PhD in Barley Yield Stability under Drought – NIOO-KNAW & Wageningen University

Key details

• Host institution: Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW)
• Location: Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Kloveniersburgwal 29, Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Application deadline: June 15, 2026

Funding

Not funded by a EU programme

Funding level (from listing): partial or not via EU framework — confirm on the official call.

How to apply

• Apply by email to [email protected] (subject line and attachments per the official instructions).
• Full vacancy text and updates: Euraxess listing.

About the position

We are seeking two enthusiastic PhD candidates for a collaborative project between the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) and Wageningen University & Research (WUR). The research investigates how wild barley, the wild relative of cultivated barley, maintains stable yield under both optimal and drought conditions.

Project Focus

• PhD1 (WUR): Below-ground development.
• PhD2 (NIOO-KNAW/WUR): Above-ground growth and yield responses to water limitation.

Research Approach

Using a high-throughput root phenotyping facility and a diverse panel of wild barley accessions, you will study how root architecture and shoot traits influence plant performance under different water conditions. By combining phenotyping with genetic approaches such as GWAS and candidate gene analysis, the project aims to identify traits and alleles that support stable yield across environments. This research will contribute to developing barley varieties that perform reliably under both optimal and water-limited conditions.

Key Responsibilities (PhD2)

• Design and execute controlled-environment experiments, including large greenhouse trials for whole-plant measurements.
• Phenotype shoot growth, physiology, and yield-related traits in barley diversity panels under different water regimes.
• Perform GWAS analyses to identify loci associated with yield stability across environments.
• Conduct mutant analysis, including generating CRISPR/Cas mutants and using transformation approaches to identify developmental genetic regulators.
• Analyze and integrate multi-modal datasets using quantitative/statistical approaches, linking shoot phenotypes to root traits to evaluate root plasticity in yield stability.
• Coordinate collaboration by managing cross-team experiments.
• Write and publish research in leading scientific journals, and communicate findings through your PhD thesis and broader societal outreach.

Employment Details

The project will be carried out jointly at NIOO-KNAW and the Laboratory of Molecular Biology at Wageningen University. You will divide your time between both institutes while being employed by NIOO.

Additional Information

For the PhD1 position at WUR, please visit the Wageningen University & Research vacancy page: https://www.wur.nl/en/vacancy/phd-position-genetic-basis-yield-stability-barley-under-drought