Technician: Stress resilience in plants

Do you want to participate in the research of the laboratory of Plant Physiology at Wageningen University & Research? Do you have a passion for plant physiology?

Are you an enthusiastic researcher looking for a challenging and dynamic work environment? Then we are looking for you!

At the Laboratory of Plant Physiology, we study the interactions between plants and their environment. We investigate plant responses to abiotic stresses, such as drought and salt stress. With state-of-the-art research facilities, we study mechanisms at the cellular, organismal and community level to understand how plants interact with their environment and to explore innovative solutions for sustainable crop protection. 

Your duties and responsibilities as Technician include:

Your role will involve technical assistance in:

• Providing technical support in addressing research questions related to plant genetics and seed characteristics in recruiting microbes.

• Contributing to the execution of the research project.

• Assisting in teaching activities.
  Supporting the supervision of MSc and BSc students.

You will work here

This technician position is part of the recently funded open technology project, MiSeed,“The hidden potential of the seed microbiome: How does the seed microbiome shape seed performance and plant drought resilience?”. Plants grow in interaction with microbes in order to survive. These microbes can enter the next plant generation via the seed. 

The research is embedded within the Laboratory of Plant Physiology (https://www.wur.nl/en/research-results/chair-groups/plant-sciences/laboratory-of-plant-physiology.htm). You will be supervised by Dr. Rumyana Karlova and Prof. dr. Leónie Bentsink.  

You are a highly motivated and skilled technician in the field of plant physiology and molecular biology, who thrives in multidisciplinary and challenging projects. And likes to collaborate with a team of scientists.

You also possess:

• A Dutch HBO or equivalent degree, with a focus on plant physiology and metabolomics.
• Experience with lab management.
• Experience with seeds and plant phenotyping or the microbiome is an advantage.
• You work in a structured and focused way.
• You are willing to contribute to the teaching of MSc and BSc students.
• You have experience in taking responsibility for research project organisation and progress.
• Contribute to an open and inclusive atmosphere.
• You have good communication skills in English.

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 of course receive a good salary. Depending on your experience, we offer a competitive gross salary of between € 3.382,- and € 4.484,- for a full-time working week of 38 hours, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreements for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU) (scale 8).  

As for your contract, we initially offer a 12 months contract, that can be extendend to 12 more months on good performance. Of course, we are happy to have a conversation with you if you have any questions about this. 

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. If you come with a partner, we offer a Dual Career group program organized by our Welcome Center. This program helps your partner to get familiar with the Dutch culture, labour market and assists your partner to find a job.

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 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 Rumyana Karlova, assistant professor, via Rumyana.karlova@wur.nl or Prof. dr. Leónie Bentsink via leonie.bentsink@wur.nl.
Questions about the procedure? Get in touch with Ine van’t Land, Corporate Recruiter, via ine.vantland@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 March 30, 2026. Interviews will be scheduled mid April.

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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