Assistant Professor of Crop Genomics and Engineering

Optimising plant phenotypes for different cultivation environments and production goals requires a deep understanding of the relation between genome sequence and function. Hence, there is a need for novel biotechnologies that translate fundamental knowledge and insight in the working of plants at the molecular level into strategies for crop improvement and innovation.

RIBES is seeking to strengthen its team in the area of Crop Biotechnology and Engineering with two new positions (the other vacancy can be found here). As an assistant professor, you will contribute to our expanding research and education in the area of crop biotechnology and engineering.

The era of long-read DNA sequencing has allowed the assembly of complete plant and animal genomes and the description of genetic variation within and between species. However, the functional interpretation of this information and its exploitation in classical and novel breeding approaches is not trivial. Innovative research in computational and synthetic biology is addressing how the variation of DNA and protein sequences leads to phenotypic variation. Through the analysis of large datasets and modelling of genome structure, genetic recombination, gene expression variation, metabolic pathways, and protein structure, hypotheses can be developed. These can be tested to identify the effect of existing genetic variants, predicting useful functional variants, and to ultimately design functions and/or pathways for agricultural applications.

As an assistant professor, your main goal will be to set up a strong Crop Genomics and Engineering research line. You will be stimulated to collaborate with the current team in the department of Plant & Animal Biology that work on, for example, plant meiosis and genome engineering, abiotic stress tolerance, plant developmental biology and gene regulation, as well as with colleagues in the wider Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences. Within the Faculty of Science, Crop Genomics and Engineering has strong links to the molecular, cellular and developmental biology research at RIMLS, modelling and data science at ICIS and IMAPP, and AI research across the campus. You will take a leading role in exploring possibilities for, and establishing, collaborations with national and international institutes. For instance, collaboration with Maastricht University's Brightlands Future Farming Institute in research and education is greatly encouraged.

With cutting-edge, internationally competitive research, a Crop Genomics and Engineering group will be able to exploit fundamental as well as strategic/translational science funding opportunities. You will embed your research in courses within the Biology BSc programme at Radboud University and the new Crop Biotechnology and Engineering MSc programme to be delivered with Maastricht University. Depending on your career stage, you should be able to obtain your teaching qualification within the first period of appointment or have demonstrated excellent teaching abilities.

Requirements:

• You are enthusiastic about research and have a scientific reputation in computational biology, genomics, bioinformatics, or a related field.
• You have an extensive international research network and an appetite to link fundamental and applied plant biotechnological research.
• You will seek to attract research funding from diverse national (e.g. NWO, TopSector) and international funding (e.g. EU, ERC) instruments and stakeholders.
• You are passionate about teaching and have experience in the subject area.
• You would like to mentor BSc and MSc students and PhD candidates.
• You have organisational and management skills and are willing to participate in institutional and university committees and contribute to academic and administrative activities.
• You have a collaborative nature and are eager to work with colleagues within the Plant and Animal Biology department, across disciplines, and with external organisations including Maastricht University's Brightlands Future Farming Institute.
• You are committed to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in academia.
• You are proficient in English.

Salary Benefits:

• We will give you a temporary employment contract of 18 months, with the prospect of an indefinite contract after one year.
• At the start of your employment you will be appointed as Assistant Professor level 2 (salary scale 11) on a career track towards promotion to Assistant Professor level 1 (salary scale 12). The performance criteria and duration of the career track will be tailored to your background and track record. The amounts in the scale are based on a 38-hour working week.
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus.
• You will be able to use our Dual Career and Family Support Service. The Dual Career Programme assists your partner via support, tools, and resources to improve their chances of independently finding employment in the Netherlands. Our Family Support Service helps you and your partner feel welcome and at home by providing customised assistance in navigating local facilities, schools, and amenities. Also take a look at our support for international staff page to discover all our services for international employees.
• You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20.

Work and science require good employment practices. This is reflected in Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions. You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself, for example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports subscription. And of course, we offer a good pension plan. You are given plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.

30.4 - 38 hours per week

Houtlaan 4