Research Technician Root Barriers

BarrierFates is a NWO Open Competition XL-funded consortium aiming to explore how maize roots develop and utilize three critical cortical barrier cell types—endodermis, exodermis, and multiseriate cortical sclerenchyma—to enhance stress resilience. This project aims to uncover the genetic mechanisms that regulate the formation of these specialised root cells, which play a vital role in protecting plants from environmental stresses such as drought and parasitic plants. The project's outcomes are expected to contribute to the development of crops with improved stress tolerance, offering sustainable solutions for agriculture in the face of climate change and resource scarcity. By deepening our understanding of root barrier formation, BarrierFates promises to unlock new strategies for enhancing crop performance and resilience.

We are seeking a motivated and talented candidate to launch the BarrierFates research at Utrecht University. You will work on a commercially important species maize and its relatives. Your project will focus on optimising stress protocols (parasitic plant Striga, drought, soil compaction), generating phenotypic data from high-throughput screens at NPEC and imaging root system architectures and cellular anatomy. You will have the opportunity to interact with PhD candidates, postdocs and scientists involved in different aspects of the BarrierFates project, and we will provide opportunities for training and knowledge exchange between consortium members. A solid background in plant biology or a related field, with a keen interest in how root traits affect plant fitness under soil stresses will help you thrive in this role. The position will be based in a dynamic and collaborative research environment working under the supervision of Dr. Kaisa Kajala and Dr. Dorota Kawa. The expected start date will be in the fall of 2025.

Key responsibilities:

• design and optimise plant phenotyping protocols;
• generate and analyse root and shoot phenomics data in collaboration with PhD candidates;
• support the sampling and processing of material for root barrier phenotyping;
• conduct short research visits (up to 3 weeks) to our partner lab at IPK Gatersleben in Germany to learn methods and perform joint experiments;
• take a proactive role in collaborating with members of the BarrierFates consortium;
• analyse and interpret datasets, and present research findings during BarrierFates consortium meetings.

Postdoctoral Researcher in (ocean) biogeochemical modelling

Microscopic calcite (CaCO3) shells of plankton sink through ocean waters to the seafloor by the trillions each year, taking along essential nutrients such as phosphorus (P). Ocean acidification is likely to alter global CaCO3 fluxes, with so far unknown consequences for P cycling, ocean fertility and CO2 uptake. Our lack of knowledge regarding these feedbacks limits our insight in ocean functioning under environmental change, both in the (ancient) past and the human-impacted future.

The NWO-funded PHOSFLUX project aims to shed light on these unknowns, by quantifying the role of CaCO3 fluxes and acidification in global marine P cycling through a combination of field work in the North Atlantic Ocean, laboratory experiments and numerical modelling. A scientific cruise with our research vessel Pelagia will allow us to investigate CaCO3 – P interactions in the field. Through controlled lab experiments, we will dive deeper into the underlying chemical and mineralogical processes, to eventually capture them in physical-chemical models that predict the impact of acidification on marine P cycling.

The PHOSFLUX project is a collaboration between the NIOZ (Dr Peter Kraal) and Utrecht University (UU; Prof. Dr Mariëtte Wolthers), combining unique sea-going and on-shore experimentation with advanced analytical tools to understand mineral-water interactions from microscopic to ocean-basin scale. Besides PI’s Kraal and Wolthers, the PHOSFLUX team consists of a NIOZ-based PhD student performing experiments and analyses, and a Utrecht University-based postdoctoral researcher who focuses on modelling the CaCO3 – P interactions.

As postdoctoral researcher within PHOSFLUX, your role is to model P dynamics in sinking and deposited marine snow in relation to changing environmental conditions in the water column. To achieve this, you will create a reactive-transport model for P dynamics that will include processes such as CaCO3 dissolution, organic matter decomposition and adsorption/incorporation of PO4 into solid phases of marine snow. You will test the performance of your model by simulating experimental and field data in collaboration with the PHOSFLUX PhD candidate.

Research Assistant on mothers’ postpartum mental health

For this study, we are looking for a curious and proactive junior researcher to conduct qualitative research at the intersection of human geography and public health. Your work will involve engaging directly with mothers through a diary study and in-depth interviews, investigating how different environments influence mental health.

You will play a central role in recruitment, fieldwork, and analysis, and will collaborate with the principal investigator to translate findings into both academic publications and recommendations for improved support systems for new mothers.

This position offers an exciting opportunity to engage in meaningful scientific research, gain hands-on qualitative research experience, and contribute to a topic of significant societal relevance.

PhD in Environmental Economics

To encourage the transition to a net zero economy, many governments have introduced policies to encourage household and firm decarbonisation. These include higher taxes on energy and fuel, but also subsidies for innovation, home insulation, heat pumps, electric cars, green technology etc. Not all households or firms equally respond to and benefit from such policies, there may exist rebound effects, and the ordering of policies may impact policy effectiveness. During this PhD, you will use Dutch registry data and quantitative methods (such as micro-econometric methods for causal inference or structural modelling) to evaluate the effects of climate policy packages on households and/or firms.

The focus of your research will be on quantifying the impact of climate policy (packages). The goal is to derive policy-relevant insights that contribute not only to a better understanding of climate policy making, but also contribute to the design of future policy packages. For this purpose, you will use detailed Dutch registry data. The precise policies to be analyzed will be jointly determined based on research interest, policy relevance and data availability. This position is part of a collaboration between Utrecht University School of Economics and the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL).

Your tasks will include:

• using Dutch registry data and quantitative methods (such as micro-econometric methods for causal inference or structural modelling) to assess the impact of climate policy;
• presenting results at seminars (internally and externally), workshops and conferences;
• conducting policy-relevant scientific research and thereby communicating your findings to academics and policy makers;
• interacting with policy-focused research institutes, such as the PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency;
• engaging as an active member of the research team and department;
• teaching (10% of your appointment).

Exchange coördinator

• Je begeleidt uitgaande en inkomende studenten met praktische vragen over deelname aan een uitwisseling.
• Je verzorgt het selectie- en toewijzingsproces voor studenten die op uitwisseling willen.
• Je onderhoudt contact met collega’s intern en bij de buitenlandse partnerinstellingen over de uitwisselingsstudenten en -contracten.
• Je organiseert samen met collega’s introductie- en voorlichtingsbijeenkomsten en spreekuren.
• Je stemt af met studieadviseurs, contactpersonen internationalisering, examencommissies en facultaire studiepunten.
• Je draagt in samenwerking met de Support Officers zorg voor de administratie rond alle hierboven genoemde taken.

Als exchange coördinator werk je vooral samen met een collega exchange coördinator/teamleader en de Support Officers.