As PhD candidate for PHYVIR’s subproject-3, you will contribute to improving our understanding of the interplay between viruses and their phytoplankton hosts. Specifically, this project aims to elucidate how viral infection alters host gene expression and how this links to changes in functional traits and stoichiometry of infected phytoplankton hosts. You will participate in the project’s two scientific cruises, perform on-deck incubation experiments, and analyze resulting meta-transcriptomes. You will closely collaborate with the other PhDs, working on cultured virus-host pairs to assess altered gene expression and functional traits in controlled laboratory experiments.

Tasks and responsibilities: 

• develop a PhD thesis plan, prepare and perform the research, analyze the samples and data;
• actively exchange ideas and results within the larger PHYVIR team;
• supervise MSc students who wish to do an internship on marine phytoplankton virus ecology;
• present your results at meetings and scientific conferences;
• publish your results in international scientific journals.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated candidate, with a keen interest in marine viral ecology and phytoplankton host-virus interactions. You enjoy bioinformatic analyses, are well-organized, have a collaborative personality but are also able to work independently.

Your experience and profile:

•       A MSc degree in environmental microbiology, marine ecology, or closely related discipline;
• Strong motivation to develop as a scientist;
• Strong oral and written communication skills in English;
• Experience with analysis and interpretation of omics data is a plus;
• Prior (marine) fieldwork experience is a plus;

A temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of 4 years (the initial contract will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended for a total duration of 4 years). The preferred starting date is 1 October 2025. This should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and master students. For this position the University Job Classification profile “Promovendus” (PhD candidate) applies. Your salary will be €2,901 gross per month in the first year and will increase to €3,707 in the final year, based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week. This does not include 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% year-end allowance. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Universities of the Netherlands is applicable.

Besides the salary and a vibrant and challenging environment at Science Park, we offer you multiple fringe benefits:

• 232 holiday hours per year (based on fulltime) and extra holidays between Christmas and 1 January;
• multiple courses to follow from our Teaching and Learning Centre;
• a complete educational program for PhD students;
• multiple courses on topics such as leadership for academic staff;
• multiple courses on topics such as time management, handling stress and an online learning platform with 100+ different courses;
• 7 weeks birth leave (partner leave) with 100% salary;
• partly paid parental leave;
• the possibility to set up a workplace at home;
• a pension at ABP for which UvA pays two third part of the contribution;
• the possibility to follow courses to learn Dutch;
• help with registration at UvA- Housing for a studio or small apartment when you’re moving from abroad. 

Are you curious to read more about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits, take a look here.