PhD Scholarship

PhD Scholarship in Plant Biology at the Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Plant Research (IGZ), Germany, with enrollment at the University of Potsdam.

The project is part of the Plant Adaptation Program and focuses on how plants respond to high temperatures and climate change. Research topics include heat stress in Arabidopsis thaliana, proteins and transcription factors linked to thermal sensing, molecular regulation of plant responses to rising temperatures, and the role of prion-like domains in plant adaptation.

The PhD researcher will work on cloning and genetic construct creation, experimental design, plant growth under heat stress, protein purification and analysis, physiological measurements, gene expression analysis, molecular biology, and publication/presentation of results in scientific journals and conferences.

Eligibility highlights: a Master's degree or equivalent in Biology, Biochemistry, Food Chemistry, Biosciences, or a related field; good knowledge of plant stress signaling; experience in plant biology, cloning, and molecular biology techniques; statistical analysis skills or willingness to learn; strong English communication skills; and the ability to work in an international team.

Funding is provided according to the German TV-L E13 salary scale at 65% full-time for 3 years. The position offers advanced laboratories, an international research environment near Berlin, flexible working hours, partial remote work, and public transport support within Germany.

Application deadline: 2026-07-05. Apply by email to [email protected] and include a motivation letter, CV, academic degrees, two academic references, and your expected start date. Mention reference number 09/2026/1.