PhD Insect Virology: viruses manipulation of caterpillar behaviour in a multidim

Many parasites, including viruses, manipulate the behaviour of host organisms to increase their own transmission, linking to the concept of the ‘extended phenotype’. Fascinating examples include behavioural manipulation of caterpillars by baculoviruses, with infected caterpillars expressing hyperactivity as well as climbing to elevated positions on plants just prior to death. These behavioural alterations have a crucial evolutionary benefit to the virus, enhancing its transmission. Until now, parasitic manipulation of host behaviour has been investigated as a bidirectional interaction between the manipulative parasite and the host.

While the possible influence of the host or parasite microbiome on host behavioural manipulation is starting to be recognized, the influence of the host’s resident virome has so far been ignored. The past decades, evidence has accumulated that insects harbour a wide range of covert virus infections that do not cause any signs of disease. In this project, you will study manipulative parasite-host interactions in a multidimensional context, by investigating how covert virus infections modulate crosstalk between manipulative baculoviruses and their caterpillar host.

You will start with analysing the phenotype of baculovirus-induced behavioural manipulation across several closely and more distantly related baculoviruses and lepidopteran hosts, and determine the impact of the insect’s virome on the manipulation. Next, you will investigate in detail the molecular mechanisms underlying the manipulation, especially focusing on changes induced in the lepidopteran central nervous system (CNS). You will specifically perform an in-depth analysis of viral CNS invasion and determine localisation of baculoviruses as well as covert virus infections.

Furthermore, you will validate putative mechanisms by functional analyses of candidate genes and proteins, using a range of techniques including RNAi and CRISPR/Cas9 technology. This research will aid in identifying how virus-induced manipulation has evolved across lepidopterans and identify commonalities and differences in underlying mechanisms, and will also reveal how the behavioural outcome of manipulation is dependent on the context of resident viruses present in the host.

This PhD project is part of a larger Vici project, funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). As such, you will closely collaborate with another PhD student and a postdoc in this project, working on related questions.

As a PhD candidate you will contribute to fundamental science in the context of insect virology. In addition, you will participate in cursory teaching of the chair group. You will be embedded in the Laboratory of Virology. In addition, you will collaborate with (inter)national colleagues from both in- and outside Wageningen University & Research.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• Designing and executing experiments with insects and viruses, measuring behavioural manipulation;
• Investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying behavioural manipulation using dissections, transcriptome, proteome and small RNA profiling;
• Studying virus invasion of the lepidopteran central nervous system, using GFP-labelled viruses, hybridisation techniques, antibody labelling and microscopy;
• Teaching in courses and supervise BSc and MSc students;
• Writing and presenting research at/in internationally renowned conferences/journals.

You will work here
You will work with in the Insect Virology group, as part of the NWO Vici project ‘Invisible influencers: How hidden virus infections shape insect life’ led by Dr. Vera Ros. The project is aimed at disentangling how the insect’s virome (i.e. the assemblage of viruses) impacts insect immune responses, fitness and behaviour, and thereby influences interactions with and effects of incoming virus infections.

The Insect Virology group is part of the chair group Laboratory of Virology, and research in Insect Virology focuses on multiple aspects of insect-virus interactions including mechanisms behind viral manipulation of insect behaviour, virus discovery, covert virus infections (i.e. infections without clear symptoms) in insects and the use of viruses for biological control of insect pests. You will be supervised by Dr. Vera Ros (WUR Laboratory of Virology) and Prof. Monique van Oers (chair of the WUR Laboratory of Virology). In addition, you will also be embedded in the PE&RC graduate school (Home | PE&RC), which will allow you to follow a wide variety of training courses and will provide support during your academic journey.

The Laboratory of Virology is part of the Plant Sciences Group of Wageningen University. It is located at the Wageningen Campus in the Radix building. We provide virology teaching at Wageningen University within BSc and MSc programs across various disciplines. The Virology chair group comprises around 35 members, including research/teaching staff, technicians, PhD candidates, postdocs and visiting researchers. Each year, an average of 25 BSc and MSc students undertake their final-year thesis research within Virology. The Virology group conducts fundamental research into plant viruses, insect viruses and arboviruses. Where possible, the knowledge generated is translated into applications aimed at improving food production and human and animal health.

