Jobid=635290156813388624 (0.0149)
ppPhD position in modeling the mechanical regulation of plant development and regeneration (1.0 FTE) Job Description PhD position in modeling the mechanical regulation of plant development and regeneration (1.0 FTE) Vacancy number: 16814 Job type: PhD positions Contract hours min: 38 Contract hours max: 38 Location: Leiden Applying is possible up to and including: 15 september 2026 /p bThe Faculty of Science, the Mathematical Institute and the Institute of Biology are looking for a PhD Student in Theoretical or Mathematical Biology /b h3bWhat you will do /b /h3 pThe opening is for a research position within the field of mathematical or theoretical biology, computational physics, applied mathematics or computational science. This PhD project is part of the Gravitation programme GreenTE (Green Tissue Engineering), a multidisciplinary consortium of 7 Dutch universities. Together, GreenTE will unravel how plants sense and respond to mechanical stimuli. These fundamental insights will be the basis to develop engineering interventions to improve plant regeneration, seed longevity and defenses against disease. Your task will be to further develop two-dimensional and three-dimensional models of plant development, incorporating mechanical feedback loops to regulate cellular decision making and polarization. The goal will be to unravel how plant shape and size is regulated by feedback loops between the tissue and organ levels and cellular and molecular levels. The project will further develop a two-dimensional open source package for modeling plant tissues, called Virtual Leaf, which coupled a Hamiltonian description of cell wall strains and stresses and turgor pressures with sets of ordinary differential equations describing the biochemical networks regulating cellular decision making. Models will be initiated with simulated data and 2D and 3D imaging data of plant tissues (the thale cress Arabidopsis and the aquatic fern Ceratopteris). At a later stage, the models can be extended to three dimensions using software developed concurrently by a postdoc in our team. /p pThe successful applicant will be an integral member of the GreenTE community, which offers an open, diverse and inspiring environment to engage in multidisciplinary mechanobiology research at the intersection of biology, chemistry and physics, and is expected to participate in GreenTE events, training and collaborations. /p h3bKey responsibilities /b /h3 ul liDevelop and interpret novel two-dimensional multiscale mathematical models of mechanical regulation of plant development and regeneration in close collaboration with members of the GreenTE consortium, in particular the group of experimental plant biologist Prof.dr. Dolf Weijers at Wageningen University. /li liFurther develop the plant modeling package VirtualLeaf to reflect mechanical manipulation as performed in the experimental lab ( /li liIncorporate detailed insights into the model of the mechanical properties of cell walls based on experiments and small-scale simulations developed elsewhere in the GreenTE consortium. /li liCorrect and improve your mathematical models in close collaboration with experimental biologists, particularly PhD students at Wageningen University who will perform mechanical interventions (e.g., stretching, squeezing or poking) of embryo development and root regeneration of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. /li liAt a later stage: extend the models to three dimensions based on Virtual Leaf3D currently under development by a postdoctoral researcher in our team. /li liPublication of the results in the scientific literature and writing a PhD thesis. /li liCo-teaching of relevant courses and student supervision. /li /ul h3bWhere you will work /b /h3 pbResearch at our faculty /b /p pThe Faculty of Science is a world‑class faculty where staff and students work together in a dynamic international environment. It is a faculty where personal and academic development are top priorities. Our people are committed to expand fundamental knowledge by curiosity and to look beyond the borders of their own discipline; their aim is to benefit science, and to make a contribution to addressing the major societal challenges of the future. /p pThe research carried out at the Faculty of Science is very diverse, ranging from mathematics, information science, astronomy, physics, chemistry and bio‑pharmaceutical sciences to biology and environmental sciences. The research activities are organised in eight institutes. These institutes offer eight bachelor’s and twelve master’s programmes. The faculty has grown strongly in recent years and now has more than 2.300 staff and almost 5,000 students. We are located at the heart of Leiden’s Bio Science Park, one of Europe’s biggest science parks, where university and business life come together. /p pFor more information, see and /p pThe Mathematical Institute (MI) is one of the eight institutes within the Faculty of Science and has a strong international orientation. The institute’s mission is to