中国农大-瓦大国际合作微生物组方向博士生项目

Project

Deciphering plant-microbiome communication for sustainable crop production

Project description

This project is under the umbrella of the Sino-Dutch Agriculture Green Development (AGD) Programme, which is a PhD program collaborated between China Agricultural University (CAU) and Wageningen University & Research (WUR). The aim of this project is to decipher the molecular and chemical languages in plant-microbiome communication. In this project, we will explore the root microbiome potential of different soybean genotypes under (a)biotic stresses with the specific goals of 1) deciphering the molecular and chemical languages in plant-microbiome communication; 2) identifying the components in root exudates that trigger or modulate microbiome biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs); 3) reinstating beneficial associations that may have been lost during the plant-microbiome co-evolution. The overall goal of the two PhD projects is to characterize the root microbiome composition and function, and to identify key root exudates signals and mechanisms involved in protection against biotic and abiotic stresses. The obtained fundamental knowledge and methodological innovations developed in this project will provide a basis to unravel the molecular and chemical mechanisms behind plant-microbiome interactions in the rhizosphere, as well as to support the goals of realizing green cropping system designs, green crop production technologies and healthy soils in China.

Job description

We are looking for two PhD candidates who will do a joint PhD between CAU and WUR. One of these will be 2 years at CAU and 2 years at WUR (graduation and degree at CAU); the other one will be 1 year at CAU and 3 years at WUR (graduation and degree at WUR). The tasks within these projects will be to:

·Develop new computational methods to link root exudates to microbial catabolic gene modules and other genomically encoded functions (required for 1+3 position only)

·Design and carry out experiments to unravel the molecular and chemical languages in plant-microbiome communication

·Identify root exudates signals that trigger biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs)

·Present your work at (inter)national meetings and publish scientific articles

·Supervise students

Requirements

·MSc degree in microbiology, plant science or computational biology

·Hands-on experience in computational data and microbiome analyses, molecular microbiology, plant bioassays, metabolomics analysis

·Experience in bioinformatics (Python and R) and/or (bio)chemistry will be of added value

·Experience with mutational analyses of microbes is a plus

·Language skills: fluency in English writing and speaking required, for details see https://www.wur.nl/en/Education-Programmes/PhD-Programme/English-language-requirements.htm

How to apply

To apply, please send your detailed CV (including list of publications), motivation letter, in English, at [e-mail]. Please indicate in your email subject with “Application for AGD-CSC-1+3 position or AGD-CSC-2+2 position”. Applications are welcome from now until 20th of December, 2020 for the CSC 2+2 position, for this position, you need to apply also through conventional CAU PhD application procedure; until 15^th of January, 2021 for the CSC 1+3 position.