PhD position on plant cell genetic reprogramming towards callus friability

Do you want to contribute to the sustainable supply of natural products? Are you interested in the reprogramming of plant cells that will allow their efficient propagation as cells in culture? Then this PhD position within the collaborative EU-Horizon awarded COCO-AI project might be suited for you!

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated PhD candidate to study genetic reprogramming of plant cells. The research will focus on how transcription factors influence the friability of plant callus lines, an essential but as yet unpredictable property that allows cell culture establishment. Besides using Arabidopsis as a model species, the focus will be on cocoa (Theobroma cacao) as a socially and economically critical demonstrator species.  

As PhD student, you will be responsible for genetic reprogramming and functional validation of callus friability drivers.

Your duties and responsibilities include: 

• creating a genetic toolkit to enhance reprogramming in difficult or recalcitrant species;
• generating transcription factor induction and GFP reporter callus lines of Arabidopsis and cocoa;
• phenotyping and transcriptomics of callus lines and suspension culture;
• analysing data by bioinformatics and coordinate data exchange;
• write and publish your research in leading scientific journals, and communicate your findings through your PhD thesis and via broader societal outreach.

You will work here

The research is embedded within the chair Cell and Developmental Biology , which is led by Prof. Viola Willemsen. You will work together with a technician in the Stem cell specification and Regeneration team and be supervised by Dr. Renze Heidstra. 

This EU-Horizon Innovation Actions funded PhD position is part of the project: AI-Optimised Plant Cell Culture Platform for Sustainable Production of Secondary Metabolites, Demonstrated with Cocoa (COCO-AI). COCO-AI is an international collaboration between 3 universities, 4 small to medium enterprises, and 2 research and technology organisations, divided over 7 countries. COCO-AI aims to establish an AI-optimised plant cell culture platform as a sustainable, circular, and digitally enabled pathway for high value secondary metabolites. By generating and integrating multi-omics, imaging and process datasets, the project will enable AI to (i) accelerate callus line development through scoring and targeted intervention of friability, (ii) reduce suspension line development timeline through prediction of optimal growth and elicitation conditions, and (iii) consolidate results into standard operating procedures and a transferable AI agent applicable across species.

You are a highly motivated candidate who enjoys the challenge of investigating the underlying gene regulation of cellular reprogramming during developmental decisions.  

You also possess: 

• A successfully completed MSc degree in in plant sciences, developmental biology, plant (molecular) biology, or related field.
• Experience in one or more of the following: plant developmental biology, molecular biology, tissue culture.
• Skills or experience in one or more of the following are an advantage: transcriptomics, bioinformatics, plant transformation, microscopy.
• Affinity to work within a larger multi-disciplinary project, with teamwork/project-management skills needed for cross-institutional collaboration.

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

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• Partially paid parental leave;
• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• 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 year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will receive a fully funded PhD position and you will be offered a course program tailored to your needs and the research team.
The gross salary for the first year is € 3.059,- per month rising to € 3.881,-  in the fourth year in according to the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale P). This is based on a full-time working week of 38 hours. We offer a temporary contract for 18 months which will be extended for the duration of the project if you perform well. 

We encourage development and internal mobility within our organisation. Our recruitment and selection policy sets out the conditions that apply specifically to you as a (former) employee. If you have any questions, we are happy to help.

You will work on the greenest and most innovative campus in the Netherlands, in an international and open working environment. 

Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees. 

Because we expect you to work and live in the Netherlands our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family. 

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, our Welcome Center can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example housing, opening a bank account, dual career programs or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

For more information about the position, please contact Dr. Renze Heidstra, via email: renze.heidstra@wur.nl .
Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Noorien Abbas, Corporate Recruiter, via vacaturemeldingen.psg@wur.nl

Ready to apply?
You can apply directly using the apply button on the vacancy page on our website which will allow us to process your personal information with your approval. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.

To apply, please send the following documents (max. 3 pages in total for both documents):

• Complete and up-to-date curriculum vitae(max 2 pages);
• Motivation letter (max 1 page).

The maximum length of the documents must not exceed 3 pages. If it exceeds, applications will not be considered. Additional files such as grades and transcripts are not required during this stage and will not be considered.

You can apply up to and including 20 July 2026. The first interviews are scheduled for the 2nd week of August 2026.

Welcome, safe, and valued
Wageningen University & Research (WUR) highly values diversity and inclusion because we believe that different insights lead to innovative solutions. We create a work environment where everyone feels welcome, safe, and appreciated, regardless of background, identity, or experience. Together, we are building a culture where everyone's unique contribution adds to the success of our organization.

​The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 students and over 150,000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch the video below to get an idea of our green campus!

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.

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