项目介绍

2025年5月13日

Job description

Do you want to be part of the development of resilient crops that can continue to feed the world when faced with climate change, reduced pesticide use, and reduced irrigation? Then you might be the ideal candidate to join our interdisciplinary research institute CropXR!

With a budget of 96 million euros over a period of ten years, CropXR focuses on creating eXtra Resilient (XR), sustainable, and climate-adaptive crops. By combining plant biology, simulation modelling, and artificial intelligence we aim to develop smart breeding and cultivation methods. Thus, we try to speed up the breeding of complex resilience traits for several crops in different growing systems. This collaborative effort involves four universities and numerous companies. It encompasses scientific research, data collection and sharing, education, and practical applications in agriculture and plant breeding. Learn more about CropXR at here.

This vacancy is for two PhD positions that are part of the Translator work package within the core research program of CropXR. Our goal is to develop computational methods to translate integrated simulation models of plant responses to stress (drought, heat) from a model plant species (Arabidopsis thaliana) to a number of relevant annual crop species. This highly interdisciplinary and collaborative work package brings together experimentalists, providing measurement data for translation and testing model predictions; bioinformaticians, investigating evolutionary conservation of sequence, (co)expression and regulatory modules; and modelers, developing crop-specific integrated plant models.

In this work package, two PhD candidates (one at Wageningen University, one at Utrecht University) will focus on complementary modelling objectives. The candidates will partly work together. Data produced by other research teams within the work package will be available for model design and parameterization.
The PhD candidate at Wageningen University will quantify and analyse to which extent stress effects on shoot and root phenotype, as quantified for Arabidopsis, can be translated to crop species. This will allow us to analyze which crop traits and responses are relevant for crop productivity under stress. You will develop a model that simulates shoot and root development and growth. This model will simulate plant growth based on carbon availability and demand by growing organs, driven by light interception leaves, nitrogen and water uptake and transport, and temperature. This approach will result in a model that can predict plant performance for the different crop species under a range of (stress) conditions, which allows to identify traits relevant to resilience.

The PhD candidate will collaborate with the PhD candidate Utrecht University, who will translate a mechanistic Arabidopsis drought and heat-stress response model, going from the molecular network to the plant-level architecture and responses. This position is advertised at Utrecht University

You will work here
You will be located at Wageningen University within the chair Crop Physiology. You will be supervised by prof. Jochem Evers (WUR) and prof. Kirsten ten Tusscher (UU). Regular meetings will be organised with both PhD students and their supervisors, in addition to meetings of the entire Translator work package, to facilitate communication and collaboration.

Requirements

As a PhD candidate, you will develop computational methods and use these to obtain a better understanding of plant stress responses and their relevance for plant fitness and crop yield. You will communicate your results with other scientists and teams within and beyond CropXR. Additionally you will contribute to the education of BSc and MSc students from different knowledge institutions working with you on the project.

You also possess:

• A successfully completed MSc degree in plant/crop science, computational biology, or a related field. Candidates with a background in applied physics or mathematics with a keen interest in biology are also welcome to apply.
• You have experience in programming and modelling complex (biological) systems, and in interpreting model output in terms of its biological meaning.
• You have strong collaborative skills and want to contribute to the project as whole.
• You can clearly communicate your plans, results, and interpretation orally and in writing.

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.

Conditions of employment

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 € 2.901,- per month rising to € 3.707,- 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.
Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.

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.
Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. We can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, 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.

Employer

Wageningen University & Research

The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 students and over 150,000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch the video below to get an idea of our green campus!

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.

Additional information

For more information about the position, please contact Jochem Evers, Professor of Crop Physiology, via email: jochem.evers@wur.nl.

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with vacaturemeldingen.psg@wur.nl

Ready to apply?
Click on the application button next to the vacancy on our website. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.

You can apply until 16 June 2025. The first interviews will be scheduled soon after.

Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone’s unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.