PhD in Environmental modulation of protein mobility in land plants

Your job

Would you like to unravel the physiology and molecular mechanisms responsible for protein mobility in response to environmental stimuli? Are you looking to pursue a career in academia? We are looking for an inventive, creative and talented PhD student to join our team!

Much like commuters between cities, proteins can move from one cell to another. One way in which intercellular ‘commuting’ is achieved is through cytoplasmic bridges called plasmodesmata (PD). PD span cell walls, effectively creating a link between the cytoplasm of two adjacent cells. How this dynamic process is affected by environmental factors is still largely unexplored. In this joint project between the Romanowski and the De Keijzer groups, we want to understand how environmental factors, particularly neighbouring shade signals, can affect cell-to-cell protein mobility.

As a successful candidate, you will investigate protein movement across cells in Arabidopsis leaves under shade-like conditions, using both targeted and untargeted multi-omics methodologies. Fluorescent tags that allow (GFP) or hamper (3xGFP) protein mobility will track the functionality of specific mobile proteins. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) coupled with single-cell proteomics will help identify the specific cells in which these genes are transcribed and map proteins that move across cell layers. Integrating proteomic data with scRNA-seq results will help build a comprehensive map of protein dynamics and regulatory networks at the single-cell, particularly in the context of shade-avoidance signalling.
Comparative analyses will also determine if protein dynamics observed in Arabidopsis are conserved in moss, providing insights into the evolutionary conservation of light-dependent regulation of protein movement.

Overall, this project combines advanced technologies in molecular- and cell biology and bioinformatics to uncover the regulatory network controlling protein movement across cell layers in response to environmental stimuli. Our findings will have implications for our understanding of plant plasticity and signalling across evolution and into food security.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• To study environmentally mediated changes in protein mobility and identify the mechanisms involved in cell-to-cell protein mobility.
• To establish and operate techniques such as single-cell transcriptomics and proteomics.
• To study the conservation of the process across evolutionarily distant species.
• To write peer-reviewed open-access scientific manuscripts, observe good research data management practices and abide by the FAIR guidelines.
• To participate in teaching and supervising BSc and MSc thesis students.

 
You will work here
The research is embedded within the Plant Developmental Biology Cluster, which links the Molecular Biology (MOB) and Cell and Developmental Biology (CBD) chair groups, led by Prof. Ronald Pierik and Prof. Viola Willemsen, respectively. You will be working at the ‘Romanowski (TimES lab)’ and the ‘de Keijzer’ groups, led by Dr Andres Romanowski and Jeroen De Keijzer, respectively. You will be co-supervised by Prof. Pierik, Dr Romanowski, Prof. Willemsen and Dr de Keijzer.

Your qualities

You are a result-driven team player. You also possess:

• a successfully completed MSc degree in Plant Sciences, Biotechnology, Molecular Biology or a related discipline;
• experience with plant physiology, molecular biology and/or cell biology;
• knowledge of/experience in -omics techniques (optional);
• a collaborative mindset;
• excellent communication skills
• proficiency in English (both oral and written).

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.

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;
• the option to accrue additional compensation / holiday hours by working more, up to 40 hours per week;
• 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.

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 € 2.770 - per month rising to € 3.539,-  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 19th 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 this position, please contact Dr. Andres Romanowski or Dr. Jeroen de Keijzer, by email: andres.romanowski@wur.nl / jeroen.dekeijzer@wur.nl.

For more information about the procedure, please contact Dax Teunissen, corporate recruiter , by email: vacaturemeldingen.psg@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 Monday 16 September 2024. We hope to schedule the first job interviews on 8 October 2024.

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/52uQpTrLuG

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.

Equal opportunities
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) employs a large number of people with very different backgrounds and qualities, who inspire and motivate each other. We want every talent to feel at home in our organisation and be offered the same career opportunities. We therefore especially welcome applications from people who are underrepresented at WUR. A good example of how WUR deals with inclusiveness can be read on the page working at WUR with a functional impairment.

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.