PhD position: A genome-wide, multi-level approach to identify the key factors driving plant reg[...]

Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM); Wageningen; On-site; EUR 60.000 - 80.000; Full time

Job summary

A leading academic institution in Wageningen is offering a PhD position focused on understanding somatic embryogenesis in plants. Candidates will explore genetic variations in Arabidopsis thaliana ecotypes and utilize advanced techniques in microscopy, genome mapping, and molecular genetics. The role also involves teaching responsibilities over the course of the PhD. This opportunity is ideal for those looking to impact plant regenerative biology significantly.

Qualifications

• Experience with microscopy techniques for plant studies.
• Familiarity with genome editing technologies.
• Background in transcriptomics and proteomics.

Responsibilities

• Characterize Arabidopsis thaliana ecotypes for somatic embryogenesis.
• Map QTLs associated with somatic embryogenesis.
• Assist in teaching lab courses.

Skills

Microscopy techniques

Genome editing

Transcriptomics

Proteomics

Education

Master's degree in Molecular Biology or related field

Job description

Are you interested in understanding how plant cells reproduce asexually? We have a PhD position on the topic of somatic embryogenesis. Will you join us?

What are you going to do? You will dissect the genetic variation that underlies a type of clonal plant regeneration called somatic embryogenesis. You will characterize a large population of Arabidopsis thaliana (arabidopsis) ecotypes for their ability to undergo somatic embryogenesis, and then use genome-wide association (GWAS) mapping, transcriptomics and proteomics to identify the quantitative trait loci (QTL) that are significantly associated with the somatic embryogenesis. These approaches will allow us to identify a set of candidate genes that regulate somatic embryogenesis whose function will be further confirmed by functional analyses.

Your research involves:

• Using different types of microscopy to describe the development progression of somatic embryogenesis in different ecotypes;
• Mapping QTL, eQTL (RNA-seq) and pQTL (mass-spectrometry) to identify loci that control somatic embryo induction and development.
• Using molecular-genetic and genome editing techniques to overexpress and knock-out candidate somatic embryogenesis activator and repressor genes.

You will also be expected to assist in teaching BSc and MSc lab courses for a total of 10 weeks over the course of the PhD period.

Your team You will join the Plant Regeneration Group that is part of the Laboratory for Biochemistry, Wageningen University. Our group of PhD candidates and post-docs investigates the molecular-genetic pathways that drive plant regeneration through embryogenesis, including in planta systems (maternal haploid induction, egg cell parthenogenesis) and in vitro systems (somatic embryogenesis, microspore embryogenesis). We have a strong interest in transcriptional regulation of these developmental processes.

You will work here The Plant Regeneration group is part of the Laboratory of Biochemistry. Cellular biochemistry is the central theme in our laboratory in which we combine molecular genetics, proteomics, bioinformatics and spectroscopy approaches. We apply this integrated approach to elucidate the function of key proteins in a variety of biological processes. The research in Biochemistry is organised into seven research themes: Redox Cell Surface Signaling, Protein Structure and Function, Plant Development, Biomolecular Imaging, Plant Regeneration, Protein Folding and Stability, and Green Mechanobiology.