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Netherlands - Wageningen University PhD Nematology

PhD Nematology
Wageningen, (Gelderland), 38 hours per week
Plant Sciences, chair group Nematology

Job description
In a concerted action, two PhD students and a post-doc will study how plants, in particular genetically modified (GM) plants, can change their own soil ecosystem. Plants can have profound effects on soil organisms, because the great majority of carbon input in soils originates from living plants (root exudates) and from dead plant material. It needs to be tested if GM plants have such influence too, and if yes, if this influence is different from non-GM plants. Crops with e.g. GM-increased resistance against pathogens and herbivores, can have side-effects on beneficial rhizosphere-inhabiting organisms; residues of crops with GM-altered tissue composition may have different decomposition rates, and thereby affect soil decomposer communities. Given the importance of the soil community for soil carbon and nitrogen cycles, effects of GM plants on non-target soil organisms and processes have to be evaluated properly prior to their admission. The research program aims to deliver a tool for risk assessment of GM plants based on soil nematodes that will enable evaluation of risks of these plants for soil fertility functions.

For the PhD Nematology we are looking for a molecular ecologist. You are asked to turn a prototype of a DNA barcode-based nematode community analysis tool into a user friendly device, and should provide guidelines to interpret the observed changes. Nematodes are a species-rich soil fauna group with great bioindicator potential. Initially, we will study non-GM Brassica species releasing different levels of glucosinolates – natural components with a broad spectrum effect on soil life. The effects of various Brassica cultivars on nematodes communities and C and N dynamics in soil will be studied. Next, the PhD will use quantitative PCR to determine whether GM crops have qualitative or quantitative effects on nematodes rhizosphere communities. This will be used to develop an Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) guidance for GM crops.

Continue Reading March 31st, 2008

Netherlands - Wageningen University PhD Soil Biology / Soil Fertility

PhD Soil Biology / Soil Fertility
Wageningen, (Gelderland), 38 hours per week
Wageningen University, Department of Soil Quality

Job description In a concerted action, two PhD students and a post-doc will study how plants, in particular genetically modified (GM) plants, can change their own soil ecosystem. Plants can have profound effects on soil organisms, because the great majority of carbon input in soils originates from living plants (root exudates) and from dead plant material. It needs to be tested if GM plants have such influence too, and if yes, if this influence is different from non-GM plants. Crops with e.g. GM-increased resistance against pathogens and herbivores, can have side-effects on beneficial rhizosphere-inhabiting organisms; residues of crops with GM-altered tissue composition may have different decomposition rates, and thereby affect soil decomposer communities. Given the importance of the soil community for soil carbon and nitrogen cycles, effects of GM plants on non-target soil organisms and processes have to be evaluated properly prior to their admission. The research program aims to deliver a tool for risk assessment of GM plants based on soil nematodes that will enable evaluation of risks of these plants for soil fertility functions.

The major research question for the PhD Soil Quality is: To what extent do plants affect soil fertility functions, and is this affect mirrored by nematode community shifts that can be measured easily? Initially, we will use non-GM Brassica species because they produce glucosinolates with a broad spectrum effect on soil life. Varieties that produce more or less glucosinolates are used to test effects on nematodes and C and N dynamics in soil. Nematodes are a species-rich soil fauna group with great bioindicator potential. Changes in nematode community structure will be experimentally linked to soil fertility functions such as organic matter decomposition and nitrification. Results will be used to develop an Ecological Risk Assessment guidance for GM crops.

Continue Reading March 31st, 2008

Netherlands - Wageningen University PhD Student Scaling and Biodiversity

PhD student Scaling & Biodiversity
Forest and Nature Conservation Policy Group (FNP), Center Landscape, Wageningen University, the Netherlands

Vacancy reference: DOW-08-FNP-12-H

The chairgroup:
FNP is active in education and research into forest and nature conservation from a social and policy science perspective. Ongoing research focuses a.o. on the relation between science and policy and the manifestation and impact of governance trends.

Research project:
The project involves cooperation between FNP and the Environmental Policy Group (ENP). It focuses on production and use of biodiversity data in nature conservation. Nature policy and management increasingly rely on biodiversity data and require them to be standardized and reliable. The research will investigate the transformations and meaning changes involved in standardization and reflect on the implications for use and usability of biodiversity data.

Continue Reading February 16th, 2008

Netherlands - Wageningen University PhD in Landscape Memory

Wageningen, 6700 AA, (Gelderland), 38 hours per week
Wageningen University and Research Centre
Vacancy number AT DOW-07-ESA-68-H

Job description
Climate change requires more adaptive landscape strategies based on dynamic properties of ecosystems. You will explore the new concept of landscape memory to implement resilience in biodiversity conservation planning. Modeling skills are essential.

Requirements
University Graduate
You have a MSc degree in a discipline relevant to Ecology or Environmental Systems Analysis. You have ample experience in working with quantitative ecological modeling approaches in an interdisciplinary research environment. You have some experience in writing scientific papers and presenting scientific research. Experience with conservation ecology or climate change impacts assessment is recommended.

Organization
Wageningen University and Researchcentre Environmental Systems Analysis Group

Continue Reading December 22nd, 2007

Netherlands - Wageningen University PhD Position in Systems Biology

Wageningen, 6700 AA, (Gelderland), 38 hours per week
Wageningen University and Research Center
Agrotechnology & Food Sciences Group
Vacancy number: AFSG 07.155

Job description
Systems Biology is a rapidly developing scientific discipline that aims at explaining, predicting and controlling the complex cellular and physiological phenomena of living organisms in terms of the underlying chemical and physical processes and the involved feedback regulations. The current project aims to investigate the metabolism of the thermophilic bacterium Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus, which is known for its high capacity to produce hydrogen. According to various recent reports, hydrogen will be an important renewable energy carrier in the future.

