PhD candidate in Chemical Communication between Plants and the Microbiome

If you enjoy working in an interdisciplinary research team and are eager to contribute to the understanding of how plants interact with other organisms, then the Plant Hormone Biology group, which is part of the Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences in the Faculty of Science at the University of Amsterdam, is the place to be Working at the UvA Join Us Just like all other organisms, plants also communicate, not only with their own species, but also with hundreds other organisms surrounding them using the language of chemistry. In this project, you will decode a hybrid chemical language jointly made by plants and their associated microbes. Intriguingly, this language can also be perceived by parasitic nematodes. You will uncover how this language is created from plant side through transcriptome and metabolomics data analysis and biochemical characterization of plant genes. By knocking out or silencing the candidate genes you will study the function of this language for plants, microbes and nematodes. You will be involved in Microbial Imprinting for Crop Resilience ( MiCRop ) consortia and have opportunities to interact with 5 other groups working on the plant microbiome interactions in the Netherlands. A good salary Your salary will be determined on the basis of your experience and seniority, in accordance with the Labour agreement . Your grading and therefore the amounts mentioned are based on full employment of 38 hours per week. 232 vacation hours We also offer parental leave, partner leave and social engagement leave. Through the Employment Conditions Menu Card, there are opportunities for even more vacation hours. Financial arrangements On top of your salary, you receive holiday allowance (8%) and a year-end bonus (8.3%). You build up a good pension with ABP. And in addition, we offer many other allowances and schemes. Career development and room for growth The UvA encourages you to continue to professionalise through training courses and open UvA lectures. Family matters Relocating to the Netherlands with your family? Find out about daycare, schooling, health insurance or employment options and support for your partner or spouse. Including the IDCN-network which provides support for your spouse through various training sessions, social activities, and networking events. All About This Vacancy This is what you will do The mission of the Plant Hormone Biology group is to understand the chemical communication of plants with other organisms in their environment. With an international and diverse team of post-docs, PhDs and technicians with expertise varying from analytical chemistry to biochemistry and molecular biology we study how plants use signaling molecules to affect the behavior of other organisms in the rhizosphere. This includes communication with microbial communities that have been shown to play a crucial role in the protection of plants against a range of stresses. Our research is aimed at understanding the biological relevance of this chemical communication and using it as a basis for improving resistance and harnessing the potential of beneficial root microbes resulting in improved stress resilience in crops for sustainable food production with reduced inputs. You will be responsible for identification of plant genes and precursors involved in a triterpenoid biosynthesis. Biosynthetic candidate genes will be functionally characterized, using transient overexpression and gene silencing approaches. Finally, you will knock out a selection of the most interesting genes by stable transformation using CRISPR/Cas9. Through these knockout lines you will study the function of this triterpenoid for plants, microbes and nematodes. Tasks and responsibilities: complete a PhD thesis within the official appointment duration of four years; perform your experiments in a systematic and well controlled manner and keep accurate records by properly documenting and organizing your work; be an active member of the research group and take responsibility for shared tasks. Discuss your work with group members and during consortium meetings. Incorporate feedback and give input to others; present your results at (inter)national scientific meetings; help with writing project reports; take a leading role in writing and publishing manuscripts; participate in the Faculty of Science PhD training program and the training program of the Experimental School of Plant Sciences; assist in teaching and supervising Bachelor and Master theses and tutoring students. What We Ask Of You You are passionate about science and have a particular interest in experimental plant biology and the plant metabolism. You enjoy performing experimental work (e.g. molecular biology, analytical chemistry using LC-MS, plant transformation), as well as data analysis and writing. You enjoy working in a multidisciplinary team and are a team player. You have good communication skills as you will be expected to discuss your results with a large group of partners and in (inter)national meetings. Your experience and profile: You have/are: a Master in Biology or Plant Science; experience with experimental work in plants; experience with omics analysis (especially transcriptomics and metabolomics); experience with data analysis using R or related program languages; affinity with plant metabolism; affinity with biochemistry and analytical chemistry; fluency in English, both written and spoken. This Is What We Offer You A temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of 4 years (the initial contract will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended for a total duration of 4 years). The preferred starting date is as soon as possible. This should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and master students. Based on a full-time appointment (38 hours per week) the gross monthly salary will range from €3.059 in the first year to €3.881 (scale P) in the last year. This does not include 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% year-end allowance. The UFO profile PhD candidate applicable The Collective Labour Agreement of Universities of the Netherlands is applicable. Curious about our extensive secondary benefits package? You can read more about it here. Your place at the UvA You will work in this team The Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences (SILS) is one of the Faculty of Science’s largest institutes. Its approximately 240 scientists and staff members work in 17 research groups that perform excellent research centered on four themes: Neurosciences, Cell & Systems Biology, Microbiology and Green Life Sciences. The Plant Hormone Biology group is an international and diverse team of 20+ members, including post-docs, PhD candidates, and technicians with expertise in various scientific areas. We use molecular biology, microbiology, analytical chemistry, and biochemistry to study the crosstalk between organisms and how abundance and function of the root microbiota affect plant performance, including under a range of stresses. Our research is aimed at improving plant performance and resistance and harnessing the potential of beneficial root microbes in crops for sustainable food production with reduced inputs. More About The UvA The University of Amsterdam is ambitious, creative and committed. An inspiration to students since 1632, a vanguard player in international science and a partner in innovation. The University of Amsterdam is the largest university in the Netherlands, with the broadest range of courses on offer. An intellectual hub with 42,000 students, 6,000 staff and 3,000 PhD students. Connected by a culture of curiosity. Important to know Your application & contact If you feel the profile fits you, and you are interested in the job, we look forward to receiving your application. We accept applications until and including 16 January 2026. Applications should include the following information (all files besides your cv should be submitted in one single pdf file): a detailed CV including the months (not just years) when referring to your education and work experience; a letter of motivation; the names and email addresses of two references who can provide letters of recommendation. A knowledge security check can be part of the selection procedure (for details: national knowledge security guidelines ). If you have any questions or do you require additional information? Please contact: Lemeng Dong, Assistant Professor, email address: l.dong2@uva.nl, T: +31616431799 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion As an employer, the UvA maintains an equal opportunities policy. We value diversity and are fully committed to being a place where everyone feels at home. We nurture inquisitive minds and perseverance and allow room for persistent questioning. With us, curiosity and creativity are the prevailing culture. Studies show that women and members of underrepresented groups only apply for jobs if they meet 100% of the qualifications. Do you meet the educational requirements but not yet all of the requested experience? The UvA encourages you to apply anyway.