Postdoctoral researcher - Sweetspot: impact of (novel) sweeteners on gut microbial ecology.

Are you an enthusiastic postdoc-level researcher who wants to study the effect of non-nutritive sweeteners on the ecology of intestinal microbes? Are you an expert in microbial ecology, culturing of anaerobic microbes and do you have strong interest in human nutrition & health? Then we are looking for you!

The position is embedded in a PPS project called Sweetspot funded by TKI and private partners which investigates the effects of non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) and novel sugars on the gut microbiome and food-products. NNS are commonly integrated into products and presumed to be inert. However, recent evidence suggests that supplementation of specific NNS may induce person-specific, microbiome-dependent glycemic alterations. Although recent studies provoke considerable debate, the precise implications of these effects are still largely unknown. It is therefore essential to create further insights into possible health effects of NNS, novel sugars and/or novel sweeteners and how these sweeteners affect the ecology of intestinal microbes.

What is your role in the project?
In this project, you will study the effect of novel sweeteners on intestinal microbes. You will study if specific microbes can grow on these, how microbial growth is impacted by these sweeteners and how sweeteners will affect trophic interactions between intestinal microbes and the intestinal microbiome in general.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• cultivating intestinal microbes in single cultures, synthetic communities, and/or intestinal samples to study the impact of non-nutritive sweeteners;
• contribute to the writing of peer-reviewed manuscripts on the project results;
• presenting findings to key project stakeholders and the scientific community;
• assist in teaching in courses offered by the Laboratory of Microbiology.

Requirements:

We are looking for a candidate that has:

• a PhD in microbiology, molecular biology, or other relevant fields;
• experience with cultivation of anaerobic microbes;
• extensive knowledge of microbial ecology and a strong affinity with human nutrition;
• a good track record of writing or contributing to scientific articles.

In our international working environment there is an increasing amount of communication in English. For this position it is about language level C1.

You will work here
The research is embedded within the Laboratory of Microbiology. You will be working in the Molecular Ecology group under supervision of Dr. Erwin Zoetendal who is heading the Microbiome, Lumen & Diet research projects. You will collaborate with researchers and industrial representatives of the Sweetspot project.

Salary 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 December 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). Note, this position is for 0,8 FTE.

As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended - if possible within (company) organizational circumstances - on good performance. Of course, we are happy to have a conversation with you if you have any questions about this.

Wageningen University & Research encourages internal advancement opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a unique position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the “Best University” in the Netherlands for the 20th consecutive time.

Coming from abroad
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.

32 hours per week

Droevendaalsesteeg