PhD Insect Virology: impact of the insect’s virome on insect immunity & fitness

Insects are exposed to a diverse range of infectious viruses throughout their lives. In recent years, advances in largescale sequencing technologies have accelerated virus discovery, revealing a rich and diverse resident assemblage of viruses or 'virome' in insects, including covert viral infections that appear asymptomatic. To date it is unclear how such a virome impacts insect life.

In this project you will investigate how the resident virome impacts insect immune responses and fitness and thereby influences interactions with and effects of incoming virus infections. First, you will define the virome in several lepidopteran species and determine how the virome impacts insect life history traits and responses to incoming infections. In a next step, you will study in detail vertical transmission of the virome and investigate how the virome affects transgenerational immune priming (TgIP), a process whereby incoming infections lead to immune protection against secondary infections in the next generation.

By integrating virome sequencing and experimental infections with -omics approaches, microscopy, and gene editing tools, you will reveal fundamental mechanisms of insect immunity and virus-induced TgIP and the impact of the virome thereon.

This PhD project is part of a larger Vici project, funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). As such, you will closely collaborate with another PhD student and a postdoc in this project, working on related questions.

As a PhD candidate, you will contribute to fundamental science in the context of insect virology. In addition, you will participate in cursory teaching of the chair group. You will be embedded in the Laboratory of Virology and be co-supervised by the Laboratory of Entomology. In addition, you will collaborate with (inter)national colleagues from both in- and outside Wageningen University & Research.

Your duties and responsibilities include:

• Designing and executing experiments with insects and viruses, measuring life history traits, immune traits and responses to virus infections;
• Investigating virus transmission using hybridization techniques and confocal microscopy;
• Analysing complex datasets involving genomics, transcriptomics, small RNA sequencing and proteomics;
• Teaching in courses and supervising BSc and MSc thesis students;
• Writing and presenting research at/in internationally renowned conferences/journals.

You will work here
You will work within the Insect Virology group, as part of the NWO Vici project ‘Invisible influencers: How hidden virus infections shape insect life’ led by Dr. Vera Ros. The project is aimed at disentangling how the insect’s virome impacts insect immune responses, fitness and behaviour, and thereby influences interactions with and effects of incoming virus infections.

The Insect Virology group is part of the chair group Laboratory of Virology and research in Insect Virology focuses on multiple aspects of insect-virus interactions including mechanisms behind viral manipulation of insect behaviour, virus discovery, covert virus infections (i.e. infections without clear symptoms) in insects and the use of viruses for biological control of insect pests. You will be supervised by Dr. Vera Ros, Dr. Astrid Bryon (both WUR Laboratory of Virology) and Prof. Bregje Wertheim (WUR Laboratory of Entomology). In addition, you will also be embedded in the PE&RC graduate school (Home | PE&RC), which will allow you to follow a wide variety of training courses and will provide support during your academic journey.

The Laboratory of Virology is part of the Plant Sciences Group of Wageningen University. It is located at the Wageningen Campus in the Radix building. We provide virology teaching at Wageningen University within BSc and MSc programs across various disciplines. The Virology chair group comprises around 35 members, including research/teaching staff, technicians, PhD candidates, postdocs and visiting researchers. Each year, an average of 25 BSc and MSc students undertake their final-year thesis research within Virology. The Virology group conducts fundamental research into plant viruses, insect viruses and arboviruses. Where possible, the knowledge generated is translated into applications aimed at improving food production and human and animal health.

Management Office Assistant (MOA): WENR Institute Managers and Program Team

Are you an organised professional who enjoys bringing structure, connecting people and keeping things running smoothly? Would you like to work in an inspiring environment where science contributes to solutions for climate, nature, water and the living environment?

At Wageningen Environmental Research (WENR), part of Wageningen University & Research, we are looking for a proactive Management Office Assistant who thrives in a dynamic and international setting. In this role, you will provide essential support to our two Institute Managers and five Programme Managers, helping them focus on what matters most: creating knowledge and innovations for a more sustainable world.

As a Management Office Assistant, you are the central point of coordination within the team. You create overview, anticipate upcoming needs and ensure that administrative and organisational processes run efficiently. Thanks to your support, colleagues can work effectively and meetings, projects and processes are well organised.

No two days are the same. One day you are coordinating a strategic meeting, the next you are supporting programme management activities, preparing presentations or helping colleagues with practical and administrative matters.

