Last application date Aug 10, 2025 00:00
Department LA25 - Department of Biotechnology
Contract Limited duration
Degree Master's degree in Bioscience Engineering (Cell and Gene Biotechnology), in sciences (Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Biology), or equivalent through relevant experience.
Occupancy rate 100%
Vacancy type Research staff
Job description
Vacancy PhD student meiotic recombination in maize
ABOUT UGENT
Ghent University is a world of its own, employing more than 15.000 people. It is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area, and offers great career opportunities.
With its 11 faculties and more than 85 departments, offering state-of-the-art study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.
For the Laboratory for Plant Transformation & Gene Editing (www.pauwelslab.be) we are looking for one doctoral fellow.
YOUR JOB
Are you fascinated by genetics and plant biotechnology? Do you want to contribute to tomorrow's sustainable food supply? Ready to be part of a team that will work on more efficient plant breeding? Then this is your moment to make a difference - both in the lab and in the field.
You will be part of a groundbreaking FWO-SBO research project (MeioCOntrol) on meiotic recombination in maize - one of the world's most cultivated and economically relevant crops, as well as an important model organism in genetics.
What makes this position unique? You will contribute to innovative research by translating fundamental scientific insights into concrete breeding applications in maize. More genetic recombination means more genetic variation and faster progress in breeding programmes. This accelerates the development of varieties adapted to urgent challenges such as climate change. For breeding companies, this means a clear win, for you a PhD with social and economic impact.
Within an interuniversity network with ILVO and KU Leuven, you will work intensively with other PhD students conducting similar research in soy and tomato. This takes place in different labs located in Ghent (UGent), Merelbeke-Melle (ILVO), and Leuven (KU Leuven). You are also embedded in a broader team of specialists in genome editing, with knowledge exchange between academic and industrial partners. You are in contact with a large group of stakeholders, mainly international breeding companies.
Within this project, you will investigate various strategies to increase recombination:
- Genome editing via CRISPR-Cas of genes involved in meiotic recombination
- Exploration of natural variation in genes involved in this proces
- Exploration of the influence of environmental factors
You apply advanced techniques such as in vitro and molecular techniques (genome editing), microscopy and cytology – to study meiotic recombination - and bioinformatics, sequencing and other omics tools. You will optimise methods and develop innovative approaches and apply them in maize.
In practice, you will mainly work at UGent (Campus Proeftuin), with occasional assignments at ILVO (Melle site, Caritasstraat) and the VIB Agro-incubator (Nevele), and meetings and trainings at KU Leuven.
Job profile
- You hold a master's degree in Bioscience Engineering (Cell and Gene Biotechnology), in sciences (Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Biology), or equivalent through relevant experience. Diploma requirements must be met by date of appointment.
- You are passionate about science and have a strong interest in plant biotechnology
- You have knowledge of molecular lab techniques
- You have knowledge of microscopy and cytology
- You have an affinity with bioinformatics and sequencing techniques
- You speak and write English fluently
- A driving license B is a plus
Personal competencies:
- Organized and methodical: You excel at planning and prioritizing your work. You keep clear, detailed records of experiments and results, allowing for reproducibility and smooth collaboration.
- Team player with a sense of initiative: You collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary research team, while also working independently when needed. You proactively take the lead in designing and setting up experiments.
- Strong communicator: you enjoy sharing your work with others, also in the form of presentations or consultations. You communicate clearly, constructively and diplomatically, both within the MeioCOntrol consortium and with the stakeholder group.
- Flexible: You are open to moving between the different labs of KU Leuven, UGent and ILVO, depending on the experimental work.
- Critical and precise: You work in a structured way, with an eye for detail. You ask critical questions and strive for quality in every step of your work.
WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
- We offer a full-time doctoral fellowship position consisting of an initial period of 12 months - which after positive evaluation, will be extended to a period of up to 48 months in total.
- Recruitment can start from 01/10/2025 at the earliest
- The scholarship amount is 100% of the net salary of an AAP member in equal family circumstances. The individual scholarship amount is determined based on family status and seniority. The scholarship amount is a non-taxable scholarship. More information about our salary scales.
- Furthermore, every member of UGent staff can count on a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and educational opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave supplemented by bridging days fixed annually, a bicycle allowance, eco cheques, etc. A complete overview of our employee benefits.
How to apply
Send your CV (max. 2 pages), copy of your master's degree (if already in your possession), overview of your study results, and motivation letter (max. 1 page) as one pdf-file to [email protected] by 10 August 2025. Please add 'Vacancy MeioCOntrol' to the subject line. We do not accept late applications.
Suitable candidates, based on CV screening, will be invited for an interview. Please be sure to include a phone number on your CV where you can be reached during the day. Interviews will take place by the end of August 2025.
For more information related to this vacancy, please contact Prof Laurens Pauwels [email protected] (www.pauwelslab.be).
There are other vacancies for PhD students within the MeioCOntrol project (see websites ILVO and KU Leuven). Are you hesitating between different positions or does more than one vacancy appeal to you? Then do not hesitate to apply for several vacancies. We look at each application carefully and take your profile and interests into account.
