PhD student: Cytoplasmic Inheritance in Plants (Two available PhD positions)

at  Wageningen University Research

ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT CYTOPLASMIC GENETICS IN PLANTS? EXCITED TO UNCOVER THE MECHANISMS UNDERLYING THE MATERNAL INHERITANCE OF PLASTIDS AND MITOCHONDRIA? IF SO, WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN OUR NEWLY ESTABLISHED CYTOPLASMIC GENETICS GROUP AT WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY & RESEARCH (WUR).

We are currently seeking two PhD students who are enthusiastic about contributing to the ERC-funded research: “Control of Cytoplasmic Inheritance in Plants.”

In this call, we are looking for two PhD candidates for the projects derived from the ERC-funded research “Control of Cytoplasmic Inheritance in Plants”.

For PhD Project 1, you will

• Develop the first experimental platform to identify and characterise both genetic and environmental factors that regulate plastid inheritance in Arabidopsis thaliana.

For PhD project 2, you will

• Investigate the mechanisms and cellular processes that regulate plastid and mitochondrial inheritance in Nicotiana tabacum.

For both PhD positions, you will also

• Acquire expertise in research techniques related to genetics, physiology, molecular biology, and microscopy.
• Contribute to the teaching of Bachelor’s and Master’s students.
• Attend workshops and conferences to present your findings and further your development as a well-rounded scientist.

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 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 € 2.872 - per month rising to € 3.670,- 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. 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 19th consecutive time.