PhD in Epigenetics: Epialleles Driving Heritable Variation

Sport Society; Utrecht; On-site; EUR 38,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus

Pension scheme

Job summary

Utrecht University seeks a PhD candidate to investigate how epigenetic variation contributes to heritable traits using CRISPR/Cas9 and SunTag-based epigenomic editing in a non-model plant model. The project aims to disentangle genetic from epigenetic effects on adaptation across generations.

Collaborating with UU and NIOO-KNAW, the work will study transgenerational epigenetic stability and develop transient editing tools for clonally propagated crops in a real-world ecological context.

Qualifications

• MSc in molecular biology, genetics, biotechnology, plant sciences, or a related field.
• Experience in molecular biology techniques.
• Good command of written and spoken English.

Responsibilities

• Develop and use state-of-the-art CRISPR/Cas9-based technologies to target DNA methylation maintenance machinery.
• Deploy Suntag-TET1cd epigenomic editing to target candidate epialleles and prove causal links between methylation and gene expression.
• Investigate transgenerational stability of epigenetic marks over multiple generations.

Skills

communication

English proficiency

team collaboration

data analysis

Education

MSc in molecular biology

Experience in molecular biology techniques

Tools

CRISPR/Cas9

epigenomic editing

bioinformatics

Job description

Utrecht University seeks a PhD candidate to investigate how epigenetic variation contributes to heritable traits using CRISPR/Cas9 and SunTag-based epigenomic editing in a non-model plant model. The project aims to disentangle genetic from epigenetic effects on adaptation across generations.

Collaborating with UU and NIOO-KNAW, the work will study transgenerational epigenetic stability and develop transient editing tools for clonally propagated crops in a real-world ecological context.