Postdoc ‘Breeding for resilient crops'

Are you interested in the future of Plant Breeding and exploring the genetic potential of plants to develop resilient crops for a sustainable agriculture? Then this vacancy may be of interest to you.

Crop breeding plays a crucial role in addressing multiple worldwide most pressing challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, food and nutrition security, and the long-term competitiveness of agriculture. Yet research efforts, funding opportunities and infrastructure remain fragmented across Europe. What is needed to strengthen crop breeding research and innovation in Europe?

One of the most common targets in crop breeding has been resistance to pests and diseases caused by biotic factors. Recently, crop cultivation is under pressure of combined biotic and abiotic stresses due to the intensification of climate changes. Our research aims to explore plant genetic resources by using advanced biotechnology and molecular breeding tools to create cultivars of crops (with the focus on tomato) that are resistant to different diseases under abiotic stresses. 

This postdoc position offers the opportunity to learn the needs for keeping plant breeding innovative in the future, and to apply your research skills in the domain of genetics, plant breeding and phytopathology to create resilient crops.

The postdoc will work with different teams on a few projects including EU projects and other national projects funded by Topsector.

Your duties and responsibilities include: 

• Identifying the needs of future plant breeding
• Designing and conducting research including writing articles
• Supervising MSc and PhD students 

You will work here

You will work closely with colleagues in multidisciplinary teams of the research group of “Breeding for Resistance” at WUR Plant Breeding. Additionally, you will collaborate with colleagues from other WUR Chair groups including Laboratory of Virology and Laboratory of Phytopathology, and Business Units including Biointeractions.    

Plant Breeding of Wageningen University & Research is a merged unit of Wageningen Research and Wageningen University composed of around 200 people including MSc and PhD students and guest workers. It is a highly international group with more than 30 nationalities, organized in ten research groups. We conduct fundamental, strategic and applied research and provide teaching at all educational (BSc, MSc and PhD) levels. Our research focusses on the genetic basis of traits which are relevant to achieve a sustainable agri- and horticulture. We conduct this research often in partnership with breeding companies, local, regional and state governments.  

We are looking for a researcher skilled in communication, genetics, plant breeding and/or phytopathology with a collaborative attitude and a keen interest in (resistance) breeding. We prefer candidates with experience in crop genetics and breeding.

The candidates should have most of the following qualifications:

• A PhD degree in a relevant field, e.g. Genetics, Plant Breeding, Plant Pathology/Virology;

• Proven skills in research to unravel molecular genetics of resistance to diseases;

• Excellent planning and communication skills (both oral and written);

• Collaborative personality, interested in working with colleagues and students;

• A proven ability to publish in peer-reviewed journals;

• A good command of English language. 

In our international working environment there is an increasing amount of communication in English. For this position it is about language level C1 .

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;
• 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 of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 3.706,- and € 5.760,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 10). We offer a temporary contract for 12 months which will be extended for another 2 years 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.

Do you want more information?
For more information about the position, please contact Prof. Dr. Yuling Bai, via email: bai.yuling@wur.nl.

Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with vacaturemeldingen.psg@wur.nl

Ready to apply?
Click on the application button next to the vacancy on our website. Only applications submitted through our website will be considered. 

You can apply until 21 September 2026. Internal candidates are preferred to apply before 30 August 2026. We anticipate that the interviews will take place soon after the closing date.

Procedure
As part of our selection process, an assessment may be incorporated within the procedure 

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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