About the Tropical Crop Improvement Lab
The Tropical Crop Improvement Laboratory implements trait improvement approaches for important tropical crops such as banana and cassava. The Tropical Crop Improvement Laboratory has a strong focus on molecular biology, genetics and omics approaches to investigate crop responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Vanderschuren Lab has worked with several pathosystems including model and crop pathosystems to study geminiviruses.
About the Division of Crop Biotechnics and Biosystems Department
The Division of Crop Biotechnics performs cutting-edge research on crop and model plant species, integrating knowledge at the cellular, tissue, plant, environment and agro-systems level. The Division consists of several research groups developing various molecular tools and having a strong expertise in molecular biology, plant pathology, tropical crops, genomics, plant hormones, plant nutrition and soil. The Division of Crop Biotechnics provides a very international working environment with opportunities to collaborate with top-ranked universities and international research centers. The division is part of the Biosystems Department at KU Leuven.
About KU Leuven
KU Leuven offers a competitive and international working environment with access to cutting-edge technologies and expertise. KU Leuven is the best internationally ranked university in Belgium and ranks amongst the best European universities for research and education. KU Leuven also ranks as the most innovative university in Europe, building on a very strong tech transfer office.
https://www.kuleuven.be/english/
RESEARCH PROJECT
CbLCV (Cabbage leaf curl virus) - Arabidopsis and ACMV (African cassava mosaic virus) – cassava have been used by our laboratory to study host plant – DNA virus interactions. Our recent in-depth profiling of geminiviruses and other studies suggest that host genomic sequences can be combined with partial geminivirus sequences in the course of infection. Our preliminary studies also show that geminiviruses co-exist with other circular DNA molecules during infection.
In this pioneering project, we intend to characterize the mechanisms leading to alteration of epigenetic marks on genome stability and the molecular determinants for the generation of circular DNA sequences during infection. The study will take advantage of methods developed to profile circular DNA molecules and virus populations (1-3). The laboratory works with several pathosystems relevant for food security (cassava – begomovirus, banana – babuvirus) and the findings from the model pathosystem will be further investigated in the aforementioned crop pathosystems.
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Responsibilities
- Conduct research activities and analyze data
- Write scientific articles
- Co-supervise MSc and PhD students
- Co-develop research concepts and proposals
Profile
We seek a candidate with a PhD degree in Bioengineering, Bioinformatics, Biology, Biotechnology or other relevant degree for the abovementioned project. The successful candidate should have demonstrated knowledge/experience in bioinformatics, molecular biology, virology.
The successful candidate will have the following profile:
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- good academic performance at the MSc and PhD level
- demonstrated capacity to write (scientific writing) and communicate in English
- demonstrated capacity to write project proposals
- eager to learn new techniques
- able to integrate in an international working environment
Offer
- We offer a full-time postdoc position for 2 years with a possibility for extension
- Excellent guidance by a dynamic multidisciplinary team
- Training for scientific leadership
- Support to submit and lead research proposals
- Opportunities for research stays in partner laboratories abroad
- Opportunities to network with reference laboratories in top-ranked institutions
- State of the art research infrastructure
- Stimulating scientific environment with five professors specialized in molecular biology, genetics and meiosis, phytopathology, physiology and plant hormones, plant metabolites
- A challenging job in a young, dynamic environment
- High level scientific training at a top-ranked university
- Remuneration according to the KU Leuven salary scales
More information
About the Division of Crop Biotechnics and Biosystems Department
Interested?
For more information please contact Prof. dr. Hervé Vanderschuren, tel.: +32 16 37 62 45, mail: herve.vanderschuren@kuleuven.be.
KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.
