- JOB
- Netherlands
Job Information
- Organisation/Company
- Wageningen University & Research
- Research Field
- Biological sciences » Zoology
- Researcher Profile
- Recognised Researcher (R2)
- Application Deadline
- Country
- Netherlands
- Type of Contract
- Temporary
- Job Status
- Not Applicable
- Hours Per Week
- 19.2
- Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?
- Not funded by a EU programme
- Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?
- No
Offer Description
Are you an ambitious postdoctoral researcher with a strong motivation for identifying novel candidate genes involved in insect development from transcriptomic datasets? Do you have experience with RNA isolation methods and the analysis of single nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNAseq) and/or PacBio long read sequencing? Then we have an exciting project that combines molecular biology techniques with bioinformatics for you.
Understanding insect sex determination mechanisms is important for explaining how insect diversity has evolved and for developing new control methods for agriculturally and medically relevant insect species. However, most of our knowledge still relies on the well-studied Drosophila melanogaster, which alone does not represent the full diversity of insects. Oddly, in many insects we have no clue what genes are required for the regulation of female specific traits. From both an evolutionary and applied perspective, parasitoid wasps, which have a haplodiploid sex-determination system, diverge significantly from the sex differentiation mechanisms observed in Drosophila and are currently understudied. This postdoctoral project aims to identify novel genes in parasitoid wasps that are sex-specifically spliced during early embryonic development and therefore represent candidate novel genes involved in female differentiation.
To accomplish this objective, you will establish protocols and conduct experiments at all stages of a transcriptomics-based project in three closely related parasitoid wasp species. First, you will rear the insects and collect the needed embryonic tissues. Then, you will perform two complementary transcriptomic approaches: long-read PacBio sequencing on high-quality RNA extracts and single-nucleus RNA sequencing on isolated embryonic nuclei. After sequencing you will analyse the resulting datasets for novel genes that are sex-specifically spliced and curate the list of candidates to find potential sexual differentiation regulators (i.e. transcription factors) in all three wasp species.
As this PhD project is part of a larger VICI project, funded by NWO, you will work closely together with a PhD student in the team for the collection of tissues. In addition, the PhD student will subsequently characterise the novel candidates identified by your analyses for their function in regulating sexual differentiation.
As a postdoctoral candidate you will contribute to fundamental science in the context of insect evolutionary developmental biology. In addition, you will participate in cursory teaching of the chairgroup. You will be embedded in the Laboratory of Entomology, a diverse group of international scientists, and collaborate with (inter)national colleagues from both in- and outside Wageningen University & Research.
Your duties and responsibilities include:
- Designing and executing experiments with insects, especially establishing protocols for extracting high quality RNA and isolating nuclei from embryonic insect tissues.
- Maintain close contact with the sequencing company and related collaborators on the sequencing of the samples.
- Analysing complex sequencing datasets involving bioinformatics analysis focusing on identifying differentially spliced genes and identifying cell-type clusters.
- Teaching in courses and supervise PhD, BSc and MSc students.
- Writing and presenting research at/in internationally renowned conferences/journals.
Your team
You will work in a small team of PhD students, a postdoc and various BSc and MSc students with a focus on insect sex determination and sexual differentiation. This team is embedded in a larger chairgroup with many different lines of research.
You will work here
The research is embedded within the Laboratory of Entomology (Lab of Entomology - WUR), which is led by Prof. Bregje Wertheim (Bregje Wertheim - Wageningen University & Research). You will be supervised by Dr. Eveline Verhulst (Eveline Verhulst - Wageningen University & Research) and Dr. Julien Rougeot (Julien Rougeot - Wageningen University & Research). In addition, you will also be embedded in the PE&RC graduate school (Home | PE&RC), which will allow you to follow a wide variety of training courses and provide support during your academic journey.
Where to apply
Requirements
Specific Requirements
You are a highly motivated, enthusiastic and skilled postdoc candidate in the field of molecular biology and bioinformatics with an interest in insect development.
You also possess:
- A good academic record (PhD) in molecular (insect) sciences, particularly in molecular biology
- Expertise with next generation sequencing analysis; especially long-read sequencing and splice variant analysis and/or single cell/nucleus sequencing
- Strong affinity with insects and molecular work, especially RNA and nuclei extractions
- Excellent oral and written English communication skills
- Motivation to (co)-supervise PhD and BSc/MSc students, and disseminate results through publication of scientific papers, conferences and project meetings.
In our international working environment there is an increasing amount of communication in English. For this position it is about language level C1 .
Additional Information
Benefits
Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:
- sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
- working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
- 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 year-end bonus of 8.3%;
- excellent pension scheme.
In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 3.378,- and € 5.331,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 10). This position is fixed at 0.8fte for 2.5 years. As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended - if possible within (company) organizational circumstances.
We encourage development and internal mobility within our organisation. Our recruitment and selection policy sets out the conditions that apply specifically to you as a (former) employee. If you have any questions, we are happy to help.
You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment.
Selection process
For more information about the position, please contact Eveline Verhulst, Associate Professor and project lead, via email: eveline.verhulst@wur.nl .
Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Noorien Abbas, Corporate Recruiter, via vacaturemeldingen.psg@wur.nl .
Ready to apply?
Click on the application button next to the vacancy on our website. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.
To apply, please send the following documents (max. 4 pages in total for all documents):
- Complete and up-to-date curriculum vitae;
- Motivation letter.
- Contact information for two references.
The maximum length of the documents must not exceed 4 pages. If it exceeds, applications will not be considered. Additional files such as grades and transcripts are not required during this stage and will not be considered.
You can apply up to and including 31 May 2026. The first interviews are scheduled for Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 June 2026. Internal candidates are preferred to apply before 9 May 2026.
Procedure
As part of our selection process, an assessment may be incorporated within the procedure
Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone's unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.
Additional comments
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.
Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.
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 coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, our Welcome Center can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example housing, opening a bank account, dual career programs 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.
- Website for additional job details
Work Location(s)
- Number of offers available
- 1
- Company/Institute
- Wageningen University & Research
- Country
- Netherlands
- City
- Wageningen
- Postal Code
- 6708PB
- Street
- Droevendaalsesteeg 1
Contact
- City
- Wageningen
- Website
- Street
- Droevendaalsesteeg
- Postal Code
- 6708 PB