Postdoctoral Researcher - On How Endocytosis and Autophagy Contribute to Plant Survival

About us

VIB (Flanders Institute for Biotechnology) is an entrepreneurial non-profit research institute, with a focus on groundbreaking basic research in life sciences.

The VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology (PSB) is a world-leading plant science institute located at the heart of a renowned Plant Biotech campus in Ghent, Belgium. Its mission is to unravel plant biological processes and translate this knowledge into value for society. Please visit us at for more information. Research at the Van Damme lab ( is centered around membrane trafficking in plants and we combine cell biological and biochemical/structural approaches to answer our research questions. We are highly passionate about the endocytic pathway that controls the plasma membrane proteome and we investigate its  machinery, as well as its downstream cargo. 

About the role

Postdoctoral researcher -  Unveiling how the interplay between endocytosis and autophagy contributes to plant survival.

The Van Damme lab and the Dagdas lab have joined forces through a joint FWO-DFG project. Within this project, there is a 3-year postdoctoral researcher position in the Van Damme lab available to work on the interplay between endocytosis and autophagy. The aim is to identify how both pathways are intertwined and affect/rely on each other in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. The project will start from the observation that combining a weak endocytic mutant with an autophagy mutant causes a strong developmental delay under non-stressed conditions. The research will involve interaction proteomics, live cell imaging, biochemistry and mutant analysis. As this is a truly joint project, the postdoctoral fellow will be able to benefit from available expertise in both labs.

Your profile

• Ph.D. degree in Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Biology, Bio-engineering, or equivalent.
• Required proven expertise by publications or preprints in: Arabidopsis live cell imaging, cloning (e.g. Golden Gate, Gibson), protein biochemistry, interaction proteomics.
• Prior experience in guiding master and/or PhD students is recommended.
• We welcome applications from dynamic individuals with a strong curiosity and drive for breakthrough science.
• Ideal candidates take initiative, possess a strong sense of responsibility, have critical thinking abilities, and have a collaborative mindset.
• Excellent oral and written English communication skills
• Additionally, they should demonstrate the capacity to independently plan and execute research with precision.

We welcome the willingness of candidates to apply for personal fellowships in order to achieve their own individual funding. Eligibility for FWO, Marie Curie and/or EMBO postdoctoral fellowship applications will be to your benefit.

Join us to undertake a highly innovative project that combines cell biology and interaction proteomics and that has the potential to discover novel ways how plant endomembrane trafficking pathways are connected.

Our offer

• State-of-the-art laboratory environment.
• An inclusive group atmosphere and a spot in a dynamic and diverse team of researchers.
• A versatile and challenging academic environment with very diverse contacts.
• Various opportunities to broaden your expertise and to train yourself in many cutting-edge technologies.
• Training courses in academic, technical, and career-oriented skills.
• An initial 1-year contract, which can be extended to up to 3 years.

Starting Date: as soon as possible.