Vacancy
PhD position in genomics of behavioral traits in pigs and chickens
Your job
The project will leverage large-scale datasets from pigs and poultry to uncover the genetic basis of behaviour, integrating forward and reverse genetics approaches alongside advanced variant prioritization methods.
The FIT project will re-use data from two ongoing projects, IMAGEN and HenTrack, which provide detailed behavioral data of pigs and laying hens. The PhD candidate will focus on identifying genetic variants associated with behavioral traits and developing methodologies to use information from other species to identify candidate genes, ultimately contributing to the improvement of breeding strategies that enhance animal welfare. The successful candidate will closely collaborate with another PhD candidate within the project.
Specifically, the candidate will be involved in:
- Cross-species genomic analysis: Investigate conserved gene-phenotype relationships across species to prioritize candidate genes influencing welfare-related behavioural traits in pigs and poultry. This involves mining human, mouse, and other livestock genetic databases to identify potential genetic parallels for behavioural traits in livestock.
- Applying methods (e.g. GWAS) to identify and validate genomic regions and candidate variants influencing welfare-related behavior traits in pigs and poultry.
- Variant impact analysis: Use computational tools such as Functional-And-Evolutionary Trait Heritability (FAETH) and Combined Annotation Dependent Depletion (CADD) scores to rank genetic variants based on their predicted functionality and potential influence on behavioural traits.
- Validation of candidate genes and variants using transcriptomics and other ~omics related datasets
- Integrative genomics: Combine forward genetics (GWAS results) with reverse genetics (cross-species comparisons) to refine candidate gene lists and identify high-impact variants for further study.
Expected Impact and Applications
The results of this PhD project will provide fundamental insights into the genetic architecture of animal behaviour and its relevance for welfare-oriented breeding. The findings will help determine whether selection for specific behavioural traits can be optimized by leveraging knowledge from human and model species genetics. Furthermore, the use of advanced variant prioritization techniques will support the identification of causal mutations, potentially leading to improved genetic predictions and breeding decisions.
This work will provide valuable insights into how genetic selection can be optimized to enhance animal welfare. The findings will support breeding programs by improving the estimation of genetic merit for behavioral traits that are related to animal welfare. Additionally, applying computational tools for behavioral genomics will benefit the broader research community working on the genetic regulation of complex traits.
Supervisors:
- Dr Martijn Derks
Your qualities
- a master’s degree in a relevant biological field (Animal Breeding and Genomics, Bioinformatics, Molecular Biology) with affinity for the topic;
- a strong background in genetics, bioinformatics, computational biology, or a related field.
- experience with or willingness to learn genomic data analysis, computational biology methods, and statistical genetics.
- a strong interest in and experience with computer scripting and data analysis (e.g. Linux, Python, R);
- strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary research environment.
- good organisational and (written and spoken) communication skills in English, as well as a proven ability to collaborate with others;
- willingness to travel internationally, to attend conferences and visit other institutes.
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 December bonus of 8.3%;
- excellent pension scheme.
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.
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 20th consecutive time.
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 vacancy please contact Dr Martijn Derks by email: martijn.derks@wur.nl; or dr. Pascal Duenk, by email: pascal.duenk@wur.nl.
For more information about the procedure, please contact Noorien Abbas, corporate recruiter, by email: noorien.abbas@wur.nl.
Do you want to apply?
You can apply directly using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval.
This vacancy will be listed up to and including 21st of April 2025. We hope to schedule the first job interviews on the 28th of April 2025. The intended starting date of this position is 1st August, 2025.
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!
We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.