Postdoc position: plant synthetic promoter engineering (ERC funded)

The VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology (PSB) is a world-leading plant science institute located at the heart of a renowned plant biotechnology campus in Ghent, Belgium. Its mission is to unravel plant biological processes and translate this knowledge into value for society. The Vandepoele lab (https://www.vandepoelelab.be/ ) is home to an enthusiastic, diverse and international group of researchers.

Ghent, the second largest city of Flanders, is a university city and cultural hub. Only half an hour away from Antwerp and Brussels by train, and centrally located in Europe, Ghent has a scenic yet cosy, well-preserved historical center and a lively multi-cultural atmosphere. Ghent and the greater region of Flanders is internationally-oriented and tech-minded with a strong biotechnology sector with spin-offs and start-ups, creating a natural home for researchers and their families. English is very widely spoken in the city and surrounding area.

We are looking for a postdoctoral molecular biologist to decipher the regulatory code controlling gene expression in plants through the engineering and large-scale validation of synthetic promoters.

Within the ERC-funded multiCODE project, we aim to unravel how plants control gene expression across different tissues and stress conditions by combining single-cell genomics, artificial intelligence, and synthetic biology. Apart from shedding light on the  fundamental aspects of transcriptional control, this project also opens new avenues for the design of climate-resilient crops.

• Supported by single-cell profiling and predictive artificial intelligence models, you will engineer synthetic promoters controlling context-specific gene expression in Arabidopsis.
• You will develop high-throughput (molecular) phenotyping methods to screen transcriptional activity of synthetic promoters in planta.
• You will unravel the cis-regulatory code controlling context-dependent gene expression and use this information to edit natural promoters.
• You will work very closely together with your wet-lab colleagues for the generation of single-cell RNA-Seq data sets, the design of validation experiments, and phenotyping.
• You will work very closely together with your dry-lab colleagues for the design of synthetic promoters and data analysis.

• PhD in (Plant) Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry or equivalent
• A publication record in peer-reviewed journals, and excellent proficiency in English for oral and written communications.
• Experience with bioinformatics and high-throughput approaches are desirable, but not required.
• You have good communication skills, are a team player, and are proficient in English

• We offer a 3-year postdoc position contract
• A multidisciplinary, highly stimulating and supporting international research environment at VIB and Ghent University (UGent).
• Access to state-of-the-art tools and infrastructure.
• Various training opportunities are organized at VIB to broaden your expertise and skills.
• Tentative start date: 1 November 2025

Submit your application through the VIB application tool (Emailed applications will not be considered). The call will remain open until a suitable candidate is identified.

Make sure that your application includes:

• A detailed CV (incl. information about IT/computational skills)
• A one-page letter of intent describing your motivation for this position, how your research experiences and interests are aligned with those of the lab and research topic and future goals
• The names and contact details of 3 referees.

For any questions on the vacancy, please contact klaas.vandepoele@psb.vib-ugent.be.