PhD position: Do honeybees use fungi for self-medication?

Your job

Are you interested in molecular ecology, honeybees and fungi? Do you like experimental work in the field and in the laboratory?  Do you want to pursue a PhD? Then we might have an excellent opportunity for you in Wageningen, The Netherlands!

Self-medication by animals is a growing area of research. Various insect pharmacists using plants have been discovered in the last years while this behaviour was previously thought to be restricted to animals with high cognitive abilities. Plants are not the only source for medication; fungal derivatives are also very important for medication as shown by the discovery of penicillin, the first human antibiotic. This PhD project will broaden the scope of insect medication by looking beyond the use of plant compounds. More specifically, this PhD project will use Western honeybees as a model to study social insect medication, based on fungal secondary metabolites from various mushroom-forming fungi (Agaricomycetes) against viral pathogens. Since honeybees live in large colonies, self-medication in this species not only has consequences at the individual level but potentially also at the level of the entire colony, thereby contributing to social immunity.

As a PhD candidate you will be employed in the recently funded NWO ENW M1 project “Do honeybees use fungi for self-medication?” (the full application is available by e-mailing to bart.pannebakker@wur.nl).

You will have the opportunity to:

• Determine the seasonal use of fungal mycelium by different honeybee colony members;
• Explore the fungal species foraged by honeybees in the Netherlands;
• Evaluate the effect of fungal species on viral infection rates at the individual level;
• Determine how fungi are used as medication at the colony level.

You will work here
The research is embedded within the Laboratory of Genetics. The Laboratory of Genetics investigates causes and consequences of natural genetic variation within species. Because genetic variation plays an essential role in ecological and evolutionary processes, we ask ecologically and evolutionarily motivated research questions. We use a wide array of model organisms, ranging from bacteria and fungi to plants and insects. Your supervisory team consists of Dr. Bart Pannebakker, Delphine Panziera, Prof. Jaap de Roode and Prof. Duur Aanen

Your qualities

As a suitable candidate you:

• Possess a strong interest and/or background in entomology, fungal biology, evolutionary biology and/or molecular ecology.
• Enjoy working in an international environment and a multidisciplinary team.
• Are proficient in writing and oral communication in English.
• Do not have known allergies to bee stings.

You also possess:

• A successfully completed MSc degree in: Biology, Microbiology or related discipline
• Experience in handling insects and/or fungi
• A driving license would be beneficial for the field work
• Meet the entry requirements of the WUR PhD programme

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 € 2.872 - per month rising to € 3.345,-  in the fourth year 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 the Netherlands, 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. Bart Pannebakker, Associate Professor by e-mail at bart.pannebakker@wur.nl.

For more information about the procedure, please contact Dax Teunissen, corporate recruiter, 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 23 September 2024. We hope to schedule the first job interviews mid-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/pi276USiq2
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.