PhD Systems Biology on Flowering Network Wageningen Universiteit & Research Centre, Plant Research International, Bioinformatics Wageningen (The Netherlands), 38 hours per week Reference number: 09.Biosc.08. Background: Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR) is an internationally renowned knowledge institute in the fields of life sciences and sustainability. It makes an essential contribution to the quality of life through pioneering research and education. One of its research focal points is Systems Biology, and the Bioinformatics group has a strategic position within several of these systems biology approaches, with extensive collaborations both with experimental biology and mathematical groups within Wageningen UR. Recently, we obtained funding for an EU-funded Marie Curie PhD project, which applies systems biology to plant reproductive development. This project is highly complementary to ongoing projects in our group, which include bioinformatics analyses of protein-protein interactions of key players in this biological process, analysis of protein-DNA interactions, and application of modelling techniques to related systems such as floral organ development and the flowering transition. Job description: A position for a PhD is available in the Bioinformatics group at Plant Research International (WUR) to work on the Marie Curie project "SYSFLO" (Training in Systems Biology Applied to Flowering). This project involves collaboration with various European partners (9 PhDs in total, both experimental and computational), linking the capture of large-scale datasets to advanced computational analysis and modelling. The aim of the project is to apply systems biology to reproductive development in Arabidopsis. Laboratory-based groups will generate datasets covering e.g. spatial and temporal gene expression, network relations and chromatin accessibility. Together with other computational groups, the PhD will apply statistics, data mining and modelling in order to generate a network model. This will specifically involve 1) prediction and analysis of network interactions; and 2) computational modelling of network dynamics. Both tasks will be tightly linked to experimental data collection and will suggest validation experiments for the laboratory teams. Profile: We are looking for a communicative team player with: * A background (MsC) in computational biology, bioinformatics or related area (either biologically oriented with knowledge of mathematics or mathematics oriented with interest in biology) * Some knowledge of programming (e.g. Perl, Python or R) * The drive and skills to collaborate with both experimental and computational biologists to obtain a systems-level understanding of plant reproductive development * Good written and spoken command of English According to Marie Curie ITN rules, this position is open to all nationalities except Dutch nationals (for detailed eligibility criteria for recruitment see: ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/fp7/docs/fp7-mga-annex3intramulti_en.pdf <ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/fp7/docs/fp7-mga-annex3intramulti_en.pdf> ). Remuneration: a young, dynamic and driven bioinformatics group, focusing on computational challenges in a range of genomics and systems biology related topics; a state-of-the art computational infrastructure; close collaboration with laboratory biologists who have expert knowledge of the biological system, and with computational and mathematical experts, embedded in an international project. The position is available for 4 years, full time; this period should be finished with a PhD examination. After 12 months, the performance of the candidate will be evaluated to decide whether there is sufficient progress to expect a successful completion of the PhD thesis within the remaining period. Preferred starting date: 1 October 2009. Estimated maximum salary per month: EUR 2000 in the first year rising to EUR 2558 in the fourth year Information: dr. Aalt-Jan van Dijk, +31-317-480994, aaltjan.vandijk@wur.nl <mailto:aaltjan.vandijk@wur.nl> or dr. Roeland van Ham, +31-317-481053, roeland.vanham@wur.nl <mailto:roeland.vanham@wur.nl> . Application: Send your letter with CV and the names of two references before July 1st, 2009 to Mrs. Lydia Bikker, Plant Research International, Department Personnel & Organisation, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands. E-mail: vacaturemeldingen.psg@wur.nl <mailto:lydia.bikker@wur.nl> . When applying for this job always mention the vacancy number 09.Biosc.08.