NWO-funded PhD position at the Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) to disentangle the genome evolution of obligate symbionts across the tree of life

The team led by Prof. Dr. Anja Spang within the Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry (MMB) located at the Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), is looking for a PhD candidate with training in phylogenomics, molecular dating, microbial genomics, metagenomics, and/or machine-learning with an interest in symbiosis and microbial evolution. The position is offered for 48 months’.

THE DEPARTEMENT
The Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry (MMB) investigates the composition and functioning of microbial communities in environments ranging from the deep sea to large lake systems. Within this department a subgroup of organic geochemists is developing novel (analytical) tools to analyze the (isotopic) composition of fossilized molecules as information carriers of past climates and environments.

THE RESEARCH LOCATION

The research team of Dr. Spang is located at the Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry (MMB) that has a long history of studying Bacteria and Archaea, and other marine microbes, their interactions, and their role in biogeochemical cycling in a variety of marine environments, varying from tidal flats and coral reefs to the deep ocean and sediments. The department is equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories, bioinformatics resources and analytical equipment, and has an excellent level of technical support. Furthermore, Dr. Spang holds a Special Chair Professorship at the Department for Evolutionary & Population Biology at the University of Amsterdam at which the PhD student will be registered and which offers an additional avenue for collaboration and research exchange.

THE PROJECT

The research team of Anja Spang has a key interest in the role of symbiosis in the evolution of life on Earth ranging from the origin of the earliest cells to eukaryotic life and symbiotic relationships between different extant microbial groups, particularly obligate archaeal and bacterial symbionts. As part of a newly funded NWO Vici 2025 grant, we will integrate novel phylogenetic, ancestral reconstruction, machine learning and network approaches to investigate the genome evolution, abundance and diversity of obligate prokaryotic symbionts and their interaction partners throughout Earth history.

THE CANDIDATE

We are looking for a student with a Master degree in Biology (including microbiology, bioinformatics) and a basic understanding of metagenomics, phylogenomics, comparative genomics, and potentially machine learning approaches. It would be of additional benefit if the candidate has  skills in programming and potentially in applying wet-lab techniques (aerobic/anaerobic cultivation, PCR, enzyme assays, protein purification).

NIOZ wants to be a transparent institute with a healthy working climate and an inclusive culture, where people from diverse backgrounds and gender bring their talents and further develop these talents. We aim for inclusive decision-making processes and expect our leadership to show visible commitment, awareness of bias, and cultural intelligence.

CONDITIONS

• Employment of this full-time position at Royal NIOZ is by NWO-I, for a total duration of 4 years.  You start with an appointment for the duration of 1 year, that, after a positive evaluation in the 9th month (Go-No go), will be extended to the full period of 4 years.

• Salary compliant with scales for PhD candidate (OIOs) CAO-WVOI (Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Research Institutes)

• An appointment at NIOZ as a PhD candidate means working and learning simultaneously conform the NIOZ PhD policy.  

• 338 annualized holiday hours for a full-time 40-hour work week.

• Pension scheme via ABP, 8% holiday allowance and a year-end bonus of 8.33%. 

• 2nd class public transportation travel is reimbursed 100%.

• Employment benefits plan to exchange a portion of your salary for days off or vice versa, or can be used to purchase a bicycle with tax benefits.

• We offer relocation expenses for employees coming from abroad and support with finding accommodation.

• You will be registered at the University of Amsterdam for your PhD thesis defense.