PhD position Understanding and applying soil microbiome-mediated control of

at  Wageningen University Research

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN UNDERSTANDING AND APPLYING SOIL MICROBIOME EFFECTS ON (PARASITIC) WEED SEED GERMINATION AND VIABILITY? THEN WE HAVE THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU AT CENTRE FOR CROP SYSTEMS AND ANALYSIS, PLANT SCIENCES GROUP AT WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY & RESEARCH.

We are looking for a PhD student who will contribute to an improved understanding of the effects of soil-borne volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on (germination and viability of) seeds of the parasitic weed Striga, and applications for control in the field.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• identify and prioritize (locally available) high-potential sulfur-rich organic sources and (companion) crop species stimulating soil bacteria to overproduce VOCs that inhibit or kill Striga seeds;
• together with other project members design and execute lab, greenhouse and field experiments to unravel mechanisms and test effectiveness and feasibility of applications to control Striga;
• analyse and interpret data from lab, greenhouse and field experiments addressing both fundamental and applied research questions;
• communication of results in scientific publications and on (inter)national workshops;
• writing a PhD thesis;
• contributing to the teaching portfolio of the group.

YOUR ROLE

Within the project your role will be to proceed with the project explorations for soil amendments or companion crop species that stimulate soil bacteria to overproduce sulphurous volatiles that inhibit Striga germination or kill Striga seeds. On the one hand you will contribute to an increased understanding of the mechanisms of bacterial volatile effects on Striga seeds, and on the other hand you will apply such acquired insights to the development of Striga control options. You will need to field test such control options in sorghum, millet or rice crops in Africa (Senegal or Ethiopia), on their effectiveness and feasibility for smallholders. You will work within a team of researchers at the chair group and within the larger project team.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• identify and prioritize (locally available) high-potential sulfur-rich organic sources and (companion) crop species stimulating soil bacteria to overproduce VOCs that inhibit or kill Striga seeds;
• together with other project members design and execute lab, greenhouse and field experiments to unravel mechanisms and test effectiveness and feasibility of applications to control Striga;
• analyse and interpret data from lab, greenhouse and field experiments addressing both fundamental and applied research questions;
• communication of results in scientific publications and on (inter)national workshops;
• writing a PhD thesis;
• contributing to the teaching portfolio of the group