PhD position: Genetic basis of yield stability in barley under drought - NIOO-KNAW - Wageningen

Interested in how crops maintain stable yields under both optimal and drought conditions? A PhD position within the Allrounder project - dissecting the genetic basis of natural variation in root and shoot architecture as basis for breeding climate-resilient barley - might be suited for you!

In a collaborative project between the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) and Wageningen University & Research (WUR), together we are looking for two enthusiastic PhD candidates to investigate how wild barley, the wild relative of cultivated barley, can maintain stable yield across both optimal and drought conditions. The projects focus on (PhD2) above-ground growth and yield responses to water limitation (NIOO-KNAW/WUR) and (PhD1) below-ground development (WUR).

Using a high-throughput root phenotyping facility and a diverse panel of wild barley accessions, you will study how root architecture and shoot traits influence plant performance under different water conditions. By combining phenotyping with genetic approaches such as GWAS and candidate gene analysis, the project aims to identify what makes the wild progenitor of barley resilient: what traits and alleles support stable yield across environments? Ultimately, this research will contribute to the development of barley varieties that perform reliably under both optimal and water-limited conditions - true “allrounder” crops for future climates.

What you will be doing

PhD2:

• Together with other project members, you will design and execute controlled-environment experiments, including large greenhouse experiments to collect whole-plant measurements, phenotyping of shoot growth, physiology, and yield-related traits in barley diversity panels under different water regimes, and perform GWAS analyses to identify loci associated with yield stability across environments.
• The project will be carried out jointly at NIOO-KNAW and the Laboratory of Molecular Biology at Wageningen University, and you will divide your time between both institutes while being employed by NIOO.
• You will conduct mutant analysis, generating CRISPR/Cas mutants and transformation approaches to identify developmental genetic regulators.
• You will analyze data and integrate multi-modal datasets using quantitative/statistical approaches. This includes linking variation in shoot phenotypes to root traits, to evaluate the role of root plasticity in yield stability.
• You will coordinate collaboration by managing cross-team experiments.
• You will write and publish your research in leading scientific journals and communicate your findings through your PhD thesis and via broader societal outreach.

PhD1 (WUR) go to: https://www.wur.nl/en/vacancy/phd-position-genetic-basis-yield-stability-barley-under-drought

Your workplace

This research is embedded in the Netherlands Institute of Ecology in Wageningen (NIOO-KNAW) and two collaborating research groups at Wageningen University. PhD2 will be appointed at NIOO-KNAW and will be jointly supervised by NIOO-KNAW (Prof. Koen Verhoeven) and the Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Wageningen University; Dr. Wilma van Esse). The two PhD candidates will work closely together within this interdisciplinary project.

What you will be contributing

We are looking for motivated candidates interested in understanding the developmental and physiological mechanisms that determine plant performance across environments, with a particular interest in root and shoot responses to water limitation.

You also have

• A successfully completed MSc degree in plant sciences, plant (molecular) biology, plant genetics or a related field.
• Strong teamwork skills and the ability to collaborate across institutes and disciplines.
• Good data skills. Experience with quantitative genetics, natural variation studies, and affinity with programming in R and Python is a plus.
• Experience with cereal genetics, molecular biology techniques (e.g. transcriptome analysis, tissue culture, gene editing), and bioinformatics/GWAS analyses is an advantage.
• Curiosity, proactivity, and enthusiasm for working in an interdisciplinary research environment. A willingness to divide your time between two research institutes (NIOO-KNAW and WUR) is essential.

For this position your command of the English language is expected to be at C1 level. Sometimes it is necessary to submit an internationally recognised Certificate of Proficiency in the English Language.

What do we offer?

The PhD2 position is hosted at the department of Terrestrial Ecology at the Netherlands Institute of Ecology, and the PhD project will be executed jointly with the Laboratory of Molecular Biology at WUR, where part of the work will be done. We offer a dynamic and inspiring environment with excellent support for experimental work and analysis, and great opportunities for collaboration. The position is for 0.8-1.0 fte, initially for 1 year, and upon satisfactory performance to be prolonged to a maximum of 4 years total. There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities at NIOO-KNAW as well as through the graduate school EPS (https://graduateschool-eps.info/).

More information
For more information please contact: Prof. Koen Verhoeven, k.verhoeven@nioo.knaw.nl, tel. +31 317-473559.

Application procedure
Please send us a motivation letter plus your complete and up-to-date curriculum vitae. The maximum length of the documents should not exceed 3 pages Additional files such as grades and transcripts are not required during this stage and will not be considered.

You can apply up to and including 15 June 2026 and we will schedule the first job interviews soon after that date.

About NIOO
The Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO) is a national research institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). At NIOO we perform ecological research on biodiversity, climate change and sustainable use of land and water. We stimulate ecological research in the Netherlands and share our ecological knowledge with society. Everyone in our organisation is passionate about contributing to a sustainable world from their own area of expertise.

Terms of employment
Depending on education and experience the minimum salary is €3.059 and the maximum salary is €3.881 gross per month for a full-time appointment (scale P cao Nederlandse Universiteiten/KNAW). This is exclusive of 8% vacation allowance, 8.3% year-end bonus, travel allowance, internet allowance, home working allowance and pension accrual with ABP.

The KNAW offers its staff an excellent package of secondary benefits. A package that meets the different needs of employees depending on their stage of life, lifestyle or career ambitions. For example, by working an extra two hours a week, it is possible to increase the number of days off from 29 to 41 days a year (with full-time employment).  

For a complete overview of the terms of employment, please refer to the web page: werken bij de KNAW.

Applying for a Certificate of Good Conduct can be part of the employment procedure.

Diversity & Inclusion
The KNAW considers a working environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated of great importance. A working environment in which attention is paid to individual quality and where development opportunities are paramount. Together we strive for an inclusive culture in which we embrace differences. We would therefore like to invite candidates who want to contribute to this through their background and experience. In the event of equal suitability, preference will be given to the candidate who thus enhances diversity within the Academy.

We will not respond to any supplier enquiries based on this job advertisement.