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PhD-student project EU - SPICY

Wageningen University and Research Centre

Wageningen (NL) and Avignon (France), (Gelderland), 38 hours per week

Job descriptionGeneral information:
The aim of the EU project ‘Smart tools for Prediction and Improvement of Crop Yield’ (SPICY; KBBE-2007-1-1-01; www.spicyweb.eu) is to develop a suite of tools for molecular breeding of crop plants for sustainable and competitive agriculture. The tools help the breeder in predicting phenotypic response of genotypes for complex traits under a range of environmental conditions. Pepper will be used as a model crop.

Job description:
Within the SPICY project, statistical-genetic models for phenotypic responses will be combined with physiological models to improve the prediction of phenotypic responses in dependence on genetic and environmental inputs. The PhD project will aim specifically at the development of QTL models for multiple traits, where the traits are related to each other via multiple links at different biological organization levels, producing network types of models. Important model classes are non-linear mixed models, graphical models, linear structural relationships models and Bayesian belief networks.

This project will be a collaboration between WUR-Biometris, NL, (Marco Bink & Fred van Eeuwijk) and INRA-Avignon (Alain Palloix & Veronique Lefebvre). The student will spend about half of the time in Avignon (FR) and the other half in Wageningen (NL).
The exact contract still needs to be defined as the contract should satisfy both the requirements of INRA-Avignon as those of Wageningen UR. The intention is to aim at a PhD valid in both France and the Netherlands.

Additional information about this position can be obtained from
Dr. Marco Bink, phone 31 317-481072, E-mail: marco.bink@wur.nl,
Prof. Fred van Eeuwijk, phone 31 317-482092, E-mail: fred.vaneeuwijk@wur.nl,
or Dr. Alain Palloix, phone 33 432 722741, E-mail: alain.palloix@avignon.inra.fr.

RequirementsRequired education/skills:The candidate should possess a university degree at MSc level (or equivalent) in plant science or theoretical biology with substantial training in statistics and quantitative genetics, or an MSc in mathematics/statistics with a strong interest in biology/plant physiology. He/she should be motivated to combine innovative modelling and advanced data processing, using data from modern molecular-genetic analyses and extensive experimental physiological work. Proficiency in English (both spoken and written) and desirably French (spoken), a science-driven curiosity. We are especially looking for a motivated and result-driven person who is a team player and possesses excellent communication skills.
Job type: Research / Advising
Workfield(s):
- Research trainees, non-tenured lecturers, researchers(Scientific discipline: Agriculture)

OrganizationWageningen University and Research centre
Wageningen University and Research Centre (Wageningen UR) 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 innovative education in the fields of health and nutrition, sustainable agricultural systems and a viable environment.

Wageningen Plant Sciences Group is a Wageningen UR consortium, bringing together the expertise of Wageningen University and the research institutes Plant Research International and PPO (Applied Plant Research). Dedicated to the field of plant-related research and education, Wageningen Plant Sciences Group has over 1800 staff members at 17 locations throughout the Netherlands.

Conditions of employmentEmployment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: 4 years.
Maximum hours per week: 38
Additional conditions of employment:
Start: From 1 February 2009

Gross salary per month: € 2042,- in the first year, increasing to € 2612,- in the fourth year.

Location: Avignon (FR) & Wageningen (NL)

Duration of the contract: 4 years. The appointment is for a period of four years which period should be finished with a PhD examination. After 18 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.

Additional InformationAdditional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:

Dr. Marco Bink
Telephone number: 31 317 481072
E-mail address: marco.bink@wur.nl

Or Prof.dr. Fred van Eeuwijk
Telephone number: 31 317 482092
E-mail address: fred.vaneeuwijk@wur.nl

ApplicationYou can apply for this job before 05-01-2009 (dd-mm-yyyy) by sending your application to:

Wageningen UR, Chair Group Applied Statistics
Plant Sciences Group, HRM Department
N.G. Wondergem
P.O. Box 16
6700 AA Wageningen
The Netherlands

E-mail: vacaturemeldingen.psg@wur.nl

Best-

Muthu

-- 
Bev Godard
Secretary 
Department of Plant Science
University of Manitoba
66 Dafoe Road
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3T 2N2
Phone: (204) 474-8563
Fax:     (204) 474-7528
Bev_Godard@umanitoba.ca