially the Laboratory of Systems and Synthetic Biology (SSB) at Wageningen University, the laboratories of Dr. Paula Ludovico at UMinho (Braga, Portugal) and of Prof. Andreas Gombert at Unicamp (Campinas, Brazil). Your qualities You have a passion for understanding cellular mechanisms and microbial physiology and translating this bioprocesses, and have high standards for working accurately. You have the flexibility to work in a team within a well-equipped laboratory and communicate results to experts of different, but related fields. You also possess: a successfully completed MSc degree in biotechnology or related field; the ability to work independently in the lab; a strong desire and ability to quickly master new (laboratory) techniques to effectively tackle complex, multidisciplinary scientific queries; experience with microbial cultures, molecular biology and, ideally, bioreactor cultivations; experience with fluorescence microscopy, omics analyses and yeast are a pre. For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognised Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here. Because this concerns a Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Action funded position, additional elegibility criteria apply: not be in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of the recruitment; comply with the mobility rule: no residence or main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 36 months before their recruitment date), this includes the country of the institution for which the main activity was performed. We offer Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include: Partially paid parental leave; working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance; there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee; a fixed year-end bonus of 8.3%; excellent pension scheme. In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team. The gross salary for the first year is € 3.059,- per month rising to € 3.881,- in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well. We encourage development and internal mobility within our organisation. Our recruitment and selection policy sets out the conditions that apply specifically to you as a (former) employee. If you have any questions, we are happy to help. You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. Coming from abroad Wageningen University & Research is the university and

PhD Positions – Time to die: Cell death as a tool to improve bioprocesses

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Your job Do you have a passion for understanding cellular mechanisms and microbial physiology, and translating this to bioprocesses? Are you driven by the challenge of pushing biotechnological innovation to the next level? This PhD position might be for you!  In this specific project, you will select specific regulated cell death pathways to be used as cell death switch. By coupling controllable cell death induction with productivity your aim is to increase process efficiency, without compromising product quality. This knowledge will be used to improve the bioproduction of chemicals, including pigments. Understanding and Postponing Yeast Cell Death (UPsYDe) to improve production is a doctoral network of 13 PhD candidates funded by Horizon Europe: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. UPsYDe consists of seven host institutes (Wageningen Universiteit, Universidade do Minho, Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, Austrian Centre for Industrial Biotechnology, Imperial College London, Università degli Studi di Milano Bicocca and Chalmers Tekniska Högskola) together with fifteen associated partners, ranging from start-up to large biotechnology companies and renowned research institutes. This consortium aims to understand how yeast cells die under industrial process conditions and to use this knowledge to improve biomanufacturing. Different yeast species play a vital role in industrial biotechnology for the sustainable production of a wide range of products, for example ethanol as a biofuel or protein ingredients for alternatives to animal-based products. However, also the lifespan of these yeast cells is finite, and their death negatively impacts processes: for example, process duration or product quality. Fundamental research has revealed that yeast cells can die in different ways, i.e., different regulated cell death programs are present and (genetic) factors involved in these processes are being uncovered. However, in the context of industrial processes, regulated cell death has received little attention.  Therefore, we will integrate fundamental cell and molecular biology, systems and synthetic biology with bioprocess and metabolic engineering to improve both our understanding of these cell death processes as well as the survival and performance of different yeast species in industrial bioprocesses. Each of 13 doctoral projects will focus on a different aspect, more detailed information can be found on upsyde.eu, but in strong synergy with the other projects. At Wageningen we are looking for two PhD candidates. Each PhD will receive a strongly interdisciplinary training alongside performing exciting research. This includes secondments at two or more partners in the consortium. Your duties and responsibilities include:  develop synthetic biology tools to induce specific RCD pathways in yeast; construct genetic circuits to couple productivity with specific induction; investigate the link between cell death mode and product quality; improve productivity of yeast bioprocesses by specific and “on demand” RCD activation; work together with the other 12 DCs to integrate and translate knowledge to other yeast species. You will work here The research is embedded within the chair Bioprocess Engineering, and is part of the Microbial Biotechnology team, which is led by Prof. Dr. Ruud Weusthuis and Dr. Mark Bisschops. You will be supervised by Dr. Mark Bisschops. Within the project, you will collaborate with the other consortium members of UPsYDE and especially the Laboratory of Systems and Synthetic Biology (SSB) at Wageningen University, the laboratory of Prof. Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro at Imperial College (London, United Kingdom) and the company Octarine Bio in Denmark. Your qualities You have a passion for understanding cellular mechanisms and microbial physiology and translating this to bioprocesses, and have high standards for working accurately. You have the flexibility to work in a team within a well-equipped laboratory and communicate results to experts of different, but related fields. You also possess: a successfully completed MSc degree in biotechnology or related field; the ability to work independently in the lab; a strong desire and ability to quickly master new (laboratory) techniques to effectively tackle complex, multidisciplinary scientific queries; experience with microbial cultures, molecular biology and, ideally, bioreactor cultivations; experience with fluorescence microscopy, omics analyses and yeast are a pre. For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognised Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here. Because this concerns a Marie-Sklodowska-Curie Action funded position, additional elegibility criteria apply: not be in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of the recruitment; comply with the mobility rule: no residence or main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting beneficiary for more than 12 months in the 36 months before their recruitment date), this includes the country of the institution for which the main activity was performed. We offer Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include: partially paid parental leave; working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance; there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee; a fixed year-end bonus of 8.3%; excellent pension scheme. In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team. The gross salary for the first year is € 3.059,- per month rising to € 3.881,-  in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well. We encourage development and internal mobility within our organisation. Our recruitment and selection policy sets out the conditions that apply specifically to you as a (former) employee. If you have any questions, we are happy to help. You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. Coming from abroad Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen,

