PhD position: Tomato resistance to different viruses

Your job

Are you interested in exploring the genetic potential of plant resistance? Do you enjoy the challenge of applying molecular and genetics approaches to unravel the plant-virus interaction? Are you a highly motivated researcher with interest in developing resistant crops for a sustainable agriculture? Then this vacancy may be of interest to you.

In agricultural production, viral diseases cause significant economic losses and are a great risk for a sustainable agriculture. In tomato production, viral disease outbreaks have frequently occurred and caused by new or reappearing viruses, also termed (re)emerging viruses. The aim of this PhD project is to obtain durable and broad spectrum resistance against newly emerging DNA and RNA viruses in tomato.

Your duties and responsibilities:
A very promising strategy for durable and broad viral resistance consists of disabling plant susceptibility (S) genes that are required for viral proliferation and promote viral disease development. In this project, you as PhD candidate will use current knowledge on S-genes, explore tomato genetic resources (wild tomato accessions and tomato mutants) by using advanced biotechnology, proteomics and molecular breeding tools to develop tomato plants that are resistant to DNA and RNA viruses. You will identify, clone and characterize novel S-genes and study their role in viral susceptibility.

Your team
You will work closely with colleagues in multidisciplinary teams of the research group of “Breeding for Resistance” at WUR Plant Breeding. Additionally, you will be in collaboration with colleagues from other WUR Chair groups including Laboratory of Virology and Business Units including Biointeractions, as well as eight breeding companies participating in this project.

You will work here
Plant Breeding, Wageningen University & Research is a merged unit of Wageningen Research and Wageningen University with around 200 people including MSc and PhD students and guest workers. It is a highly international group with more than 30 nationalities, organized in ten research groups. We conduct fundamental, strategic and applied research and provide teaching at all educational (BSc, MSc and PhD) levels. Our research focusses on the genetic basis of traits which are relevant to achieve a sustainable agri- and horticulture. We conduct this research often in partnership with breeding companies, local, regional and state governments.

Your qualities

We are looking for an ambitious, enthusiastic candidate skilled in genetics, proteomics, plant breeding and/or virology with a collaborative attitude and a keen interest in resistance breeding.

The candidates should have most of the following qualifications:

• An MSc in Plant Sciences or Biology, with preference for candidates with good background in Genetics, Breeding, proteomics as well as virology;
• An enthusiastic, problem-solving person who likes to combine lab and greenhouse work;
• Experience with molecular techniques and proteomics;
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills in English;
• A team player who can also work independently.

We offer you

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 another 2.5 years  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.

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.

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.

Do you want more information?

For more information about the position, please contact Prof. Dr. Yuling Bai, Professor and interim Chair of Plant Breeding, bai.yuling@wur.nl; and/or Dr. Mireille van Damme, mireille.vandamme@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 28 April 2025. We anticipate that the interviews will take place in May 2025.

Additional information form
For this position, you must fill in a mandatory form which will allow us to have a comprehensive view of your qualifications and better assess your fit for it. You can access the form using the link below:

https://forms.office.com/e/nPuRmzCh9D

Your prompt response will ensure that your application continues to move forward in the evaluation process. We assure you that the information provided will be kept confidential and used solely for this application process.

Procedure
As part of our selection process, an assessment may be incorporated within the procedure

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.

We are

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!