Jobs

About the Labs

The VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology (PSB) is a world-leading plant science institute located at the heart of a renowned plant biotechnology campus in Ghent, Belgium (www.psb.ugent.be). Its mission is to unravel plant biological processes and translate this knowledge into value for society. The Centre for Environmental Sciences at UHasselt tackles environmental problems in an integrated,  multidisciplinary way and studies how the environment and climate change affect ecosystems (www.uhasselt.be/en/instituten-en/cmk-centre-for-environmental-sciences). At UHasselt, S. Hendrix (www.uhasselt.be/en/who-is-who/sophie-hendrix) and A. Cuypers (www.uhasselt.be/en/who-is-who/ann-cuypers) have expertise in molecular plant physiology, redox biology, and biosensor technology. At VIB-UGent, I. De Smet (https://desmetlab.sites.vib.be) and F. Van Breusegem (https://vanbreusegemlab.sites.vib.be) have expertise in abiotic stress signaling and in advanced molecular profiling, including mass spectrometry-based phosphoproteomics, redox proteomics (CysQuant), and RNA-sequencing, leveraging VIB's Proteomics Expertise Center.

Job description

Within a larger project on climate-resilient crops, on healthy soils in a sustainable environment, the consortium is looking to recruit 1 highly-motivated PhD student. The PhD student will be involved in elucidating the plant physiological and molecular responses to climate change in pear, wheat and soybean grown in the UHasselt Ecotron and the VIB Agro-Incubator. To reveal novel modes of action, the successful candidate will use a multidisciplinary approach, with a strong focus on mass spectrometry-based phospho- and redox proteomics, combined with transcriptomics, non-invasive dynamic cellular redox monitoring and plant (physiological) phenotyping (thermotolerance, stomatal movement, etc). Overall, the project will contribute to our understanding of how environmental signals (temperature, drought) are perceived by the plant and converted into developmental and physiological responses.

Your Profile

Essential

  • You have received training in (plant) molecular biology and/or biochemistry
  • You can take initiative, function well in a team, and have a hands-on mentality, perseverance and critical mindset
  • You are proficient in the use of the English language for both oral and written communication

Desirable but not required

  • Experience with proteomics, stress physiology and/or confocal microscopy
  • Experience with a crop will be to your benefit

Key personal characteristics

  • You have a strong sense of responsibility, maintaining a clean working environment
  • You can accurately compile and document experiments (using an ELN)
  • You have a no-nonsense can-do attitude
  • You build team interactions quickly
  • You feel great in a fun team and add to that spirit
  • You communicate clearly, candidly, and respectfully

Our Offer

  • A 1+3-year PhD position
  • A multidisciplinary, highly stimulating and supporting international research environment at VIB, UGent and UHasselt
  • Access to state-of-the-art tools and infrastructure, including core facilities for proteomics
  • Various training opportunities are organized at VIB to broaden your expertise and skills (training.vib.be).
  • Tentative start date: spring/summer 2026

How to apply?

Submit your application through the online VIB application tool (https://jobs.vib.be/apply/130788). The call will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified.

Make sure that your application includes:

  • A detailed CV
  • A one-page summary of past research activities
  • A one-page letter of intent describing your motivation for this position, how your research experiences and interests are aligned with those of the lab and research topic and future goals
  • The names and contact details of 3 referees
Apply Now