PhD Project: Decoding Symbiont Establishment through Systems Modeling and Multi-Omics Integration Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Germany

The Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany, invites applications for a PhD project focused on decoding symbiont establishment through systems modeling and multi-omics integration. The institute is renowned for its interdisciplinary research on chemical communication among organisms, employing molecular, chemical, and neurobiological techniques. The Department of Insect Symbiosis, where this project is based, investigates the complex relationships between insects and their bacterial symbionts, with a particular emphasis on the grain beetle Oryzaephilus surinamensis and its endosymbiont Shikimatogenerans silvanidophilus. This model system provides insights into nutritional symbiosis, especially in nutrient-limited environments like stored grains, where bacterial contributions are vital for host fitness.

Recent findings from the group have demonstrated that the free-living bacterium Sodalis praecaptivus can replace the resident endosymbiont, creating a unique opportunity to study the establishment and maintenance of new symbiotic partnerships. The PhD project will adopt a systems biology approach, integrating metabolic and regulatory network modeling with multi-omics data (genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics) to uncover the principles governing host-symbiont equilibrium and the emergence of novel associations. Research questions include how metabolic complementarity evolves during symbiont establishment, which metabolic reactions are essential for maintaining equilibrium, and how regulatory layers influence metabolic fluxes under different conditions.

The project will involve computational modeling, genome-scale metabolic network reconstruction, AI-based protein function prediction, simulation of metabolic exchanges, and integration of diverse omics datasets. Comparative genomics across various insect symbioses may also be explored. The position is primarily bioinformatics-oriented, but candidates from other backgrounds interested in computational biology are encouraged to apply. Training will be provided as needed.

The Max Planck Society is committed to diversity, gender equality, and the inclusion of persons with disabilities. The application deadline is December 15, 2025. Interested candidates should apply via the Max Planck Society application portal, submitting all required documents.

The project offers an excellent opportunity to work in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment at a leading research institute, contributing to fundamental advances in our understanding of symbiosis and systems biology.