PhD position in biology

Department of Plant Breeding
With a changing climate and a growing global population, we face major challenges in suppling food, industrial raw materials and energy. Meeting the increasing demand for bio-based raw materials requires making plant production more environmentally friendly and energy-efficient. At the Department of Plant Breeding, SLU Alnarp, we perform research, education and innovative extension work that are of great strategic importance for solving the abovementioned challenges. We use a wide range of both conventional and modern breeding technologies, ranging from field experiments and evaluation of genetic diversity to genetic, omics-, biotechnological, biochemical and physiological approaches. In the biotechnology division, we focus mainly on basic research on molecular mechanisms underlying oil and starch biosynthesis and genetic improvement of important traits via genome editing by CRISPR/Cas.

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at SLU at https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/

Name of research project/thesis
Biology/ Improving the seedcake quality of rapeseed for high quality feed and food use.
Description:
The aim of this PhD project is to study how to improve the seed cake quality of rapeseed for high quality feed and food uses. The project focus will be on investigating ways to reduce the levels of major antinutritional factors (glucosinolates, sinapine and phytic acid) in the seeds. Research studies will include evaluation of mutation lines derived from CRISPR-editing and EMS-induced mutation by genome sequencing, transcriptome analysis and phenotyping as well as functional analysis of potential novel target genes for the target traits via our highly efficient DNA-free CRISPR-Cas9 editing approach.

This doctoral project is mainly funded by SLU Grogrund, SLU-Grogrund is the Center for Plant Breeding of Food Crops, gathering academia and industry to develop competences to ensure, in accordance with the objectives of the food strategy, the availability of varieties for sustainable and competitive agricultural and horticultural production throughout Sweden.

We are now recruiting a motivated PhD student to the Department of Plant Breeding, SLU in Alnarp.

Qualifications:
We seek a highly motivated and devoted candidate with master degree in plant biology or equivalent, with competence in molecular biology, bioinformatics and biotechnology. Experience in tissue culture and genome editing is a merit. The applicant must be fluent in both written and spoken English. Knowledge of a Nordic language is a merit.

Place of work:
The working place will be in SLU Alnarp campus, Lomma, one of SLUs larger locations, located in the Southern part of Sweden, neighbour to Copenhagen city in Denmark.

Forms for funding or employment:
Employment (4 years)

Starting date:
April 15, 2025 or according to agreement

Application:
Click the “Apply” button to submit your application. The deadline is 2025-02-28.

To qualify for third-cycle (Doctoral) courses and study programmes, you must have a second-cycle (Master’s) qualification. Alternatively, you must have conducted a minimum of four years of full-time study, of which a minimum of one year at second-cycle level.

Applicants will be selected based on their written application and CV, degree project, copies of their degree certificate and transcript of records from previous first and second-cycle studies at a university or higher education institution, two personal references, and knowledge of English. More information about the English language requirements can be found here: [...]/

Please note that applicants invited to interview must submit attested copies of their degree certificate, or equivalent, a transcript of records from previous first and second-cycle studies at a university or higher education institution. Applicants who are not Swedish citizens need to submit an attested copy of their passport’s information page containing their photograph and personal details.

Read about the PhD education at SLU at www.slu.se/en/education/programmes-courses/doctoral-studies/

Academic union representatives:
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The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) has a key role in the development for sustainable life, based on science and education. Through our focus on the interaction between humans, animals and ecosystems and the responsible use of natural resources, we contribute to sustainable societal development and good living conditions on our planet. Our main campuses are located in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala, however, the university also operates at research stations, experimental forests and teaching sites throughout Sweden.

SLU has around 3,000 employees, 5,000 students and doctoral students and a turnover of over SEK 3 billion. We are investing in attractive environments on all of our campuses. We strive to provide a work environment characterised by inclusivity and gender equality, where different experiences generate conversations between people and pave the way for science, creativity and development. Therefore, we welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.