Postdoctoral Fellowship: Postdoc resistance to Verticillium in potato

About the Role

Take the next step in your research career and contribute to pioneering discoveries at the forefront of plant immunity, effector biology, and sustainable crop improvement. Wageningen University & Research (WUR) invites applications for a postdoctoral position to investigate the molecular interactions between Verticillium effectors and immune receptors from resistant potato plants. The work is part of the TKI project “Roots for resilience: Harnessing effectors to achieve resistance to Verticillium in potato”.

Using a diverse collection of wild Solanum species, you will identify and characterize immune receptors involved in resistance to potato pathogens, leveraging functional assays with pathogen effectors. The ultimate goal is to clone and characterize novel resistance gene(s) from wild potato species, gaining fundamental insights to support long-term strategies for sustainable potato cultivation.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform research within the TKI project and contribute to the effectoromics team.
• Supervise MSc students and a technician on the project.
• Provide mentorship to PhD students working on other projects within the team.
• Participate in teaching courses within the Plant Breeding group.
• Interact with academic collaborators and breeding companies; handle management tasks related to scientific leadership.
• Present results through presentations, progress reports for industry partners, and scientific publications.

Your Team

You will work in the ‘Effectoromics’ team within WUR Plant Breeding, alongside PhD students, two scientists, one technician, and varying numbers of MSc students. This position follows the Academic Career Framework (ACF) at Wageningen University & Research.

Requirements

We are looking for an ambitious and talented scientist with a strong interest in molecular plant-microbe interactions. You should be a team player ready to help students and colleagues in the lab and with bioinformatics analyses. Experience with teaching and supervising MSc students is essential. You must have a PhD in molecular biology or phytopathology, and work experience in molecular plant-microbe interactions, ideally focused on potato pathogens.

Required technical skills include:

• Molecular biology and biochemistry lab techniques
• Gene editing tools
• Bioinformatic tools for molecular genetics, protein structure predictions, and plant assays (e.g., disease tests, effector assays in the greenhouse)

Excellent English communication skills (C1 level) are required for our international working environment.

What We Offer

• Competitive gross salary between €3,547 and €5,538 per month (full-time, 38 hours/week, scale 10 CAO-NU), depending on experience.
• Initial one-year contract, extendable upon good performance for the project duration (three years).
• Excellent pension scheme and ample opportunities for growth and development.
• Work at the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open environment.
• Support for international employees: visa application assistance, advice on housing, banking, dual career programs, and schooling.
• Eligibility for a partial tax exemption on salary for the first five years in the Netherlands (for certain international staff categories).

How to Apply

For more information about the position, contact Vivianne Vleeshouwers, Associate Professor, via email. For procedural questions, contact Ine van ’t Land, Corporate Recruiter. Applications must be submitted through the WUR website; applications via other channels will not be considered. Deadline: 1 August 2026. Internal candidates are preferred to apply before 14 July 2026. First interviews will be scheduled soon after the closing date.

Original vacancy