Summary
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) is offering a fully funded PhD position focused on exploring the genetic potential of plant resistance, specifically against leaf mould disease in tomatoes caused by the fungus Fulvia fulva. The project aims to discover novel tomato genes for durable resistance and develop predictive breeding strategies through molecular and genetic approaches.
PhD in Tomato Resistance to Leaf Mould Disease, Wageningen University & Research, Netherlands
Designation
PhD Candidate
Table
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Research Area | Plant Resistance, Genetics, Phytopathology |
| Location | Wageningen University & Research, Netherlands |
| Eligibility/Qualification | MSc in Plant Sciences, Plant Breeding, Bioinformatics, or related fields |
| Last Date to Apply | 8th June 2026 |
Research Area
The research focuses on uncovering and characterizing novel tomato immune receptors that recognize fungal effector proteins, aiming to establish a framework for durable resistance in crops.
Location
Wageningen University & Research, Netherlands
Eligibility/Qualification
- Completed MSc degree in Plant Sciences, Plant Breeding, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, or a related field.
- Strong interest in plant-microbe interactions and resistance breeding.
- Skills in molecular techniques and proteomics.
- Basic experience with programming (Python, R, etc.) and data analysis.
- Excellent communication skills in English.
- Team player with the ability to work independently.
Job Description
- Cloning and functional validation of candidate immune receptors.
- Contributing to AI-driven prediction pipelines for receptor-effector interactions.
- Validating experimental and computational predictions.
- Collaborating with breeding partners for practical applications.
- Writing and defending a PhD thesis.
Supervision Team:
- Prof. Dr. Yuling Bai
- Dr. Jaap Wolters
- Dr. Anne-Marie Wolters
- Dr. Matthieu Joosten
- Dr. Christiaan Schol
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit:
- A complete and up-to-date CV (max 2 pages).
- A motivation letter (max 1 page).
All documents must not exceed 3 pages. Applications should be submitted through the official vacancy page on the WUR website.
Last Date to Apply
8th June 2026
For further inquiries, contact Prof. Dr. Yuling Bai at bai.yuling@wur.nl or Dr. Matthieu Joosten at matthieu.joosten@wur.nl.
