Postdoc Position: Crop Genomics and Machine Learning

1. Introduction

Join a transformative project at RIBES using machine learning and genomics to overcome linkage drag and accelerate crop breeding by design. You will build models, analyse new sequencing data and optimise strategies for combining multiple advantageous traits. Contribute to groundbreaking research shaping the future of sustainable agriculture!

2. Job description

As climate change accelerates and novel plant diseases emerge, global agriculture faces unprecedented challenges. Modern plant breeding – reliant on molecular markers and genomics – often falters when beneficial traits are genetically linked to deleterious ones, a phenomenon known as linkage drag. To overcome this bottleneck, we are launching a transformative project that leverages machine learning to facilitate crop breeding by design.

This project envisions to build a system that enables precise introgression of desirable traits into elite crop varieties by predicting recombination landscapes across a vast number of potential parental crosses. Implementing the project involves working with a variety of large genomics data and later incorporating the testing on known unwanted linkages.

You will primarily be responsible for building a machine learning model and performing computational genomics or quantitative genetics on new sequencing data. Your goal will be to develop a system that will optimise crop breeding strategies to expedite the combination of multiple advantageous traits.

In this position, you will have the opportunity to be part of innovative research on the genetic, molecular, cellular and physiological basis of plant life. You will be embedded in the Plant and Animal Biology department of RIBES.

3. Profile

Essential Qualifications

• You hold a PhD degree in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Plant Genomics or a related field.
• You possess strong programming skills.
• You have hands-on experience with machine learning techniques, particularly in biological or genomic contexts.

Desirable Skills

• You have experience working with large-scale genomic datasets.
• You are familiar with cloud computing or high-performance computing environments.
• You have knowledge of meiotic recombination, genome analysis, or pan-genomes.

4. We are

The world is facing unprecedented challenges that are leading to a loss of species diversity and pressure on the performance of natural and agricultural ecosystems worldwide. With its overarching mission ’Towards Healthy Ecosystems’, the Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES) aims to perform world-leading research in order to understand how life, from cell to ecosystem, is affected by the environment and vice versa, and apply this understanding to resolving pressing societal issues. The RIBES department of Plant & Animal Biology is currently expanding its research and education portfolio in the field of crop biotechnology to strengthen its impact on society. The crop biotechnology research line combines high-level expertise in the areas of plant genome engineering, meiosis and reproduction, and crop genomics and crop physiology.

5. We offer

• We will give you a temporary employment contract of one year with the prospect of an extension for another two years.
• Your salary within salary scale 10 depends on your previous education and number of years of (relevant) work experience. The amounts in the scale are based on a 38-hour working week.
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus. 
• We offer Dual Career Coaching. The Dual Career Coaching assists your partner via support, tools, and resources to improve their chances of independently finding employment in the Netherlands. 
• You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20. 

6. Practical information and applying

You can apply only via the button below. Address your letter of application to Roven Rommel Fuentes. In the application form, you will find which documents you need to include with your application. We look forward to receiving your application.

The first interviews will take place on Monday 8 December. You will preferably start your employment on 1 February 2026.

We can imagine you're curious about our application procedure. It describes what you can expect during the application procedure and how we handle your personal data and internal and external candidates. If you wish to apply for a non-scientific position with a non-EU nationality, please take notice of the following information. 

Do you already work at Radboud University and have questions about making an internal move? Learn more about internal applications.