Employment: 1.0 FTE
Gross monthly salary: €3,059 - €3,881
Required background: Research University Degree
Organizational unit: Faculty of Science
Application deadline: 09 August 2026

Your Job

Curious how plants reproduce, form clonal seeds or persist for generations as forever hybrid allopolyploids? Discover the answers in this PhD project.

The domestication of certain plant species by humans thousands of years ago is intertwined with the establishment of agricultural systems and civilisations. The plant species that were domesticated were selected to some extent by chance and circumstance. Modern agriculture harnesses the inherent vigour of hybrid plants to ensure productive crops that are robust to abiotic and biotic stresses. The simultaneous engineering of trait and reproductive pathways to develop novel hybrid species with excellent agronomic characters by design is a promising yet underexplored area of plant breeding research.

In this PhD project, you will combine genetics, genomics and genome engineering to understand the fundamental pathways of plant reproduction. You will contribute to the development of innovative plant breeding technologies that will shape the future of agriculture. You will combine laboratory work with computational data analysis and collaborate with international partners on ground-breaking genetic and genomic research.

Your teaching load may be up to 10% of your working time.

Does This Sound Like You?

Essential Qualifications

• You hold an MSc degree in biology, biotechnology, bioinformatics or a related field.
• You have a strong interest in genetics, plant reproduction, molecular biology and chromosome structure.
• You have hands-on experience with R or another programming language.

Desirable Skills

• You have experience with microscopy, molecular biology techniques and/or plant tissue culture.
• You have experience with genomics data analysis.
• You are interested in developing your teaching skills.

What We Offer You

• We will give you a temporary employment contract (1.0 FTE) of 1.5 years, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, your contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4-year contract).
• You will receive a starting salary of €3,059 gross per month based on a 38-hour working week, which will increase to €3,881 in the fourth year (salary scale P).
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
• You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20.

Additional Employment Conditions

Work and science require good employment practices. Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions reflect this.

You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself. For example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports membership.

In addition, you receive a 34% discount on the sports and cultural activities at Radboud University as an employee. Of course, we also offer a good pension plan.

We provide plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions through various training and development schemes.

Where You Will Be Working

Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES)

The world is facing unprecedented challenges that are leading to a loss of species diversity and pressure on the performance of natural ecosystems and farming systems worldwide.

With its overarching mission "Towards Healthy Ecosystems", the Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES) aims to perform world-leading biological research across scales, from genes to cells all the way to populations and ecosystems.

The RIBES Department of Plant & Animal Biology is currently expanding its research and education portfolio in the field of crop biotechnology to strengthen its impact on society. The crop biotechnology research line combines high-level expertise in the areas of plant genome engineering, meiosis and reproduction, and crop genomics and crop physiology.

Faculty of Science

The Faculty of Science (FNWI), part of Radboud University, engages in groundbreaking research and excellent education. In doing so, we push the boundaries of scientific knowledge and pass that knowledge on to the next generation.

We seek solutions to major societal challenges, such as cybercrime and climate change, and work on major scientific challenges, such as those in the quantum world. At the same time, we prepare our students for careers both within and outside the scientific field.

Currently, more than 1,300 colleagues contribute to research and education, some as researchers and lecturers, others as technical and administrative support officers. The faculty has a strong international character with staff from more than 70 countries. Together, we work in an informal, accessible and welcoming environment, with attention and space for personal and professional development for all.

Radboud University

At Radboud University, we aim to make an impact through our work. We achieve this by conducting groundbreaking research, providing high-quality education, offering excellent support, and fostering collaborations within and outside the university.

In doing so, we contribute indispensably to a healthy, free world with equal opportunities for all. To accomplish this, we need even more colleagues who, based on their expertise, are willing to search for answers.

We advocate for an inclusive community and welcome employees with diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives.

Is This the Job for You?

You can apply only via the application button.

Please address your letter of application to Charles Underwood.

In the application form, you will find which documents you need to include with your application.

Please ensure that:

• your motivation letter clearly explains what excites you about joining the host lab;
• your CV includes your (expected) graduation GPA for both your BSc and MSc.

We look forward to receiving your application.

The first interviews will take place on Monday, 17 August 2026.

Preferred starting date: 1 November 2026.

Application deadline: 09 August 2026.

We would like to recruit our new colleague ourselves. Acquisition in response to this vacancy will not be appreciated.

Want to Know More About This Position?

Prof. C.J. Underwood (Charles)

Email: charles.underwood [at] ru.nl