You enjoy taking initiative, managing multiple priorities and building strong working relationships throughout the organisation.

As Management Office Assistant, you will:

• Coordinate meetings, agendas and logistics.
• Manage complex calendars and help prioritise requests.
• Support programme managers with project administration and financial processes.
• Organise business travel, order supplies and coordinate practical arrangements.
• Support HR-related administrative processes.
• Act as a contact person for IT-related questions and requests.
• Take minutes and ensure clear follow-up of actions and decisions.
• Create and improve professional PowerPoint presentations and other documents.
• Support document management, archiving and collaboration within Microsoft Teams.
• Proactively identify opportunities to improve administrative processes and ways of working.

Your team
You will work closely with two Institute Managers and five Programme Managers within WENR. Together, you form a professional and collaborative team that values initiative, reliability and mutual support.

You will work here
Wageningen Environmental Research (WENR) is part of Wageningen University & Research and is located on the Wageningen Campus. Our researchers work on solutions for challenges related to climate adaptation, biodiversity, water quality, soil health, sustainable land use and resilient cities.

By joining WENR, you become part of an organisation where science, innovation and societal impact come together. Your work will contribute indirectly to research and projects that help create a more sustainable future.

Management Office Assistant: WENR Instituuts- en Programmamanagers

Hoe zorg je dat een team dat werkt aan grote maatschappelijke vraagstukken elke dag goed kan blijven bewegen? Door overzicht te creëren, vooruit te denken en ervoor te zorgen dat de organisatie eromheen klopt.

Als Management Office Assistant bij Wageningen Environmental Research (WENR) maak jij dat mogelijk. Je ondersteunt twee Instituutsmanagers en vijf Programmamanagers en zorgt dat zij zich kunnen richten op waar het om draait: kennis en innovaties ontwikkelen voor een duurzame toekomst.

Je houdt van organiseren, schakelt gemakkelijk tussen verschillende werkzaamheden en krijgt energie van samenwerken. Jij ziet wat er nodig is, pakt het op en zorgt dat zaken geregeld worden.

WENR is onderdeel van Wageningen University & Research (WUR). Hier werken onderzoekers aan oplossingen voor vraagstukken rond klimaat, natuur, water en onze leefomgeving. Jouw werk speelt zich misschien achter de schermen af, maar jouw bijdrage is zichtbaar in alles wat daardoor soepel kan verlopen.

Jouw rol
Als Management Office Assistant ben je een belangrijke schakel binnen het team. Jij brengt structuur, houdt overzicht en denkt vooruit. Je organiseert vergaderingen, bewaakt afspraken en ondersteunt bij administratieve en organisatorische processen.

En geen dag is hetzelfde.

Vandaag bereid je een strategisch overleg voor. Morgen regel je een dienstreis of werk je een presentatie uit. Tussendoor ondersteun je een programmamanager bij projectadministratie, beantwoord je een praktische vraag of zorg je dat actiepunten uit een overleg worden opgevolgd.

Je wacht niet af tot iemand vraagt wat er moet gebeuren. Je ziet het, denkt mee en komt in actie.

Dit ga je doen

• Je organiseert vergaderingen, beheert agenda’s en regelt alles wat nodig is om bijeenkomsten soepel te laten verlopen.
• Je houdt complexe agenda’s overzichtelijk en helpt bij het stellen van prioriteiten.
• Je ondersteunt programmamanagers bij projectadministratie en financiële processen.
• Je organiseert dienstreizen, bestelt benodigdheden en regelt praktische faciliteiten.
• Je ondersteunt bij HR-gerelateerde administratieve processen.
• Je bent het eerste aanspreekpunt voor IT-gerelateerde vragen en verzoeken.
• Je maakt notulen en zorgt dat acties en besluiten niet blijven liggen.
• Je maakt professionele PowerPointpresentaties en andere documenten en zorgt dat ze er helder en verzorgd uitzien.
• Je houdt documentatie en archivering op orde en helpt collega’s effectief samenwerken in Microsoft Teams.
• Je ziet waar het slimmer of makkelijker kan en komt met ideeën om administratieve processen en werkwijzen te verbeteren.

Jouw team
Je werkt nauw samen met twee Instituutsmanagers en vijf Programmamanagers binnen WENR. Samen vormen jullie een professioneel en collegiaal team.

