PhD position in Small Peptides as Regulators of Plant Salt Stress Responses

Faculty: 

Faculty of Science

Department: 

Department of Biology

Hours per week: 

36 to 40

Application deadline: 

7 August 2025

Salt application triggers osmotic and ionic stress pathways and causes cell wall modifications, particularly in pectins, affecting plant growth. Interestingly, salt-induced cell wall changes also activate the expression of small peptides that act as key regulators of stress responses. However, their release mechanisms and modes of action remain poorly understood. This project aims to uncover how cell wall modifications regulate peptide signalling and their signalling control salinity responses.

Your job

As a PhD candidate on this project, you will join the lab led by Dr. Nora Gigli Bisceglia, where we study how cell wall modifications control intracellular signalling to activate responses to abiotic stresses. You will uncover how small signalling peptides regulate plant responses to salinity stress, with the goal of developing sustainable strategies to enhance crop resilience. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a rapidly developing field at the interface of plant physiology, molecular biology, and stress signalling. Your main responsibilities will include:

• characterising peptide-receptor interactions and their downstream effects on cell wall integrity and salt stress responses;
• using molecular biology, genetics, and omics approaches (e.g., proteomics, phosphoproteomics, and RNA-seq) to dissect signalling pathways;
• collaborating with external partners to validate findings;
• contributing to a positive, collaborative, and curiosity-driven research environment.

You share our enthusiasm and passion about plant research and meet the following criteria:

• You have a MSc in molecular plant biology, plant biotechnology, plant genetics, or a plant science-related field.
• You have experience with Arabidopsis research.
• You have experience with biochemistry and molecular biology techniques.
• You have a good command of both written and spoken English.
• You can demonstrate communication and organisation skills.
• A proactive attitude, curiosity, and creative problem-solving skills are important, as the project involves high-risk ideas, traveling, and communicating with different research groups across Europe.

We consider it a plus if you have:

• experience with microscopy and cloning;
• basic knowledge of cell wall biochemistry.

• A position for 18 months, with an extension to a total of four years upon successful assessment in the first 18 months;
• a gross monthly salary between €2,901 and €3,707 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale P under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU)); 
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus; 
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU. 

In addition to the terms of employment
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 laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development
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, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities
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, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University
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A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University
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, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes
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. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow
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Working at the Faculty of Science
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means bringing together inspiring people across disciplines and with a variety of perspectives and backgrounds. The Faculty
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has six departments: Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Information & Computing Sciences, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Together, we
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work on excellent research and inspiring education. We do so, driven by curiosity and supported by outstanding infrastructure. Visit us on LinkedIn
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and discover how you can become part of our community.

You will be embedded in the Department of Biology
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. Research within this department is organised in two institutes: the Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity
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 (IBB) and the Institute of Environmental Biology
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(IEB). The department of Biology coordinates the teaching of the Bachelor’s programme in Biology, as well as Master’s programmes and PhD courses that are offered through the Graduate School of Life Sciences.

You will be working in the vibrant Plant Stress Resilience
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group which consists of four principal investigators focusing on abiotic stresses and share facilities. You will join the Cell Wall Abiotic Stress team led by Dr. Nora Gigli Bisceglia
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. The team is mainly composed of three highly diverse international PhD candidates, working together to understand how cell wall changes are sensed under abiotic stress. The group has access to, and funding for, cutting-edge phenotyping facilities (NPEC), which are part of the national phenotyping centre, and collaborates with several groups across Europe. Connections with these groups will be strengthened during the course of this project and may require short-term stays abroad.

For more information, please contact Dr. Nora Gigli Bisceglia
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 at n.giglibisceglia@uu.nl
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.

Do you have a question about the application procedure? Please send an email to science.recruitment@uu.nl .

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home
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 for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.

If you are enthusiastic about this position, just apply via the "Apply now" button. Please enclose:

• your letter of motivation explaining what aspects of this PhD project excite you. Please focus on the following questions:
  • What specifically motivates you to apply for this PhD project? 
  • How does your previous experience relate to the topic? 
  • What relevant skills or knowledge do you bring to this project? 
  • How do you see this PhD contributing to your future goals?
• your curriculum vitae;
• the names, and email addresses of at least two referees;
• a copy of your Master’s diploma, or a letter from your university stating when your degree will be issued.

If this specific opportunity isn’t for you, but you know someone else who may be interested, please forward this vacancy to them.

Some connections are fundamental – Be one of them
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#FundamentalConnection

The application deadline is 7 August 2025.