PhD position - Biochemical characterisation of signal integration in plants

Join us in unlocking the secrets of plant signal integration!

Plants must cope with a wide diversity of stresses such as drought, soil salinity and pathogen attack. Their survival hinges on the continuously perception, integration and interpretation of an immense number of signals from the environment and generating the appropriate responses. Millions of years of evolution have allowed plants to adapt to almost every climate and has made them to masters of perceiving and responding to countless signals.

These signals usually occur simultaneously, yet plant cells must rapidly turn this complex input into coordinated responses. Although much is known about responses to individual signals, the molecular mechanisms by which plants use dedicated proteins to integrate multiple co-occurring signals remain largely unexplored.

We are seeking a motivated PhD candidate for the second PhD position in an NWO VIDI-funded project led by Dr. André Kuhn. This position focuses on elucidating the biochemical and cell-biological basis of a signal integration via B4-RAF kinase signalling complexes. You will join an ambitious, collaborative and international team in the Plant Cell Biology group within the Green Life Sciences cluster at the Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences from the University of Amsterdam.

The overarching project investigates how plant cells rapidly integrate co-occurring osmotic, salinity and pathogen-derived signals. Your PhD project will examine B4-RAF protein kinases as intracellular signal integrators. These kinases are activated rapidly by diverse environmental stimuli and occur in distinct subcellular puncta, suggesting that they assemble into signalling complexes (signalosomes) that coordinate early cellular responses.

You will (1) identify and validate the components of B4-RAF signalling complexes in Arabidopsis thaliana, (2) establish how these complexes assemble and localize under distinct environmental conditions, and (3) determine how these complexes contribute to stress resilience. The work combines plant molecular biology, protein biochemistry, functional proteomics, quantitative live-cell imaging and genetics.

Core research activities include:

• identify candidate B4-RAF signalosome components through immunoprecipitation coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (IP–MS/MS), building on existing proximity-labelling datasets;
• validate protein interactions and co-localisation using approaches such as FRET-FLIM, co-immunoprecipitation and live-cell confocal imaging;
• generate and characterise Arabidopsis loss-of-function and fluorescent reporter lines;
• use microfluidics-coupled live-cell imaging to investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics, environmental conditionality and subcellular localisation of B4-RAF signalling complexes;
• integrate proteomics, imaging and genetic datasets to develop mechanistic models of rapid plant signal integration.

Tasks and responsibilities:

• complete a PhD thesis within the official appointment duration (four years);
• systematically and independently design, perform, analyse and document experiments;
• be an active and responsible member of the research group;
• collaborate closely with other group members (incl. PhD candidate, technicians and postdoc);
• discuss work with group members and at departmental meetings, and incorporate feedback;
• take a leading role in writing manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals;
• participate in the PhD training programme of the University of Amsterdam and the national graduate school Experimental Plant Sciences (EPS);
• assist with teaching and supervision of Bachelor’s and Master’s students.

You will have the opportunity to:

• work at the interface of plant genetics, biochemistry, functional proteomics and quantitative imaging;
• present results at national and international scientific conferences;
• expand academic, professional and personal skills;
• contribute to science communication and outreach activities;
• thrive in a team that values impactful research and mutual support;
• combine the advantages that a collaborative project offers, including access to state-of-the-art research facilities at the Swammerdam Institute and the…