PhD position in Plant soil-interactions in novel protein cropping systems

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Your job Do you want to contribute to the protein transition and biodiversity-positive cropping systems? Are you interested in investigating how novel protein crops can support soil functioning and resilience to extreme weather and climate events at different scales? Then this PhD position within the REAP2SOW programme might be for you! We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to investigate how new protein crops, namely quinoa, white lupin and/or aardaker (Lathyrus tuberosus), can contribute to soil health and soil carbon stabilisation in cropping systems. The PhD position will focus on understanding the impact of the inclusion of protein crops in crop rotations on soil functioning and quantifying the relevance of their root exudates for water stress resilience and carbon storage. The approach will include on-farm observations, field experiments and controlled lab and greenhouse experiments. Your role Together with other project members, design and execute experiments on the impact of protein crops on soil functioning and resilience to water stress. Develop and perform controlled greenhouse and lab experiments to determine the role of root exudates in soil carbon stabilization and soil structure regulation. Be part of a larger consortium working with various disciplines and stakeholders on the design and transition toward protein cropping systems. Write and publish your research in leading scientific journals and communicate your findings through your PhD thesis and broader societal outreach. You will work here This research is embedded within two research groups: the Soil Biology Group (SBL) and the Soil Geography and Landscape Group (SGL), with supervision by Prof. Ellis Hoffland, Dr. Marie Zwetsloot and Dr. Julian Helfenstein. The Soil Biology Group regards soil life as key to sustainable (agro)ecosystems and study the role of soil organisms in element (carbon, nutrient) transformations in soils. The mission of the Soil Geography and Landscape Group is to improve and share understanding of patterns and dynamics of soils, landscapes and earth surface dynamics and their drivers, like climate change and human-landscape interactions. This NWA-funded PhD position is part of the REAP2SOW programme, a national collaboration between Wageningen University & Research, Utrecht University, Leiden University, the University of Twente, and the University of Groningen, together with partners across the agri-food sector. REAP2SOW addresses the urgent challenge of transitioning to a sustainable, plant-based protein system by 2050, aiming to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture and strengthen food security in the face of climate change and increasing weather extremes that affect ecosystem functioning. The programme brings together interdisciplinary expertise spanning natural, social, and technical sciences. Within REAP2SOW, our work package, comprising two PhD projects, will focus on how climate-resilient food systems and novel protein crops can enhance soil ecosystem functions, such as biodiversity, water stress resilience, and carbon sequestration. The vacancy for the other PhD project in our work package based at Leiden University has already closed. This work package closely collaborates with other REAP2SOW WPs addressing agronomy, biodiversity, plant physiology, and crop breeding, ensuring strong integration across disciplines and scales. The advertised position will focus on root exudates and soil carbon stabilization as well as scaling up findings through on-farm research to understand how novel protein crops could support soil health in cropping systems. The second PhD based at Leiden University will focus on soil microbiomes and resilience. Together, these projects provide an integrated understanding of the impact of protein crops on soil functioning and biodiversity. Your qualities You are a highly motivated candidate who enjoys the challenge of diving into the mechanisms behind plant-soil interactions and scaling up to the regional scale to investigate the impact of protein crops on Dutch soils. You also possess: A successfully completed MSc degree in plant sciences, soil science, environmental science or related field. Ability to communicate scientifically as well as with non-scientific project stakeholders. Interested in developing expertise from plant and soil science Enthusiasm for performing both greenhouse experiments and field work Strong analytical and statistical skills, experience with meta-anlysis is an advantage Affinity to work within a larger multi-disciplinary project, with strong project/time management skills. Proficiency in Dutch, and/or valid driving license (applicable in the Netherlands) can be an advantage. For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognized Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here. We offer Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include: sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave; working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance; the option to accrue additional compensation / holiday hours by working more, up to 40 hours per week; there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee; a fixed December bonus of 8.3%; excellent pension scheme. In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team. The gross salary for the first year is € 3.059,- per month rising to € 3.881,- in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well. There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities through the graduate school PE&RC (https://www.pe-rc.nl/). We are offering a unique position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere. You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the “ Best University ” in the Netherlands for the 18th consecutive time. Coming from abroad Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to

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