Phd Position in Insect Virome Analysis

6 dagen geleden


Wageningen, Nederland Wageningen University & Research Voltijd

Like all organisms, insects have a native microbiome, including bacteria, fungi, and insect viruses. Many insects also serve as vectors to transmit viruses among animals or plants and the insect microbiome potentially influences this virus transmission. Therefore, the focus of insect virus research expanded from individual virus-host systems to metagenomics, i.e., bulk sequencing the genetic content of environmental samples without the need for prior virus isolation.

In this project, we will study whiteflies, a diverse group of agriculturally important insects that feed on plants and can transmit a variety of plant viruses. Whiteflies pose a severe threat to many plant crops, both in greenhouses and open fields. The management of this pest currently relies on insecticides; however, most whitefly species have already developed insecticide resistance. Biological control based on microorganisms is a promising tool; however, this requires fundamental understanding of the microbiome of whiteflies and its impact on virus transmission.

In this PhD project, you will contribute to developing bioinformatics approaches for microbiome analyses in insects, with a focus on the virome. You will discover the microbiome players and reconstruct virus genomes from metagenomics sequencing data of individual whiteflies. You will then associate this information with additional meta-data (such as geographic location and host plant) and, additionally, zoom in on the co-occurrence of different microorganisms in individual whiteflies to reveal possible synergistic or antagonistic effects. This project will thus contribute to understanding the factors that shape the viromes of insects.

**You will work here**
The research is embedded in two chair groups at Wageningen University: the Bioinformatics Group led by prof. Dick de Ridder and the Laboratory of Virology led by prof. Monique van Oers. Your daily supervisors will be dr. ir. Astrid Bryon and dr. Anne Kupczok, with complementary expertise: insect virology, virome analysis, and agricultural entomology (Astrid Bryon) and bioinformatics, comparative genomics, and molecular evolution (Anne Kupczok). The position is for four years and you will join the graduate school PE&RC. 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.

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees and students coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, 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. 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



  • Wageningen, Nederland Wageningen University & Research Voltijd

    Your job Are you looking for a PhD position focusing on the interplay between insects and their microbiomes? Are you a bioinformatician who wants to develop and apply computational methods for microbiome analysis and virus discovery using sequencing data sets? Then this PhD vacancy might be of interest to you. Like all organisms, insects have a...


  • Wageningen, Nederland Wageningen University & Research Voltijd

    Your job Are you looking for a PhD position focusing on the interplay between insects and their microbiomes? Are you a bioinformatician who wants to develop and apply computational methods for microbiome analysis and virus discovery using sequencing data sets? Then this PhD vacancy might be of interest to you. Like all organisms, insects have a...


  • Wageningen, Gelderland, Nederland Wageningen University & Research Voltijd

    Like all organisms, insects have a native microbiome, including bacteria, fungi, and insect viruses. Many insects also serve as vectors to transmit viruses among animals or plants and the insect microbiome potentially influences this virus transmission. Therefore, the focus of insect virus research expanded from individual virus-host systems to metagenomics,...


  • Wageningen, Nederland Wageningen University & Research Voltijd

    **_Do you have a background in Coordination Chemistry, Homogeneous Catalysis or a related field? Are you ready to tame highly reactive Ru(0) to use it for chiral catalysis to change the way how organic chemists build molecules? Are you knowledgeable, ambitious and not afraid of a challenge?_** **_Then this vacancy can be just right for you! _** We have a...


  • Wageningen, Nederland Wageningen University & Research Voltijd

    **_We are looking for two PhD students to join our recently awarded project _**_NanoNU-Marker_**_ to develop Nano-Chemical Biomarkers of Molecular Mechanisms and Nutritional Factors in Cognitive Ageing and Neurodegeneration._** **_Are you a highly driven, motivated and curious person loving interdisciplinary Science? Do you have an MSc degree in Physics,...


  • Wageningen, Gelderland, Nederland Wageningen University & Research Voltijd

    _Do you have a background in Coordination Chemistry, Homogeneous Catalysis or a related field? Are you ready to tame highly reactive Ru(0) to use it for chiral catalysis to change the way how organic chemists build molecules? Are you knowledgeable, ambitious and not afraid of a challenge?__Then this vacancy can be just right for you _We have a PhD position...


  • Wageningen, Gelderland, Nederland Wageningen University & Research Voltijd

    _We are looking for two PhD students to join our recently awarded project __NanoNU-Marker__ to develop Nano-Chemical Biomarkers of Molecular Mechanisms and Nutritional Factors in Cognitive Ageing and Neurodegeneration.__Are you a highly driven, motivated and curious person loving interdisciplinary Science? Do you have an MSc degree in Physics, Chemistry or...


