Jobs

About us

The VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology (PSB) is a world‑leading research center of more than 280 researchers dedicated to cutting‑edge science with a clear mission: combating climate change, fostering sustainable agriculture, and preserving global biodiversity (https://www.psb.ugent.be/). In this respect, an important research topic of the center is the interaction between plants and soil microorganisms. The research line of Hans Motte within the Beeckman lab aims to understand how plants influence nutrient‑competing soil microorganisms.

About the role

We are looking for a motivated and skilled Postdoctoral Researcher to discover and characterize new plant‑based strategies to control nitrogen‑cycle microorganisms, and as such improve plant nitrogen use while reducing nitrogen pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

The successful candidate will contribute to an ongoing project assessing the biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) potential of metabolites across the plant kingdom. This includes the characterization and validation of novel BNI mechanisms through molecular and microbial ecology approaches targeting nitrifier communities, including metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and metabolomics.

Your profile

We are looking for a candidate with:

• A PhD in microbial ecology, environmental microbiology, plant–microbe interactions, biogeochemistry, or related fields.
• Demonstrated expertise in molecular work on nitrifying microorganisms.
• Strong experience with metagenomics and microbial community profiling.
• Experience - or strong interest - in working with biological nitrification inhibitors (BNIs) and plant–soil interaction experiments.
• Experience with LC–MS–based metabolomics is a plus.

Our offer

• A full‑time 3-year postdoctoral position with competitive salary
• A stimulating research environment with state‑of‑the‑art facilities, personal career assistance, and high-level training courses.

The position is immediately available and will remain open until filled.

How to apply?

Apply online via the VIB career portal (https://jobs.vib.be/apply/133812). Please make sure your application includes your CV, a cover letter describing your motivation and your qualifications, and contact information of two references.