Postdoc position: GreenTE seed germination

Are you interested in mechanosensing in plants? Do you wonder how mechanical responses regulate seed germination? Then we are looking for you!

To strengthen the GreenTE project team, we are looking for a post-doctoral researcher. As Postdoc in the GreenTE (Green Tissue Engineering) Gravitation programme, you will be part of a multidisciplinary consortium of 7 Dutch universities. Together, GreenTE will unravel how plants sense and respond to mechanical stimuli. These fundamental insights will be the basis to develop engineering interventions to improve plant regeneration, seed germination and defenses against disease. The successful applicant will be an integral member of the GreenTE community, which offers an open, diverse and inspiring environment to engage in multidisciplinary mechanobiology research at the intersection of biology, chemistry and physics, and is expected to participate in GreenTE events, training and collaborations.

In the GreenTE subproject “How do cells communicate during seed germination?” we aim for mapping the mechanical responses during seed germination. The gained knowledge will be linked to transcriptome, translatome and phosphoproteome data to finally create an integrated model of seed germination. Within the team, you will be responsible for investigating how the mechanical responses are converted into biochemical signals. This research might include the identification and characterization of signaling proteins, investigating the effects of genetically modifying these proteins (e.g. By CRISPR) and / or localization studies. Besides carrying out the research project, you will contribute to teaching PhD, MSc and BSc students.

Your duties and responsibilities include: 

• Investigating how mechanical responses during seed germination are converted into biochemical signals;
• Characterizing the biochemical pathways identified;
• Collaborating with PhD students and postdocs working in our group, as well as with scientists in the GreenTE consortium;
• Publication of the results in the scientific literature.

Your team

The GreenTE subproject “How do cells communicate during seed germination?” will run at the Wageningen Seed Science Centre under supervision of Prof. dr. Leónie Bentsink. You will be working in a team with two PhD students and two other post-doctoral researchers. 

You will work here 

The research is embedded within the Laboratory of Plant Physiology chair group. You will be member of the Wageningen Seed Science Centre and be supervised by Prof dr Leónie Bentsink.

You are an ambitious researcher who is collaborative but also values their own project responsibilities 

You also possess: 

• a PhD degree with a specialization in Plant Science and/or Biochemistry;
• affinity and or experience with interdisciplinary research;
• a creative attitude, and you work in a structured and focused way;
• experience in (plant) molecular biology approaches;
• experience with experimental research on seeds is an advantage;
• enthusiasm for working in a team and good communication and English language skills;
• enthusiasm to contribute to teaching PhD, MSc and BSc students.

In our international working environment communication is 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 € 3.456 ,- and € 5.538 ,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 10). Additionally, a contract for .8 FTE can be discussed. As for your contract, we initially offer a one-year contract that can be extended for two more years on good performance.

Wageningen University & Research offers plenty of opportunities for growth and development, with a strong internal recruitment policy and excellent training programmes.

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 Leónie Bentsink, Professor, via 0317-481325 or email: leonie.bentsink@wur.nl
Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Noorien Abbas, Corporate Recruiter, via 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 up to and including Monday 11 May 2026. The first interviews are scheduled for Thursday 11 June 2026. Internal candidates are encouraged to apply before 11 April 2026.

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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