Are you passionate about sustainable agriculture and pest control? Here’s your opportunity to dive into a cutting-edge PhD project at KU Leuven, focused on biological strategies to manage aphids — one of the world’s most destructive insect pests — in sweet pepper cultivation.
This position is a collaboration between two prominent KU Leuven labs: the Laboratory for Process Microbial Ecology and Bioinspirational Management (PME&BIM) and the Laboratory of Plant Conservation and Population Biology. The project is part of the prestigious VLAIO-LA “ContraMyz” trajectory, aiming to design innovative Integrated Pest Management (IPM) methods for aphid control.
What’s the Project About?
Traditional chemical pest control faces limitations due to resistance and regulatory bans. This project focuses on leveraging plant elicitors and beneficial bacteria to enhance plant resistance and support natural aphid predators like parasitoids. You’ll work on both lab and greenhouse trials, studying the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) in sweet pepper — a key Belgian crop.
Your Role
You’ll isolate and test beneficial bacteria, explore how they interact with host plants and insect pests, and assess their impact under semi-field conditions. This research merges chemical ecology, microbiology, and entomology, providing excellent interdisciplinary exposure. The outcomes aim to influence real-world pest control strategies and will lead to high-impact publications.
Why Join KU Leuven?
As one of Europe’s leading research universities, KU Leuven offers a dynamic, collaborative, and inclusive research environment. You’ll receive advanced training, attend international conferences, and contribute to a project with both scientific and agricultural relevance. The university also offers a competitive salary, access to a strong social welfare system, and mentorship from leading experts.
Who Should Apply?
Candidates should have a Master’s degree (cum laude) in a relevant life sciences field. You’ll need strong interests in microbiology, plant protection, and biocontrol, with a proactive, independent, and communicative attitude. Experience with research and willingness to contribute to team teaching and supervision is also important.
The position starts 1 November 2025, pending a successful one-year evaluation. Applications are open until 31 July 2025.
Don’t miss the chance to work on a high-impact project that blends innovation with real-world agricultural challenges.