Postdoc Microbiology - NIOO-KNAW - Wageningen

Are you a dedicated microbiologist with a passion for molecular biology and natural product chemistry? Our research team in the Department of Microbial Ecology at the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) is looking for a microbiologist who will work on ecology-inspired antibiotic discovery. 

Microorganisms are among the most brilliant chemists on Earth, capable of transforming simple building blocks into an extraordinary array of structurally complex natural products (NPs) with a range of biological activities. NPs and their (semi-)synthetic derivatives are the most prominent sources of novel drug leads. While the discovery of novel antibiotics has stagnated, only few of the NPs encoded in bacterial genomes have been identified. The overall goal of this 2-year postdoc position is to design ecology-inspired elicitors for next-generation antibiotic discovery. This project is part of a larger international research initiative, which will provide ample opportunities for collaboration. 

What you will be doing

In this position, you will work on a collection of endophytic microorganisms to discover novel drug leads. You will be responsible for:

• Genome mining of endophytic microorganisms for the discovery of novel biosynthetic gene clusters
• Designing ecology-inspired approaches to 'wake up' silent gene clusters that encode novel natural products
• Test natural products from endophytic microorganisms for activity against multi-drug resistant bacterial pathogens
• Collaborate with colleagues inside and outside the department
• Supervise/mentor MSc students and Research Assistant
• Report and publish obtained results

Who are we looking for?

A self-reliant and proactive team player who works accurately, can plan efficiently, initiates collaborations and enjoys working together in an international, diverse and multidisciplinary team. Do you recognize yourself in this profile? Apply now and strengthen our team!

Technical skills:

You bring experience in:

• Microbiology
• Molecular biology (i.e. genomics)
• High-throughput bioassays for antibiotic discovery
  
  

More information

Please contact Jos Raaijmakers: J.Raaijmakers@nioo.knaw.nl

Application procedure
For the application, please include a cover letter summarizing motivation and experience, a CV, and contact details of two professional referees (name, address, telephone and email). Deadline for application is 14 May 2026. Applications received later than this date will not be considered. 

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 €3.546,- and the maximum salary is €5.538,- gross per month for a full-time appointment (scale 10 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.