PhD in Plant Ecological Genetics and Soil Microbiota Responses at University of Cologne University of Cologne in Germany

We are hiring a PhD student in plant ecological genetics at the University of Cologne as part of the large-scale research initiative TRR 341 / Plant Ecological Genetics.

The advertised project (A07) focuses on the role of soil-associated microbiota in plant density responses. The research is centered on how plant competitive ability and crowding responses are shaped by belowground microbial communities, using diverse natural soils to study plant density effects, microbial contributions to competition, legacy effects, and plant–soil feedbacks.

This opportunity is especially relevant for candidates interested in biology, environmental science, ecology, plant-microbe interactions, evolutionary microbiology, and Arabidopsis-related research. The post is supervised by Bart Thomma at the University of Cologne, with project details available on the lab website.

The announcement states that 10 PhD positions are open across the consortium, and project A07 is one of them. The application deadline is 2026-07-10.

Applicants should review the project information and apply through the TRR 341 application route. Informal enquiries can be directed to the project leader by email.