PhD Position in Modelling Regulation of Plant Stress Responses across Species

PhD Position in Modelling Regulation of Plant Stress Responses across Species

Faculty: Faculty of Science Department: Department of Biology Hours per week: 36 to 40 Application deadline: 16 June 2025

Join CropXR as PhD candidate! Develop computational models to translate drought & heat stress responses from a model plant species (Arabidopsis thaliana) to crops. Combine plant biology and computational modelling in a dynamic and interdisciplinary setting.

Your job

Do you want to be part of the development of resilient crops that can continue to feed the world when faced with climate change, reduced pesticide use, and reduced irrigation? Then you might be the ideal candidate to join our interdisciplinary research institute CropXR! With a budget of 96 million euros over a period of ten years, CropXR focuses on creating eXtra Resilient (XR), sustainable, and climate-adaptive crops. By combining plant biology, simulation modelling, and artificial intelligence we aim to develop smart breeding and cultivation methods. Thus, we try to speed up the breeding of complex resilience traits for several crops in different growing systems. This collaborative effort involves four universities and numerous companies. It encompasses scientific research, data collection and sharing, education, and practical applications in agriculture and plant breeding. Visit the CropXR website for more information.

Currently there are two PhD positions available that are part of the Translator work package within the core research programme of CropXR. One position at Utrecht University (UU) and one at Wageningen University & Research (WUR). Our shared goal is to develop computational methods to translate integrated simulation models of plant responses to stress (drought, heat) from a model plant species (Arabidopsis thaliana) to a number of agronomically relevant annual crop species. This highly interdisciplinary and collaborative work package brings together experimentalists, who provide measurement data for translating and testing model predictions; bioinformaticians, who investigate evolutionary conservation of sequence, (co)expression and regulatory modules; and modellers, who develop crop-specific integrated plant models.

The two PhD candidates will focus on complementary modelling objectives and will partly work together. Data produced by other research teams within the work package will be available for model design and parameterisation.

As a PhD candidate at Utrecht University, you will translate a mechanistic Arabidopsis drought and heat-stress response model to other species, going from the molecular network to the plant-level architecture and responses. You will analyse changes relative to the Arabidopsis regulatory networks and how these may impact response to drought and heat stress. You will construct these species-specific mechanistic network models based on both genomic comparisons and machine learning based species-specific module identification. You will integrate these network models into species specific architectural plant models, to investigate how difference in stress responses arise from differences in control networks, plant architecture, or their combination.

The PhD position at Utrecht University is within the Theoretical Biology research group , led by prof. Kirsten ten Tusscher. Regular meetings will be organised together with the Wageningen modelling team, in addition to meetings of the entire Translator work package, to facilitate communication and collaboration.

As a PhD candidate, you will develop computational methods and use these to obtain a better understanding of plant stress responses and their relevance for plant fitness and crop yield. You will communicate your results with other scientists and teams within and beyond CropXR. Additionally you will contribute to the education of BSc and MSc students from different knowledge institutions working with you on the project (max. 10-15% of your time).

To see what the strongly related PhD position at Wageningen University is about, and/or apply for that as well, you can visit the WUR website for more details .

Your qualities

• You have successfully completed an MSc degree in plant/crop science, computational biology, or a related field. If you have a background in applied physics or mathematics with a keen interest in biology you are also welcome to apply.
• You have experience in programming and modelling complex (biological) systems, and in interpreting model output in terms of its biological meaning.
• You have strong collaborative skills and want to contribute to the project as whole.
• You can clearly communicate your plans, results, and interpretation orally and in writing.
• For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level .

Our offer

• A position for 18 months, with an extension to a total of four years upon successful assessment in the first 18 months;
• a gross monthly salary between €2,901 and €3,707 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development , leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities , as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University .

About us

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University , the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes . Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow .

Working at the Faculty of Science means bringing together inspiring people across disciplines and with a variety of perspectives and backgrounds. The Faculty has six departments: Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Information & Computing Sciences, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Together, we work on excellent research and inspiring education. We do so, driven by curiosity and supported by outstanding infrastructure. Visit us on and discover how you can become part of our community.

You will be part of the Theoretical Biology research group, led by Professor Kirsten ten Tusscher , at the Department of Biology .

More information

For more information, please contact Professor Kirsten ten Tusscher at K.H.W.J.tenTusscheruu.nl .

Do you have a question about the application procedure? Please send an email to science.recruitmentuu.nl .

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.

If you are enthusiastic about this position, just apply via the ’apply now’ button! Please enclose:

• your motivation letter;
• your curriculum vitae;
• the names, telephone numbers, and email addresses of at least two referees.

If this specific opportunity isn’t for you, but you know someone else who may be interested, please forward this vacancy to them.

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The application deadline is 16 June 2025.