项目介绍

2024年4月23日

Function

Are you looking for a PhD position and interested in genetic regulation in cauliflower? Do you want to combine data collection in the field with computational data analysis to investigate a complex trait? Then this PhD vacancy may be of interest to you.

Cauliflower is an important vegetable that can grow in various climatic regions. However, it is sensitive to high ambient temperatures during development, which might result in delayed curd induction and poor curd quality. Some cauliflower accessions are more sensitive than others. The genetic basis underlying temperature tolerance is not well understood yet. In this project, we aim to optimize field phenotyping for the timing of curd initiation and curd architecture under various temperature conditions and to perform genomic and transcriptomic analysis to identify associated genomic regions and genes. This will ultimately contribute to the breeding of climate-proof cauliflowers.

As a PhD student you will work on this complex trait, by:

• performing independent research, supported by your supervisors;
• combine experimental fieldwork with bioinformatics to collect and analyze data;
• writing publications on your scientific work, culminating in a PhD thesis.

In particular, you will collect genomic, transcriptomic and phenotypic data from several large field experiments with 100-200 cauliflower genotypes. You will perform genome-wide association studies and transcriptomics to identify associated genomic regions and genes and investigate these further using state-of-the-art pangenomic tools.

You will work here
This is a position in the team of Guusje Bonnema at the Laboratory of Plant Breeding (http://www.pbr.wur.nl/), co-supervised by Sandra Smit from the Bioinformatics Group (http://www.bif.wur.nl/) and Richard Immink from Bioscience (Wageningen Plant Research). To fully benefit from the surrounding expertise, the PhD student will divide its time between Plant Breeding and Bioinformatics. Plant Breeding is a merged unit of Wageningen Research and Wageningen University which conducts both fundamental and strategic research and teaching at BSc, MSc and PhD level. They are organized in research groups that, in collaboration, work on solutions to solve current challenges in agriculture related to global warming, loss of biodiversity and a growing world population.  The Bioinformatics Group focuses on fundamental and applied bioinformatics research in the green life sciences. In particular, they develop and apply novel computational methods for the analysis and integration of –omics data. There are many collaborations with (plant) researchers studying the (molecular) evolution of complex traits.   

Function Requirements

Your qualities
You are driven to unravel complex traits in plants by combining your expertise in plant breeding with your computational skills. You are also an enthusiastic team player, with well-developed communication and collaboration skills.

You also possess:

• a successfully completed MSc degree in plant sciences, plant biotechnology, bioinformatics, or a related discipline;
• knowledge of plant breeding and genetics;
• experience in the analysis of (gen)omics data using command-line tools;
• a demonstrable proficiency in programming (in R and Python);
• perseverance in problem solving;
• good writing and oral communication skills in English.
• For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognized Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here.

Contactinformation

For more information about this position, please contact dr. Guusje Bonnema, by phone +31 317 484028 or e-mail guusje.bonnema@wur.nl, or dr. Sandra Smit, by e-email sandra.smit@wur.nl.

For more information about the procedure, please contact Dax Teunissen, corporate recruiter (+31 317 487820, dax.teunissen@wur.nl).