Summary
The Leibniz-Institut (IPK) is offering a 3-year PhD position within the Molecular Plant Nutrition research group as part of the DFG-ISF joint project “UNLOCK”. The project focuses on deciphering the nutrient-sensing mechanisms that regulate root development, nutrient uptake, and nutrient allocation, specifically targeting novel molecular players for nitrogen acquisition using a multi-targeted CRISPR approach.
PhD Position in Molecular Plant Nutrition at Leibniz-Institut (IPK), Germany
Position Overview
| Feature | Details |
| Host Institute | Leibniz-Institut (IPK) |
| Reference Number | 32/08/26 |
| Duration | 3 Years (Starting earliest by Oct 15, 2026) |
| Funding/Salary | Gross salary up to 65% E13 TV-L |
| Application Period | Aug 19, 2026 – Sep 21, 2026 |
Subject Area
Biology, Biochemistry, Plant Science, Molecular Biology, or related fields.
Location
Leibniz-Institut (IPK), Germany.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this position, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Hold a Master’s (MSc) degree or equivalent in Biology, Biochemistry, Plant Science, or a related field. (Note: Foreign qualifications require an equivalence test in Germany upon hiring).
- Possess practical experience with cultivating plants under sterile conditions.
- Have solid oral and written English communication skills.
- Desirable: Practical experience in plant genotyping, gene cloning, and genome editing.
- Demonstrate strong scientific curiosity, motivation, and an interest in molecular biology, phenotyping, and microscopy.
Scholarship Description
The successful candidate will work in a world-class research center with state-of-the-art facilities alongside an international, interdisciplinary team. The core objectives and tasks include:
- Exploiting gene editing at the transcriptome scale to identify genes regulating root system architecture and nitrogen capture mechanisms.
- Phenotyping the root system architecture and morphology of CRISPR/Cas9 mutants generated via the Multi-Knock system.
- Exploring tissue- and cell type-specific expression patterns of high-impact genes using transcriptomics and reverse genetics to discover their role within nitrogen-responsive gene regulatory networks.
- Establishing how newly identified genes regulate nitrogen uptake and nitrogen-dependent root development.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit their application online as a single PDF file.
- Please apply via the IPK Job Offers portal.
- Ensure that you indicate the reference number 32/08/26 in your correspondence.
- For further scientific information, contact Dr. Ricardo Giehl at +49 (0) 39482 5293. For application process questions, contact Kerstin Schweigert.
Last Date
The deadline to submit applications is September 21, 2026.
