Postdoc in developing & applying new interactomics technologies in plant systems

The labs of Prof. Devang Mehta (https://mehta-lab.com) and Prof. Hervé Vanderschuren (https://vanderschuren-lab.eu) conduct research in experimental plant systems biology and tropical plant biotechnology respectively in the Division of Crop Biotechnics (Department of Biosystems) at KU Leuven (Belgium). The laboratories have expertise in and access to cutting-edge technologies including in-house long-read sequencing and access to the latest-generation proteomics mass-spectrometry infrastructure and are part of the Leuven Institute for Single-Cell Omics and the Leuven Plant Institute (https://www.kuleuven.be/plant-institute). We are offering a postdoctoral position in a choice of research projects involving the use and development of new interactomics and proteomics methods.
About the University:
KU Leuven offers a competitive and international working environment with access to the latest technologies and expertise. KU Leuven is the highest internationally ranked university in Belgium and ranks amongst the best European universities for research and education. KU Leuven also ranks as the most innovative university in Europe, building on a very strong tech transfer office. Leuven is also one of Europe’s best university towns located only 30 minutes from Brussels with an international and diverse student community.
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Responsibilities
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We are recruiting a postdoctoral researcher for grant-funded projects that integrate different genomics and proteomics technologies across a range of applications in plant biology. Selected candidates will have their choice of projects depending on their background and interests. You will also be given the freedom to develop your own research projects within the themes below:
1. Dissecting the temporal & functional partitioning of Arabidopsis clock protein complexes using in-vivo interactomics: The circadian clock is a complex genetic circuit that allows plants to synchronize their internal oscillations in time with the planet’s daily rotation. We have recently discovered a new role for the plant circadian clock in measuring the duration of twilight (Mehta et al., 2024, Science Advances). In this project we will be developing and employing new interaction-proteomics tools to discover exactly how the clock transcription factor network controls plant biology in response to changes in the external environment. In the long-term this project’s insights will power our research in developing climate-change resilient plants. This project is well suited for candidates interested in protein biochemistry, transcription factor biology, single-cell omics, and gene regulatory networks.
2. Discovering protein-based regulation of helitron transposons and their role in creating genetic variation: Helitrons are a type of DNA transposon that can create new genetic variation in plants. In this project you will apply our CIDER-Seq technology (Mehta et al., 2020, Nature Protocols) and new in vivo interactomics technologies to discover the protein-DNA and protein-protein interactions that control the mobilization of helitrons. In the long-term, this project seeks to create a system for programmable activation of helitrons to provide a new route to creating new crop germplasm. This project is well suited for candidates interested in transposon biology and proteomics.
3. Discovering how plant viruses interact with their insect vectors and plant hosts and cause disease: In this project we will combine our expertise in circular DNA sequencing, mass-spectrometry-based proteomics, plant virology, and entomology to study the life cycle of plant geminiviruses in unprecedented detail. Geminiviruses are highly damaging viruses causing enormous economic damage to the cultivation of both temperate and tropical crops. In this project you will work with the important tropical plant, cassava, and deploy cutting-edge interactomics tools to study protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions in cassava geminiviruses throughout their life cycle, from their uptake by their insect vector to subsequent infection in a naïve plant. The insights generated in this project will directly feed into applied research in the lab aimed at developing virus-resistant cassava plants.
All the thematic areas above will equip you with a diverse skillset well suited to build your own research line as an independent researcher. You will also be provided with mentorship from a team of senior and junior PIs with experience in both European and North American academia and close collaborator networks in Europe, North America, Asia and Africa to help you achieve your professional goals and secure an independent faculty/researcher position.

Profile
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We seek a candidate with a PhD in Biology, Bioinformatics, Biochemistry, Synthetic Biology, Bioengineering, Biotechnology or other relevant topic for the projects described above.
A successful candidate will ideally:
• Demonstrate a strong ability to write and communicate in English in the form of a well-written PhD thesis and/or at least one published, accepted, or pre-printed publication as lead author.
• Be eager to apply for an independent postdoc fellowship with the support of the PIs.
• Have experience in molecular biology and/or biochemistry labs (any model system) (project-dependant)
• Intermediate programming or data-analysis skills or an interest in developing such skills (project-dependant)
• Be able to work well in a multi-disciplinary team
• Be eager to learn new techniques
• Be able to integrate in an international and diverse working environment
The anticipated start date is highly flexible within 2025.

Offer
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We offer you a full-time postdoctoral scholarship in international mobility position for up to 3 years, pending a positive evaluation at the end of the first year. KU Leuven postdoctoral mobility scholarships are open to researchers who do not have more than 24 months’ work or study experience in Belgium in the 3 years prior to their starting date.
You will obtain advanced training in plant biology, genetic engineering, systems biology, and professional development that will prepare you for a career in academic research. You will be closely mentored by Profs. Mehta and Vanderschuren as well as a close-knit, international, and diverse community of plant scientists within the Division of Crop Biotechnics. You will be given support to participate in European and international conferences and publish your science in respected scientific journals. The host labs also support the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion, and embrace Open Science (https://mehta-lab.com/policies).

More information
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https://mehta-lab.com

Interested?
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For more information please contact Prof. dr. Devang Mehta, tel.: +32 16 37 21 46, mail: devang.mehta@kuleuven.be or Prof. dr. Hervé Vanderschuren, tel.: +32 16 37 62 45, mail: herve.vanderschuren@kuleuven.be.
KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.