PhD in Plant Reproductive Genetics and Genome Engineering Radboud University in Netherlands

Radboud University is advertising a PhD position in Plant Reproductive Genetics and Genome Engineering within the Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES) and the Department of Plant & Animal Biology in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

This project sits at the intersection of biology and agriculture, with a strong focus on plant reproductive genetics, genomics, genome engineering, plant breeding, and crop biotechnology. The research aims to understand how plants reproduce, form clonal seeds, and persist across generations, while also exploring how reproductive pathways can be engineered to develop improved hybrid species and future crops.

The PhD candidate will combine laboratory work with computational data analysis and collaborate with international partners. The post mentions work on genetics, molecular biology, chromosome structure, meiosis and reproduction, and crop genomics/crop physiology. Teaching duties may take up to 10% of working time.

Eligibility highlights: applicants should hold an MSc degree in biology, biotechnology, bioinformatics, or a related field. A strong interest in genetics, plant reproduction, molecular biology, and chromosome structure is expected. Experience with R or another programming language is required. Helpful extras include microscopy, molecular biology techniques, plant tissue culture, and genomics data analysis.

Funding and contract: this is a paid PhD employment contract at 1.0 FTE. The initial appointment is for 1.5 years and, after positive evaluation, can be extended by 2.5 years to make a 4-year PhD. Salary starts at €3,059 gross per month and rises to €3,881 in the fourth year, plus holiday allowance, end-of-year bonus, extra leave, pension, and other employment benefits.

Application deadline: 9 August 2026. The first interviews are planned for 17 August 2026, and the preferred start date is 1 November 2026.

How to apply: apply only through the university application button/portal. Address the letter to Charles Underwood. The motivation letter should explain what excites you about joining the host lab, and the CV should include your expected GPA for both BSc and MSc.