For thermodynamic reasons, hydrogen production is more feasible at elevated temperatures and fermentation studies have shown that C. saccharolyticus can indeed produce relatively high amounts of H2. The complete genome sequence was analysed recently and a DNA micro-array system has been established. The focus of the project will be on the main pathways leading to hydrogen, and quantitative data on key enzymes and metabolites need to be determined. Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus will be cultured under defined conditions (chemostat) and the physiological, biochemical and genetic response will be analyzed by different techniques (transcriptomics, metabolomics, and biochemistry). The data obtained will be used to mathematically model the various interactions at the cellular level. This project will be carried out in close collaboration with an ongoing biohydrogen project.

Continue Reading December 9th, 2007

Netherlands - Wageningen University PhD Position in Genetic Networks

Wageningen, 6700 EV, (Gelderland),
38 hours per week
Wageningen University and Research Centre
Agrotechnology & Food Sciences Group
Vacancy number: AFSG 07.120

Job description
Genetic activity is the basis for growth and production of organisms as bacteria, fungi and higher eukaryotic cells. In these systems genes are activated or repressed by transcriptional products of other genes. In this way, genes interact in time and form a dynamic network. Quantitative knowledge on genetic networks is essential to understand and predict the behaviour of organisms and to improve their performance.

This PhD-position deals with quantitative modeling of responses in genetic networks of fungal systems. The work concerns the use of Aspergillus niger and focuses at the AmyR network for starch degradation, and the XlnR network for (ligno-)cellulose degradation. The work is a combination of two aspects:

• a systems approach for identification of the interaction structure between genes and to quantify their degree of interaction, including the development of suitable algorithms, and
• experimental work for responses of a fungal system (Aspergillus niger) to external triggers. Obtained micro-array and PCR data are analyzed by using the developed algorithms.

The PhD-candidate works both in the Systems and Control Group and in the laboratories of Fungal Genomics.

Continue Reading December 9th, 2007

Netherlands - Wageningen University PhD Student Rural Future Scenarios

PhD student Rural Future Scenarios
At the chair: Land Dynamics
For a period of 1-4 years

Reference number:DOW-07-LAD-57-J

Job description
Within the Rural Future Networks (RUFUS) project financed by the EU we are looking for a PhD student that will mainly contribute to the workpackage Scenarios of pressures and potential developments for rural areas under different policy variants: simulation and photorealistic landscape visualisation. Focus of the research is on the impact of changing agricultural and environmental policies on the landscape functions of rural areas in Europe. Scenarios will provide alternative views on landscape dynamics and multi-functionality.

Requirements
We are seeking a motivated candidate with solid scientific skills and a Msc degree in geography, environmental or other relevant sciences. The candidate must show ability to work on interdisciplinary topis and act in an integrated multi-disciplinary team.

Continue Reading October 17th, 2007

Netherlands - 2008 Netherlands Fellowship Programmes (NFP) (administered by Nuffic)

The Netherlands Fellowship Programmes (NFP) are demand-driven fellowship programmes designed to foster capacity building within organizations in 57 countries in development by providing training and education to their mid-career staff members. The NFP are funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs from the budget for development cooperation.

The need for education and training must occur within the organization of the applicant. This means that applicants must be nominated by their employers. In fact, applications without the support of an employer will not be considered.

Nuffic (the Netherlands Organization for International Cooperation in Higher Education) administers the NFP on behalf of the Minister for Development Cooperation. The Minister determines the policy that governs the framework of the NFP programme. Nuffic manages and monitors the programmes as a whole. The Dutch organizations selected to provide the required education and training are responsible for awarding and administering the fellowships.

Continue Reading September 23rd, 2007

Netherlands - Wageningen University PhD Studentship in Aerosol Modeling

Air Quality is a prominent problem in the Netherlands. Due to dense population and large economic activities, air quality standards with respect to particulate matter (PM10) cannot always be met. Largest problems are encountered in cities and close to busy roads. TNO and the air quality group at WUR will study the aerosol budget of the Netherlands. With state of the art chemistry transport models, local emissions and long-range transport of particulate matter will be studied. TNO employs a detailed air quality model that describes the air quality in Europe and the Netherlands. This model should be coupled to a global atmospheric chemistry model used by WUR. In both models, a detailed description of PM10 and the smaller aerosols (PM2.5) will be implemented. Model results will be compared to measurements taken at Dutch and European air quality networks.

(more…)

August 20th, 2007

2007 - 2009 MSc European Forestry Erasmus Mundus Scholarships

The MSc EF is a 2-year double degree programme co-organised by the following six European Universities:

• University of Joensuu, Finland (Coordinating University)
• Albert-Ludwig University of Freiburg, Germany
• Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Sweden
• University of Lleida (UdL), Spain
• University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Austria
• Wageningen University, The Netherlands

Since the start of the programme in 2002, the MSc EF provides academic education in forestry focusing on the international dimension of sustainable forest management issues. The programme is an extra dimension to the already existing educational markets in forestry and nature management in Europe. In this programme, European forestry universities collaborate intensively to offer joint courses as well as their existing curricula, based on the knowledge and experience of forest management for which European Forestry was the cradle centuries ago.

Continue Reading 18 comments December 22nd, 2006