Postdoc Position in Experimental & Computational Plant Biology

Postdoc Position in Experimental & Computational Plant Biology

Utrecht University - Faculty of Science

Utrecht, Netherlands

€ 3.546 - € 5.538 per month gross

Your job

The project aims to understand how a complex network of conserved MYB transcription factors is wired to regulate the deposition of cell wall polymer suberin across different tissues with different dynamics. Specifically, MYBstery aims to uncover the transcriptional (UU, this position) and post-translational (U-Fr, a PhD position) mechanisms that regulate suberin deposition in specialized root cells, which play a vital role in protecting plants from environmental stresses such as salinity. The project's outcomes are expected to contribute understanding that can guide the development of crops with improved stress tolerance, offering sustainable solutions for agriculture in the face of climate change and resource scarcity.

You will work on a commercially important species chickpea as well as the model plant Arabidopsis. Your project will entail resolving spatiotemporal gene regulatory networks of suberin deposition, testing the predicted network interactions and candidate genes experimentally, and leading cutting-edge methods development (TurboCas) to identify further candidates and network interactions. You will collaborate closely with the MYBstery PhD (U-Fr) who will address complementary questions about post-translational regulation of MYBs. You will take part in regular lab visits for training and knowledge exchange between the two collaborating labs, and benefit from annual opportunities to attend conferences in the field.

In this position, you will:

• Generate bulk and single cell transcriptomics data from chickpea roots;
• Integrate a range of relevant transcriptomics datasets to infer spatiotemporal gene regulatory networks of suberin deposition;
• Test predicted network interactions between MYB transcription factors via dual-luciferase-based trans-activation assays;
• Develop TurboCas methodology for plant use;
• Test candidate genes and evolutionary conservation in planta via transgenic approaches;
• Conduct short research visits (up to 2 weeks) to our collaborating lab at the University of Freiburg in Germany to learn methods and perform joint experiments/analyses;
• Take a pro-active role in collaborating with members of the MYBstery team;
• Analyse and interpret datasets, and present and write up research findings to disseminate them through presentations at conferences and peer-reviewed scientific articles;
• Supervise MSc and BSc students interested in MYBstery research.

Your qualities

We are looking for a curious, driven and passionate new colleague who meets the following criteria:

• PhD degree in plant biology, bioinformatics, biochemistry, genetics or a related field;
• Strong bioinformatics skills, preferably in transcriptomic analyses and network inference;
• Expertise in molecular biology and/or biochemistry, preferably with plants;
• Affinity for developing and troubleshooting novel protocols;
• Proficiency in English, both spoken and written;
• Well-developed organisational, analytical and problem-solving skills;
• Comfortable working both independently and collaboratively.