  • Wageningen, Nederland Wageningen University & Research Voltijd

    Your job We are looking for two PhD students to join our recently awarded project to develop Nano-Chemical Biomarkers of Molecular Mechanisms and Nutritional Factors in Cognitive Ageing and Neurodegeneration. Are you a highly driven, motivated and curious person loving interdisciplinary Science? Do you have an MSc degree in Physics, Chemistry or...


  • Wageningen, Gelderland, Nederland Wageningen University & Research Voltijd

    Your job Do you have a background in Coordination Chemistry, Homogeneous Catalysis or a related field? Are you ready to tame highly reactive Ru(0) to use it for chiral catalysis to change the way how organic chemists build molecules? Are you knowledgeable, ambitious and not afraid of a challenge? Then this vacancy can be just right for you We have a...

  • Phd Position in Hybridlabs

    2 weken geleden


    Wageningen, Gelderland, Nederland Wageningen University & Research Voltijd

    Are you passionate about leveraging digital technologies to address pressing environmental challenges? If so, we have an exciting PhD opportunity for you Scientific context_Digital technologies such as virtual and mixed realities (XR) have the potential to change the way we communicate, make decisions, and engage stakeholders about our future. As part of a...


  • Wageningen, Nederland Wageningen University & Research Voltijd

    Your job Do you have a background in Coordination Chemistry, Homogeneous Catalysis or a related field? Are you ready to tame highly reactive Ru(0) to use it for chiral catalysis to change the way how organic chemists build molecules? Are you knowledgeable, ambitious and not afraid of a challenge? Then this vacancy can be just right for you! We have...


  • Wageningen, Nederland Wageningen University & Research Voltijd

    Your job Do you have a background in Coordination Chemistry, Homogeneous Catalysis or a related field? Are you ready to tame highly reactive Ru(0) to use it for chiral catalysis to change the way how organic chemists build molecules? Are you knowledgeable, ambitious and not afraid of a challenge? Then this vacancy can be just right for you! We have...


  • Wageningen, Nederland Wageningen University & Research Voltijd

    Breastfeeding is known to be important for healthy development of infants. One of the many benefits of breastfeeding is the protection against airway infections. Within this project, we will study the role of breast milk composition in the prevention of airway infections in infants, based on evidence that specific factors (proteins and peptides) in human...


  • Wageningen, Gelderland, Nederland Wageningen University & Research Voltijd

    Your job Are you interested in developing cutting-edge ex situ and in situ NMR/MRI measurement techniques for characterizing structure and texture formation in novel protein sources? Are you intrigued by how frontier ingredients, such as edible insects, can be processed into food ingredients and into our future food? Are you willing to pursue a career...


  • Wageningen, Nederland Wageningen University & Research Voltijd

    Your job Are you interested in developing cutting-edge ex situ and in situ NMR/MRI measurement techniques for characterizing structure and texture formation in novel protein sources? Are you intrigued by how frontier ingredients, such as edible insects, can be processed into food ingredients and into our future food? Are you willing to pursue a career...

  • Phd Researcher

    2 weken geleden


    Wageningen, Gelderland, Nederland Wageningen University & Research Voltijd

    _We are looking for an enthusiastic PhD researcher to conduct cutting-edge research at the interface of resilience and the electricity grid, combining socioeconomic, spatial and technical perspectives._Energy systems are becoming more decentralized while there is increasing demand for electricity, creating growing vulnerabilities such as grid congestion and...


  • Wageningen, Nederland Wageningen University & Research Voltijd

    Your job We have two PhD vacancies at Wageningen University to study the creation of fibrous products as a basis for the next-generation plant based meat analogues (PBMA). Reduction of meat consumption benefits both the planet and society. Current plant-based meat analogues do not fully convince consumers, among others due to a lack of attractive...


  • Wageningen, Gelderland, Nederland Wageningen University & Research Voltijd

    Your job We have two PhD vacancies at Wageningen University to study the creation of fibrous products as a basis for the next-generation plant based meat analogues (PBMA). Reduction of meat consumption benefits both the planet and society. Current plant-based meat analogues do not fully convince consumers, among others due to a lack of attractive...

  • PhD researcher

    2 weken geleden


    Wageningen, Gelderland, Nederland Wageningen University & Research Voltijd

    Your opportunity Do you have a strong interest in biodiversity research in a marine environment? Are you fascinated by the organisms living on the sea floor? Enjoy collaboration with individuals from diverse backgrounds to develop eco-friendly sand nourishment designs? If this sounds appealing, we encourage you to consider a PhD position within our team.Sand...


  • Wageningen, Gelderland, Nederland Wageningen University & Research Voltijd

    Your job Are you a highly motivated and skilled PhD candidate with an MSc degree in polymer sciences, chemistry or related area? Do you have good communication skills, are you a result-driven team player and are you keen to develop yourself in a PhD project? And do you have experience in developing new polymers for proton exchange membrane applications?...