Summary
A fully funded 36-month PhD position is available under a joint research collaboration between the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE) and the Julius Kühn Institute. The project focuses on understanding how major wheat pathogens adapt to climate change, particularly temperature and humidity variations. The selected candidate will work in an international research environment across France and Germany, combining phytopathology, epidemiology, microbial ecology, and genomics.
PhD Scholarship in Phytopathology & Plant Disease Epidemiology (France–Germany)
Designation
PhD Researcher (Fully Funded PhD Position)
Research Area
- Phytopathology
- Plant Disease Epidemiology
- Microbial Ecology
- Plant–Pathogen Interactions
- Fungal Biology
- Genomics & GWAS
- Climate Change and Crop Protection
Location
Primary Location:
- INRAE BIOGER, Campus Agro Paris-Saclay, Palaiseau, France (15 km south of Paris)
Research Stays:
- Julius Kühn Institute (JKI), Kleinmachnow, Germany (10 km south of Berlin)
Scholarship Benefits
- 36-month PhD employment contract with INRAE
- Gross salary: €2,300 per month
- Approximate net salary: €1,850 per month
- Public health coverage
- Contribution toward public transportation costs
- PhD degree awarded through the ABIES Doctoral School (AgroParisTech / Université Paris-Saclay)
- International research experience in France and Germany
Eligibility / Qualification
Applicants should possess:
- A Master’s degree in a relevant field.
- Knowledge of phytopathology, plant disease epidemiology, microbial ecology, genomics, or related disciplines.
- Experience in experimental studies involving plant–pathogen interactions.
- Skills in phenotypic and/or genomic data analysis.
- Strong analytical and quantitative abilities.
Preferred qualifications include:
- Comparative epidemiology
- Fungal microbiology
- Genetics
- Statistics
- Ability to work independently
- Experience in interdisciplinary and multilingual research environments
Job Description
Project Title
Wheat Pathogen Adaptation to Climate Factors: A Comparative Study of Plasticity and Life-History Trade-Offs in Zymoseptoria tritici and Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici
The PhD project aims to investigate how two major wheat pathogens adapt to climate-related factors, particularly humidity and temperature. The research will compare pathogen populations from France and Germany and explore their adaptive potential under changing climatic conditions.
Research Objectives
1. Characterization of Adaptation to Climatic Factors
- Study phenotypic plasticity and variation within pathogen populations.
- Evaluate adaptation to humidity in Zymoseptoria tritici.
- Investigate temperature adaptation in Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici.
- Conduct laboratory, greenhouse, and controlled-environment experiments.
2. Characterization of Life-History Trade-Offs
- Analyze multiple aggressiveness-related traits.
- Compare adaptation patterns across environmental conditions.
- Identify potential trade-offs influencing pathogen fitness and evolution.
3. Genetic Determinants of Adaptation
- Investigate the genomic basis of adaptation to humidity.
- Utilize whole-genome sequence datasets.
- Perform Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) to identify adaptive genomic regions.
Supervision
INRAE
- Frédéric Suffert
- Thierry Marcel
JKI
- Philipp Schulz
- Bettina Klocke
How to Apply
Submit the following documents:
- Updated CV
- Tailored Cover Letter
- Master’s Degree Transcripts
- Contact details of two academic referees
Send applications via email to:
- frederic.suffert@inrae.fr
- thierry.marcel@inrae.fr
- Philipp.Schulz@julius-kuehn.de
- Bettina.Klocke@julius-kuehn.de
Email Subject: PhD INRAE–JKI
Last Date to Apply
Initial application review deadline: June 26, 2026
Applications received after this date will continue to be reviewed until the position is filled.
Start Date
Autumn 2026
Duration
36 Months
This is an excellent opportunity for candidates interested in climate change impacts on crop diseases, fungal pathogen evolution, plant health, and advanced genomic research within a prestigious France–Germany