Je krijgt de ruimte om initiatief te nemen en mee te denken. Tegelijkertijd weet je dat je op je collega’s kunt rekenen. Betrouwbaarheid, samenwerking en elkaar verder helpen vormen de basis van jullie manier van werken.

Jouw werkomgeving
Wageningen Environmental Research (WENR) maakt onderdeel uit van Wageningen University & Research en is gevestigd op Wageningen Campus.

Hier werken onderzoekers aan vraagstukken die ons allemaal raken. Hoe maken we steden toekomstbestendiger? Hoe houden we water en bodem gezond? Hoe gaan we om met klimaatverandering en biodiversiteitsverlies? En hoe zorgen we voor een leefomgeving waarin mens en natuur samen kunnen floreren?

Dat vraagt om kennis, nieuwsgierigheid én samenwerking.

Jij staat niet zelf in het veld of in het lab. Maar met jouw werk geef je de mensen die daar wél werken de ruimte om zich te richten op oplossingen die ertoe doen. Jij zorgt dat afspraken worden nagekomen, mensen elkaar vinden en processen blijven bewegen.

Zo draag je iedere dag, vanuit jouw eigen expertise, bij aan een duurzamere toekomst.

Senior GeoAI-expert

Hoe zetten we de nieuwste ontwikkelingen in kunstmatige intelligentie in om complexe ruimtelijke vraagstukken aan te pakken? En hoe ontwikkelen we nieuwe GeoAI-methoden die bijdragen aan onderzoek naar klimaat, biodiversiteit en duurzaam landgebruik?

Als Senior GeoAI-expert bij Wageningen University & Research (WUR) werk je op het snijvlak van kunstmatige intelligentie, geografische informatie en onderzoek naar onze leefomgeving. Je ontwikkelt innovatieve onderzoekslijnen, brengt wetenschappelijke expertise samen en bouwt aan samenwerkingen binnen en buiten WUR.

Je krijgt de ruimte om een voortrekkersrol te vervullen in een snel ontwikkelend onderzoeksveld. Met jouw wetenschappelijke visie en expertise draag je bij aan de verdere ontwikkeling van GeoAI binnen WUR en aan de opbouw van een onderzoeksgroep die nieuwe mogelijkheden voor ruimtelijk en omgevingsgericht onderzoek creëert.

Jouw taken
Je brengt kennis van GeoAI, data science en de fysieke leefomgeving samen. Je ziet kansen voor nieuwe toepassingen van AI en weet die kansen te vertalen naar onderzoek dat ertoe doet.

Je:

• ontwikkelt onderzoekslijnen en brengt nieuwe projecten en financiering binnen;
• leidt multidisciplinaire onderzoeksteams en bent bijvoorbeeld projectleider van projecten van idee tot resultaat;
• verbindt collega's binnen Wageningen Environmental Research en WUR met overheden en marktpartijen;
• bouwt aan samenwerkingen waarin wetenschap, technologie en praktijk elkaar versterken;
• helpt onderzoekers om geavanceerde GeoAI-methoden toe te passen;
• maakt onderzoeksresultaten zichtbaar in wetenschappelijke publicaties, op conferenties en in formats voor stakeholders en klanten.

Je werkt aan thema's die direct raken aan onze leefomgeving, zoals landgebruik, klimaatadaptatie, biodiversiteitsmonitoring en ecosysteembeheer. Zo vertaal je geavanceerde AI naar toepassingen die bijdragen aan een duurzame toekomst.

Jouw team
Je komt terecht in Applied Spatial Research, een veelzijdig team waarin verschillende expertises samenkomen. Van AI-onderzoekers, softwareontwikkelaars en cartografen tot landschapsarchitecten en experts in ruimtelijke data en datakwaliteit.

Wat ons verbindt? Ruimtelijke data.

We bewegen ons op het snijvlak van beleid, wetenschap en technologie. Daar zoeken we naar slimme ruimtelijke oplossingen voor een duurzame en economisch verantwoorde toekomst – lokaal, nationaal én internationaal.

We geloven dat de beste oplossingen ontstaan wanneer verschillende perspectieven samenkomen. Daarom werken we interdisciplinair en zoeken we actief de samenwerking op. Met collega's, partners en mensen die vanuit een ander vakgebied naar hetzelfde vraagstuk kijken.