Publisher
source

Wageningen University & Research

Postdoc in computational metagenomic analysis of ancient plant-microbiome interactions Wageningen University & Research in Netherlands

Degree Level

Postdoc

Field of study

Computer Science

Funding

Full funding available

Deadline

Aug 31, 2026

Country flag

Country

Netherlands

University

Wageningen University & Research

Social connections

How do I apply for this?

Sign in for free to reveal details, requirements, and source links.

Apply for this position

Keywords

Computer Science
Environmental Science
Agriculture
Biology
Computational Biology
Microbiome Research
Ancient Dna
Statistics
Plant-microbe Interaction
Bioinformatic

Suggested positions

About this position

Wageningen University & Research is recruiting a Postdoc in computational (meta)genomic analysis focused on ancient environmental DNA, plant-microbiome interactions, biosynthetic gene clusters, and functional gene discovery. The project sits within the European AEGIS consortium and combines ancient DNA, plant science, microbiome research, computational biology, and crop improvement.

You will work in the Bioinformatics chair group and in the team of Marnix Medema, developing and applying computational omics and genome-mining approaches to highly fragmented ancient metagenomic datasets. The research aims to uncover molecular mechanisms underlying ancient plant–microbiome interactions, predict ecological functions of microbial and plant-derived pathways, and reconstruct co-evolutionary dynamics related to microbiome recruitment, metabolite-mediated interactions, pathogenicity, and disease resistance.

Key tasks include computational metagenome mining, quantitative analysis of biosynthetic and catabolic genes and clusters, biological interpretation of host-microbe interaction data, development or improvement of algorithms and computational strategies, and collaboration with international partners. The work is embedded in Wageningen University’s Plant Sciences Group and Bioinformatics Group, with a strong focus on integrative computational omics, machine learning, and scientific data infrastructure.

Eligibility highlights: a PhD in bioinformatics or a related subject; affinity with plants, microbiomes, metabolism, and omics data; proven programming skills; strong statistical skills; and excellent English communication skills. The post specifies English level C1.

Funding and contract: full-time postdoc employment (38 hours/week) with a gross monthly salary of €3,546–€5,538 (scale 10, CAO-NU). The initial contract is for one year and may be extended for the project duration of 3 years in total.

Location: Wageningen, Netherlands.

Deadline: apply by 2026-08-31. Internal candidates are preferred to apply before 2026-08-04.

How to apply: submit your application via the vacancy page on the WUR website using the application button. Provide a complete CV and motivation letter. Grades and transcripts are not required at this stage.

Funding details

Full funding including tuition fees and living expenses is available for this position. The scholarship covers all educational costs and provides a monthly stipend.

How to apply

Please submit your application including a cover letter, CV, academic transcripts, and contact information for two references. Applications should be sent via the online portal before the deadline.

More information can be found here

Ask ApplyKite AI

Start chatting
Can you summarize this position?
What qualifications are required for this position?
How should I prepare my application?