Reimund Rötter

The Division of Tropical Plant Production and Agricultural Systems Modelling (TROPAGS) at the University of Göttingen is offering a four-year PhD scholarship focused on process-based crop modelling of biotic–abiotic stress interactions in maize. This opportunity is part of the DFG-funded Research Unit MultiStress, which investigates how maize responds to multiple, interacting abiotic (e.g., drought, nitrogen deficit) and biotic (e.g., Setosphaeria turcica) stress factors. The project aims to improve understanding and prediction of crop performance under complex stress environments and future climate scenarios. The PhD project will extend and apply the MultiStress crop model to simulate disease impacts on maize physiology, growth, yield, and stress interactions. Main tasks include developing new routines for disease effects, integrating and testing these within the model, calibrating and validating with field data, and analyzing outputs to explore joint effects of biotic and abiotic stresses. Collaboration with other subprojects and publishing in international journals are expected. Applicants should have a Master's degree in Crop Science, Agronomy, Agricultural or Environmental Sciences, Plant Pathology, Systems Biology, or related fields. Required skills include programming and data analysis (R or Python), experience with process-based models, and strong English communication. The position is open to talented East African students and supports interdisciplinary, international research collaboration. Funding is provided for four years, supporting research and living costs. To apply, send a single PDF (motivation letter, CV, certificates) to Professor Reimund Rötter at [email protected] by January 4, 2026. Key academic keywords: crop modelling, maize, biotic stress, abiotic stress, plant pathology, agronomy, systems biology, environmental sciences, process-based models, data analysis.

The Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at Georg-August University Göttingen in Germany is offering a 4-year fully funded PhD position in process-based crop modelling, focusing on biotic–abiotic stress interactions in maize. This opportunity is part of the DFG-funded Research Unit MultiStress, which investigates how maize responds to combined biotic (such as Setosphaeria turcica) and abiotic (drought, nitrogen deficit) stress factors. The successful candidate will develop new routines to describe disease impacts on maize, integrate and test models within the MultiStress system, calibrate models using field data, and analyze how various stresses affect yield and quality. The project involves collaboration across experimental, modelling, and synthesis subprojects, and offers the chance to publish in international peer-reviewed journals. Applicants should have a Master’s degree in Crop Science, Agronomy, Plant Pathology, Environmental Sciences, Systems Biology, or a related field. Essential skills include a strong interest in quantitative crop modelling, proficiency in R or Python, and data analysis. Experience with process-based crop models is advantageous. Excellent English communication skills and the ability to work independently in an interdisciplinary, international team are required. The position provides a dynamic, international research environment, excellent supervision and training opportunities, access to unique multi-stress datasets, high-performance computing resources, and opportunities for international exchange. The PhD scholarship is fully funded for four years. The application deadline is 04 January 2026, with interviews scheduled for mid-January 2026. To apply, candidates should submit a single PDF containing a motivation letter, CV, and certificates via email to Prof. Dr. Reimund Rötter ([email protected]). For further information, Dr. Munir Hoffmann ([email protected]) can also be contacted. This is an excellent opportunity for those passionate about crop modelling, plant stress physiology, and interdisciplinary agricultural research to join one of Europe’s leading agricultural science institutions. Keywords: crop modelling, plant stress physiology, maize, biotic stress, abiotic stress, process-based models, agronomy, plant pathology, environmental sciences, systems biology.

The University of Göttingen's Institute of Tropical Plant Production and Agricultural Systems Modelling (TROPAGS) is offering a four-year PhD scholarship under the DFG-funded MultiStress Research Unit (RU 6101). This opportunity is primarily directed toward students from East Africa but is open to all qualified candidates. The research focuses on process-based crop modelling of biotic–abiotic stress interactions in maize, including crop modelling, plant–pathogen interactions, and ecological dynamics. The project aims to improve understanding and prediction of crop performance under complex stress environments, specifically investigating how maize responds to multiple stress factors such as drought, nitrogen deficit, and disease (Setosphaeria turcica). Main tasks include developing and implementing new routines for disease effects on maize physiological processes, integrating and testing these within the MultiStress crop model, calibrating and validating the model using experimental data, analyzing model outputs, and collaborating with other subprojects. The position offers dynamic, interdisciplinary research training, access to unique datasets, high-performance computing, and opportunities for international collaboration and conference participation. Applicants must have a Master's degree in a relevant field (Crop Science, Agronomy, Agricultural or Environmental Sciences, Plant Pathology, Systems Biology), strong interest in quantitative crop modelling, programming and data analysis skills (R, Python), and experience with process-based models is advantageous. Excellent English skills and the ability to work in an international team are required. To apply, candidates should send a single PDF (motivation letter, CV, certificates) to Prof. Reimund Rötter at [email protected] by 04 January 2026. Interviews will be held on 15, 19, or 20 January 2026, with invitations sent on 12 January 2026. For further information, contact Prof. Rötter or Dr. Munir Hoffmann.