Summary
Utrecht University is offering a PhD position to investigate how the plant microbiome influences interactions with major plant pathogens, specifically Phytophthora infestans and Ralstonia solanacearum in potatoes. This project aims to predict disease outcomes from microbiome composition and plant phenotypes by combining high-throughput phenotyping, microbiome profiling, predictive modelling, and targeted experimental validation. The successful candidate will join the Plant-Microbe Interactions group within the NWO Vici project ResistoBiome.
Designation
PhD Candidate
Key Details
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Faculty | Faculty of Science |
| Department | Department of Biology |
| Hours per week | 36 to 40 |
| Application Deadline | 1 October 2026 |
| Salary | Starting at €3,204/month, increasing to €4,051/month (full-time) |
| Duration | 4 years (initially 18 months, extended upon positive assessment) |
Research Area
The PhD project focuses on predictive plant–microbiome–pathogen interactions, specifically investigating the potato microbiome’s influence on disease resistance against Phytophthora infestans and Ralstonia solanacearum. It involves:
- Large-scale potato experiments using diverse soil microbiomes.
- Automated high-throughput phenotyping for plant growth, physiology, and disease.
- Root and leaf microbiome profiling via amplicon sequencing.
- Analysis of integrated microbiome and phenotyping datasets.
- Contribution to machine-learning models for pathogen invasion and plant resilience.
- Identification of microbial taxa and interactions linked to disease outcomes.
- Isolation and experimental validation of candidate microbes.
- Designing experiments to understand protective microbial mechanisms.
- Collaboration across microbiology, plant pathology, phenotyping, bioinformatics, and predictive modelling.
Location
Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Eligibility/Qualification
Required Qualities:
- Enjoyment of combining experimental biology with quantitative approaches.
- Eagerness to develop skills in microbiome data analysis and predictive modelling.
Required Qualifications:
- An MSc degree in plant biology, microbiology, molecular biology, plant pathology, biotechnology, bioinformatics, or a related discipline.
- Experience with experimental laboratory work or plant experiments.
- A strong interest in plant–microbe interactions and microbiome research.
- An interest in quantitative biology, phenotyping, and data analysis.
- Ability to organise research activities effectively, communicate findings, and collaborate across disciplines.
- Proficiency in spoken and written English.
Advantageous Experience (not all required):
- Plant pathogens
- Microbiome sequencing
- Image-based phenotyping
- R/Python
- Statistics
- Machine learning
Scholarship Description
This is a fully funded PhD position at Utrecht University, offering a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. The successful candidate will work within the Plant-Microbe Interactions group and contribute to the NWO Vici project ResistoBiome. The position includes professional development opportunities, flexible terms of employment, and access to a supportive academic environment. The project provides a unique opportunity to work across various scales, from large-scale plant experiments and complex microbiome datasets to mechanistic studies with individual microbial isolates.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should apply via the “Apply now” button on the official Utrecht University job portal. The application must include:
- Your Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- A letter of motivation (maximum one page) addressing:
- What expertise and skills you bring that are relevant to this PhD project, and how they could contribute to the research.
- Which aspect of the PhD project you find particularly interesting or scientifically challenging, and why.
- The names, telephone numbers, and email addresses of at least two references.
For questions about the application procedure, email science.recruitment@uu.nl. For project-specific inquiries, contact Dr. Roeland Berendsen at r.l.berendsen@uu.nl.
Last Date for Apply
1 October 2026
