Summary
Applications are invited for a fully funded 36-month PhD position in Phytopathology and Plant Disease Epidemiology under a collaborative research project between the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE) and the Julius Kühn Institute (JKI), Germany. The project focuses on understanding how major wheat pathogens adapt to climate-related factors such as humidity and temperature, combining experimental plant pathology, epidemiology, microbial ecology, and genomics.
PhD in Applied Photochemistry & 3D Bioelectronics at University of Potsdam, Germany
Designation
PhD Researcher (Doctoral Candidate)
Scholarship Details
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Position | PhD Researcher |
| Research Project | Wheat Pathogen Adaptation to Climate Factors |
| Duration | 36 Months |
| Start Date | Autumn 2026 |
| Host Institutions | INRAE (France) & Julius Kühn Institute (Germany) |
| Location | Palaiseau, France & Research Stays in Kleinmachnow, Germany |
| Monthly Salary | €2,300 Gross (Approx. €1,850 Net) |
| PhD Degree Awarded By | ABIES Doctoral School (AgroParisTech / Université Paris-Saclay) |
| Supervisors | Frédéric Suffert, Thierry Marcel, Philipp Schulz & Bettina Klocke |
| Application Review Begins | June 26, 2026 |
Research Area
- Phytopathology
- Plant Disease Epidemiology
- Wheat Pathogen Biology
- Microbial Ecology
- Plant–Pathogen Interactions
- Genomics and GWAS
- Climate Change and Crop Disease Research
- Fungal Microbiology
- Agricultural Sciences
Location
Primary Location: Palaiseau, France (INRAE BIOGER, Campus Agro Paris-Saclay)
International Research Stays: Kleinmachnow, Germany (Julius Kühn Institute)
Eligibility / Qualification
Applicants should possess:
- A Master’s degree in Plant Pathology, Biology, Agriculture, Microbiology, Genomics, Epidemiology, or a related field.
- Experience in experimental studies involving plant–pathogen interactions.
- Knowledge of phenotypic and/or genomic data analysis.
- Interest in climate change impacts on crop diseases.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work independently in an interdisciplinary and multilingual research environment.
Desirable Skills
- Comparative epidemiology
- Fungal microbiology
- Genetics and genomics
- Statistical analysis
- Bioinformatics and GWAS methodologies
Important Requirement
Due to administrative constraints, only applicants currently residing within the European Union (EU) will be considered.
Job Description
The PhD candidate will investigate the adaptive potential of two important wheat pathogens:
- Zymoseptoria tritici (Zt)
- Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt)
Research Objectives
1. Adaptation to Climatic Factors
- Study pathogen responses to humidity and temperature.
- Conduct in vitro and controlled-environment phenotyping experiments.
- Analyze population-level adaptation patterns in France and Germany.
2. Trade-Offs in Life-History Traits
- Evaluate aggressiveness-related phenotypic traits.
- Identify trade-offs between climatic adaptation and pathogen fitness.
- Compare adaptation patterns across strains and environments.
3. Genomic Basis of Adaptation
- Investigate genetic determinants of humidity adaptation in Z. tritici.
- Utilize whole-genome sequencing data.
- Perform Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) to identify adaptive genomic regions.
The successful candidate will work within an internationally recognized research environment and collaborate closely with scientists from both France and Germany.
Scholarship Benefits
- Gross monthly salary of €2,300.
- Approximate net monthly income of €1,850.
- Public health coverage.
- Contribution toward public transportation costs.
- International research experience in France and Germany.
- Access to leading research facilities in plant pathology and epidemiology.
- PhD degree from Université Paris-Saclay through the ABIES Doctoral School.
How to Apply
Applicants must submit:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Tailored Cover Letter
- Master’s Degree Transcripts
- Contact details of two academic referees
Send the application via email to:
- frederic.suffert@inrae.fr
- thierry.marcel@inrae.fr
- Philipp.Schulz@julius-kuehn.de
- Bettina.Klocke@julius-kuehn.de
Email Subject Line: PhD INRAE–JKI
Last Date for Apply
Priority Review Deadline: 26 June 2026
Applications received after this date will continue to be reviewed until the position is filled.
