DO YOU WANT TO WORK IN A RESEARCH GROUP THAT STUDIES HOW INSECTS FUNCTION IN THEIR ECOLOGICAL SETTING AND HOW THEY EVOLVE? DO YOU ENJOY WORKING WITH OTHER SCIENTISTS IN DATA COLLECTION IN THE FIELD OF SENSORY ECOLOGY? ARE YOU ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT INSECT PHYSIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOUR? THEN YOU MIGHT BE THE CANDIDATE WE ARE LOOKING FOR!

As lab technician in insect sensory ecology, you will actively support the research and teaching programs of the Laboratory of Entomology, in particular for our research and education on chemical ecology, insect physiology and insect neurobiology. Our programs address the fundamental and applied biology of insect-plant and insect-human/animal interactions. We investigate physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying insect behavior and development, including how insects’ sense and perceive their environment, the rich variety of chemical cues that they use in their ecological interactions, and how their innate and learned responses guide the recognition and selection of potential hosts. We investigate this for insect-plant interactions, sexual communication, host-parasite interactions such as blood-feeding arthropods, and interactions between insects and their parasitoids and predators. Studying the mechanisms and evolutionary drivers of sensory information for insects will contribute to our understanding of the complex dynamics of insect communities, and on the origin and conservation of biodiversity. We search for an enthusiastic and team-oriented insect sensory ecologist to complement the team at the Laboratory of Entomology.
For this position, there is a specific need to support the work that focuses on chemical ecology, electrophysiology, confocal laser-scanning and conventional microscopy, histology and behavioural assays. Your responsibility will be to set up and conduct experiments, including the interpretation and analysis of data, and to assist and co-supervise PhDs and students in carrying out their experiments and in collection, processing and interpretation of data. You will collect and analyse volatiles and secondary plant metabolites, conduct electrophysiological recordings (EAGs, EPGs and tip recordings), use histology and microscopy to visualize insect and plant features (e.g. neurons, trichomes), and perform behavioural assays (e.g., choice experiments, behavioural observations). You will participate in training students, PhDs and post-docs in using the equipment for these experiments. You will have responsibilities regarding the maintenance of the experimental equipment, and the general up-keeping of specific facilities (e.g., sensory ecology lab, behaviour lab). You will also be involved in practical aspects of teaching, including the preparation of materials, supervising practicals and co-supervision of BSc and MSc thesis students. In addition, you provide hands-on support for insect rearing and the setting up and maintenance of (a.o. genetically modified) insect lines.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• facilitate, conduct and support research on various study systems that is being carried out by the teams, headed by different principal investigators
• provide support in the provision and organization of practical education, including co-supervision and training of BSc and MSc students
• manage and maintain designated facilities and equipmentcontribute to insect rearing activities where necessary

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;
• 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 of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between €3.218,- and €4.298,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 8). This is a position for 0.8 fte. As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended - if possible within our organizational circumstances - on good performance. 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. For 20 consecutive years, we have been voted the “best university” in the Netherlands! A place to be proud of.

• facilitate, conduct and support research on various study systems that is being carried out by the teams, headed by different principal investigators
• provide support in the provision and organization of practical education, including co-supervision and training of BSc and MSc students
• manage and maintain designated facilities and equipmentcontribute to insect rearing activities where necessar