More than a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions come from the food production chain. Replacing animal proteins in our diets with plant-based alternatives should drastically reduce these emissions. Plant-based diets are also healthier. However, current plant-based alternatives to dairy and meat do not have the desired taste, texture or nutritional value yet. Fermentation is a promising technology to improve this issue, but currently the improving of products by fermentation is still based primarily on trial and error due to a lack understanding of the underlying biochemistry. The FERMI project will improve the predictability of fermentation processes to find the optimal production method for tasty, healthy and sustainable plant-based foods.
This PhD position is centered on optimizing and predicting fermentation outcomes. This includes identification and characterization of relevant microorganisms, generating omics data and apply advance data analysis. We will identify relevant enzymes and pathways for plant-based fermentations and predict microbial behaviour of single and mixed cultures. We will also use experimental evolution and design microbial communities with optimized and predefined functionalities.

Your duties

• design and carry out experiments with state-of-the-art analysis in the field of molecular microbiology, omics technologies, systems biology and bioinformatics
• data analysis and interpretation
• give scientific presentations internally and at scientific meetings
• writing scientific publications leading to a dissertation
• supervising bachelor and master students
• teaching students

• degree in MSc, specializing (molecular) microbiology, biotechnology, biochemistry, bio(physics), systems biology or related
• experience in working a microbiological or biochemical laboratory
• Strong interest in metabolism, high throughput microbiological technologies and pathway analysis;
• excellent planning, analytical and writing skills
• good team worker

Fixed-term contract: 1 year.

A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:

• a salary of € 2.872,00 and maximum € 3.670,00 gross per month in the fourth year, for a full-time employment
• an employment contract of initially 1 year. If there is sufficient perspective, this will be extended to a total of 4 years. Your dissertation at the end of the fourth year forms the end of your employment contract.

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and arrangements. Some examples:

• A full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata.
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• solid pension scheme (ABP)
• contribution to commuting expenses
• optional model for designing a personalized benefits package

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

This project will be carried out in the Bachmann group within the Systems Biology Lab that is part of the A-Life Institute and AIMMS at the VU University Amsterdam. The Systems Biology Lab studies molecular networks inside cells that give rise to cell behavior and fitness, in isolation and in interaction with other cells and their environment. This particular project is part of the FERMI consortium in which 10 PhD students will work on improving plant-based fermentations.

Faculty of Science
Researchers and students at VU Amsterdam’s Faculty of Science tackle fundamental and complex scientific problems to help pave the way for a sustainable and healthy future. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to malnutrition, and from molecules to the moon: we cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. Our teaching and research have a strong experimentally technical, computational and interdisciplinary nature.

We work on new solutions guided by value-driven, interdisciplinary methodologies. We are committed to research, valorisation and training socially engaged citizens of the world who will make valuable contributions to a sustainable, healthy future.

Are you interested in joining the Faculty of Science? You will join undergraduate students, PhD candidates and researchers at the biggest sciences faculty in the Netherlands. You will combine a professional focus with a broad view of the world. We are proud of our collegial working climate, characterised by committed staff, a pragmatic attitude and engagement in the larger whole. The faculty is home to over 11,000 students enrolled in 40 study programmes. It employs over 1,600 professionals spread across 10 academic departments.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research. Learn more about our codes of conduct

We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility. Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.

Diversity
Diversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding.

We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services.

Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community.