荷兰瓦赫宁根大学2022年招聘博士后职位（表观遗传重编程）

瓦格宁根大学，全称瓦格宁根大学与研究中心（英：Wageningen University & Research），位于荷兰瓦格宁根市，是荷兰的食品谷（Food Valley）的中心。瓦格宁根大学是一所的世界著名研究型大学，荷兰U类大学，其生态学、农业科学、生命科学、食品科学、环境科学等在全球享有极高的声誉，被公认为世界顶尖的农业和环境科学研究机构。

Postdoc position Epigenetic reprogramming

Wageningen University

Job description

As Postdoc of the Epi-Guide-Edit consortium, you will develop epigenetic editing tools and understand the consequences of editing in tomato protoplast cells (WP1) and later (WP2) in whole tomato plants. You will primarily target DNA methylation in genomic areas containing Transposable Elements (TEs) located in or near genes. The effect of targeted hypo- or hyper- methylation of these TEs on chromatin organisation, TE transcription and mobilisation and gene expression will be studied. We aim to design rules on how the expression of genes containing TE insertions can be modified by epigenetic editing. We will apply, among other techniques, ATAQ-seq, RNA-seq, DNA methylation and histone modification profiling and transposon display at single protoplast cell and pool levels. Long-term effects of the editing events and consequences for particular crop traits will be studied in whole tomato plants (WP2).

Epigenetic gene regulation is crucial for cell and tissue performance and epigenetic aberrations are associated with ageing, and disease development. Gene-specific epigenetic modulation using the CRISPR/dCas platform, i.e. epigenetic editing, provides a flexible system for epigenetic reprogramming. With the Epi-Guide-Edit consortium funded by the NWO Key Technology call, we aim to develop and apply the rules and tools for durable epigenetic editing as a key technology across different applications including health, medical and agricultural implementation.

This postdoc position is embedded in the group of Prof. dr. Gerco Angenent at Wageningen University & Research (WUR, NL), in the research group Plant Developmental Systems. We study the transcriptional regulation of plant developmental processes and how transcription factors and chromatin modifications control genes. Our group focusses on various processes such as flowering time regulation, floral organ development, fruit development and embryogenesis. We apply various methods, such as ChIP-seq, RNA-seq, proteomics, microscopy, CRISPR/Cas-technologies and in vitro assays.

You will work closely together with the other partners in the consortium and four plant breeding and biotechnology companies.

Requirements

A PhD in Cell, Molecular Biology, Life Sciences, Genetics.

Passion for epigenetics, genome organisation and gene regulation

Demonstrated skills in data analysis, bioinformatics and computational analysis .

Practical skills in whole-genome -omics approaches, epigenetic mark profiling and CRISPR technology.

Affinity with plant-related research, preferably experience with tomato

For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognised Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language. More information can be found here.

Conditions of employment

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;

the option to accrue additional compensation / holiday hours by working more, up to 40 hours per week;

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