Internship – Pathogen identification in ornamental crop

Are you looking for an internship at an ambitious, leading international company where you can develop and challenge yourself? Then take a look at our internship, we have the one for you!

R&D Department:

At Takii Europe, the Phytopathology Laboratory within the R&D department is dedicated to conducting routine disease assays on vegetable and ornamental breeding materials. In addition to these assays, the laboratory provides diagnostic services and develops new tests for specific pathogens.

Viola leaf spot is a complex disease caused by a diverse group of pathogens, including fungi, bacteria, and oomycetes. While each pathogen has unique characteristics, symptoms typically begin as small chlorotic spots on older leaves, which enlarge and merge into larger yellow patches. Although fruiting bodies provide the most reliable identification, they appear only after the infection has progressed significantly. Complicating diagnosis further, multiple pathogens can co-infect a single plant, producing similar symptoms. This complexity underscores the need for improved early detection and differentiation strategies, which this project aims to address.

This internship project aims to identify, isolate and characterize the causal agents of viola leaf spot and develop early differentiation methods. Findings will be compiled into a practical guide for breeders to support timely and effective disease management.

This project will be accomplished through the following steps:

• Conducting a comprehensive literature review on viola leaf spot;
• Isolate and identify pathogens from infected viola plants;
• Assess pathogenicity by reinfecting viola seedlings and documenting symptom development;
• Compile observations into disease differentiation guide for breeders;
• Participating in routine disease assays and phyto pathological activities.

The internship is available from July 2026 for a period of 6 to 9 months.

Requirements:

• A fourth-year HBO student with a HLO or HAS background;
• You are solution-oriented, enthusiastic and dare to show initiative;
• Knowledge and interest in (molecular) phytopathology;
• Experience with data visualization via Excel and R-studio is a plus;
• Good command of the Dutch and/or English language;
• You can work well together as well as independently.

About Takii:

Takii Europe is an ambitious and innovative company specialized in the breeding, production, processing of flower and vegetables products, located in De Kwakel, near Amsterdam and Leiden.

Takii Europe is an ambitious and innovative company active in seed breeding. Takii exists to make the world a little happier. Under the motto “creating tomorrow today” we see it as our mission to enrich people’s live by breeding unique vegetable and flower varieties. Takii Europe is characterized by a flat organization. That means that everyone is available to everyone, because only together will we reach our goal. Our people are real team players for whom quality, respect and reliability are self-evident.

Takii Europe is an organization with more than 150 employees in different European countries with a Dutch management.

What we offer:

An interesting and challenging internship where we give you the opportunity to learn and come up with initiatives. Your internship supervisor will be there to support you during your internship at Takii and will provide you a safe learning climate. During your internship there will be time for your assignments from your education as well. And last but not least: you will be rewarded with a good compensation.

Interested?

Send your application (resume & motivation) to Kim Boekraad, HR Advisor, via vacancy@takii.eu.