push the boundaries of scientific knowledge by developing and applying high-quality mathematics while offering a wide range of mathematical programs in a friendly and intellectually stimulating environment. We believe that mathematics is a fundamental part of human knowledge, and we take pride in our role as guardians of this rich scientific discipline. We are dedicated to expanding the frontiers of mathematical knowledge and applying our expertise to solve challenges in other sciences, society, and industry. Additionally, we actively promote mathematical literacy through various outreach activities. The Mathematical Institute focuses on four key research themes: Algebra, Geometry, and Number Theory; Analysis and Dynamical Systems; Probability; and Statistics and Data Science. There is extensive collaboration between these themes. For more information about the Mathematical Institute, see /p pbMultiscale Mathematical Biology /b – The work will be embedded in the interdisciplinary Multiscale Mathematical Biology (MMB) team at the Mathematical Institute and the Institute of Biology Leiden, both at the Faculty of Science at Leiden University, and is also part of the qBioLeiden ( initiative that unites research in quantitative biology at Leiden University. The MMB team carries out mathematical biology research in close interaction with its own experimental work and that of collaborators. The team focuses on the mechanobiology of animals and plants. More information about the group can be found on /p h3bWhat you bring /b /h3 ul liMaster’s degree in applied numerical mathematics, computational/theoretical physics, theoretical biology, computer science, or a related discipline; /li liWritten and oral proficiency in English, strong scientific writing skills; /li liAbility to work independently in collaboration with a multidisciplinary environment; /li liFluent interdisciplinary communication skills with scientists in cell biology and mathematics; /li liKeen interest in cell and developmental biology of plants; /li liExperience in (numerical) mathematical modeling (e.g., vertex-based or Cellular Potts modeling, particle-based simulations, PDEs, FBA); /li liSuitable programming skills in C++ or a related language /li /ul h3bWhat we offer /b /h3 pOur goal is to work together to create a transparent and inclusive work environment in which everyone feels welcome and appreciated. Our organisation is always evolving and we need your ideas for improvement and innovation to take us further. We want to devote attention to your personal development. /p pYou can count on an enjoyable job within the socially relevant world of education and research. The University’s challenging and international work environment is located just steps away from Leiden’s lively city centre. We also want to work with you to devote attention to your health and vitality, for example with the fun activities we organise through Healthy University. /p pWe also offer: /p ul liAn employment contract for the duration of one year with a view to permanent employment. This contractfalls under the CLA of Dutch Universities; /li liA salary between € 3204 – € 4051 gross per month, based on a full-time appointment (38 hours) (PhDstudent); /li liA holiday allowance (8%), an end-of-year bonus (8,3%), and an attractive pension scheme at ABP; /li liFull reimbursement of public transport commuting costs for home-to-work travel; /li liFlexible working hours: as a standard, you are entitled to a minimum of 29 leave days on the basis of a full-time working week of 38 hours; you can also save for extra leave, for example by working 40 hours a week, and in this way accrue an extra 96 leave hours, or exchange 96 leave hours for a 36-hour week. /li liLots of options when it comes to secondary employment conditions; within our terms of employmen tindividual choices model, you can exchange leave days and/or salary for benefits such as anadvantageous sports subscription and bicycle scheme; /li liA home-working allowance (day and internet allowance) and attention for good workplaces. The University will also provide you with a laptop. /li /ul pFor more information about employment conditions, seeApplication process and working conditions – Working at Leiden University – Leiden University /p pAll our PhD candidates are embedded in theLeiden University Graduate School of Science. /p h3bWhat we value /b /h3 pPromoting an inclusive community is central to Leiden University’s values and vision. We strive to be an open community in which all students and staff members feel valued and respected, and are able to fully develop themselves. We consider an inclusive academic environment, where students and staff can share their experiences and viewpoints, to be essential for the development of talent. /p pStarting date: fall or winter 2026, flexible. /p pIf you would like more information about what the job entails, please contact Prof.dr. Roeland Merks, at Contact: Prof.dr. Roeland Merks. Contact email address: /p /p #J-18808-Ljbffr
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