Jobs

Overview

The group of Specialized Metabolism, led by Prof. Alain Goossens at the VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology, and the metabolic engineering research group, led by Prof. Marjan De Mey at the Centre for Synthetic Biology and located at the UGent Faculty of Bioscience engineering, are looking to recruit 1 junior postdoctoral researcher within the frame of a collaborative project.

The Goossens lab focuses on the characterization of plant signaling networks that steer plant specialized metabolism within tightly regulated fitness programs, in particular those modulated by stress hormones. Their findings aim to unlock plant specialized metabolism for numerous human applications given these serve as a novel resource for engineering tools that will facilitate 1) the creation of (plant-based) synthetic biology platforms for the sustainable production of high-value plant metabolites and 2) increased crop productivity by improvement of plant fitness in a changing environment. The research of the De Mey lab is situated at the forefront of industrial biotechnology, metabolic engineering and synthetic biology. They focus on the development of standardized, automatable, and generic tools and technologies and the creation of fundamental knowledge on key metabolic processes, envisioning a considerable reduction in the cost of biotechnological production processes and the acceleration of their development. 

Job description

The research is a collaborative effort between both labs to explore plant-fungi interactions mediated by specialized metabolites. Beyond their role in chemical communication, these metabolites hold significant potential for applications in agriculture and human health. However, many remain undiscovered, as their biosynthesis is often inactive under laboratory conditions. Our goal is to uncover these novel metabolites using metabolomics and synthetic biology. This will involve advanced technologies such as (un)targeted metabolite profiling, bioactivity assays, and CRISPR/Cas-based gene editing in fungi to identify and characterize these compounds. Additionally, microbial cell factories will be engineered for metabolite production through pathway engineering and dynamic pathway control. The postdoctoral scientist will occupy a key position in the collaborative project, being (1) responsible to launch and conduct groundbreaking science within the project, (2) active at both the partners labs and (3) involved in the mentoring of PhD students co-hired on the project.

For this exciting project, we seek talented and motivated candidates with experience in fungal biochemistry, molecular biology, and/or biotechnology. A strong interest and hands-on experience in microbial metabolism, metabolomics, and/or synthetic biology are highly desirable. We offer a competitive international research environment with access to cutting-edge infrastructure and services.

Profile

Essential 

• You have a Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Bio-engineering, Plant Biotechnology, Microbiology or equivalent
• You have maximum 3 years of postdoctoral research experience
• You’re fascinated by the organization of metabolism in plants and/ or microbes, metabolites and/or synthetic biology
• You can plan and conduct research independently and accurately
• You can take initiative, function well in a team, breath enthusiasm and have a hands-on mentality, perseverance and critical mind-set
• You have excellent interpersonal skills, to work effectively with team members from different backgrounds and in different research areas
• Proficient use of the English language for both oral and written communication is a must

Desirable

• International experience from PhD and/or postdoc research in plant or microbial metabolism, metabolomics, and/or synthetic biology is an asset, as well as a publication record in peer-reviewed journals showing expertise in these areas.
• Experience in guidance of master and/or PhD students is an asset.

We offer

• A full time competitive salary for a postdoc position for 3 years, according to the Belgian law, with possibilities to extend beyond that term
• An exciting and innovative project embedded in a multidisciplinary consortium
• Access to state-of-the art tools and infrastructure within an excellence-based academic research institute
• A stimulating and supportive international research environment
• Various training opportunities to broaden your expertise and skills, including training and mentoring in scientific writing
• Opportunities to attend scientific conferences and workshops

How to apply?

If you are interested in discovering and studying novel bioactive fungal metabolites, please apply online via the VIB application tool (applications by email will not be considered).

Please include a single pdf in your application that combines the following elements:
• a detailed CV (including publication list if applicable)
• a one-page summary of past research activities (particularly in your PhD project)
• a letter describing your fascination for the topic and the Goossens/De Mey labs
• the contact information of two referees

The first review of applications will start immediately. A shortlist of applicants will be selected and invited for interviews.

The position is available from June 2025 onwards. Applications are welcome until the position is filled.

Job description 

We are seeking two highly motivated postdoctoral researchers to join our research team based in the Van de Peer lab, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Zhen Li, Assistant Professor at Ghent University/VIB Staff Scientist.

The two positions are funded through an FWO research grant awarded to Prof. Dr. Zhen Li and will focus on the evolutionary significance of gene loss in shaping plant adaptation, speciation, and biological innovations. 

This project aims to redefine our understanding of gene loss alongside gene gain in plant evolution, focusing on developing novel genomic approaches to analyze gene loss across diverse plant lineages and their evolutionary consequences. To this end, the initial focus will be developing a novel genomic approach integrating homolog identification and multiple genome alignment to identify gene loss in plants and investigating its links with species divergence and adaptive traits in various plant clades, e.g., Orchidaceae, Poaceae, Solanaceae, Brassicaceae, and Fagales.

Research Focus

While the two positions will work closely together and share many responsibilities, they have slightly different initial focus areas:

Position 1: Computational Genomics and Method Development

• Develop novel genomic frameworks for detecting gene loss in plant genomes
• Implement approaches to distinguish DNA deletion from pseudogenization
• Analysis of gene loss patterns across diverse plant lineages
• Explore graph-based algorithms for multiple genome alignment and ancestral karyotype reconstruction

Position 2: Evolutionary Analysis and Network Biology

• Analysis of cross-species/-ecotype co-expression and gene regulatory networks
• Study of molecular mechanisms underlying how gene loss affects biological network rewiring
• Integration of phenotypic data with omics analysis
• Explore machine learning and network analysis methods

Profile

Essential 

• A PhD in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Evolutionary Biology, or related fields
• Strong programming skills in Python, R, and experience with Linux environments
• Demonstrated experience in processing and analyzing large-scale genomic and transcriptomic datasets
• Strong publication track record in evolutionary biology and/or network biology
• Excellent communication skills and fluency in English (written and verbal)
• Willingness to learn new methods and tackle scientific challenges with creativity and rigor
• A good balance between working in a team and working independently
• You are an enthused team player who is open and respectful to other cultures, opinions and ways of life 

Desirable but not required 

• Experience with machine learning frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, Tensorflow, Keras)
• Experience with graph algorithms and network analysis
• Experience with explainable AI (e.g., SHAP)
• Experience with high-performance computing and software containers
• Experience with software development tools (e.g., git, Nextflow) 

We offer

The VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology is a world-leading science institution in Ghent, Belgium. Ghent University is among the top 100 global universities according to several international rankings.

• A fully funded, full-time postdoctoral position for one year (with possibility of a two-year extension after positive evaluation) in a stimulating and supportive international research environment
• Access to state-of-the-art tools and computational infrastructure, including CPU/GPU clusters
• Opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in plant evolution and genomics
• Support for attending international conference and developing professional networks
• Comprehensive training in academic, technical, and career skills through VIB and Ghent University
•  The position appointment start date is as soon as possible. 

How to apply? 

Motivated candidates are asked to apply online via the VIB application procedure.

A complete application file (English) should contain the following documents:

• A cover/motivation letter (max. 2 pages) stating career goals, experience, and how these relate to your preferred position 1 and/or 2
• A detailed CV, including a list of your scientific publications
• Contact information of at least two academic references 

For more information or inquiries about the position, mail to zhen.li@psb.vib-ugent.be