PhD Student (f/m/d) (Biologe/Biologin)

Join the Molecular Plant Nutrition (https://www.ipk-gatersleben.de/forschung/physiologie-und-zellbiologie/molekulare-pflanzenernaehrung) research group at the IPK in frame of the DFG-ISF joint project “UNLOCK”. Our research focuses on deciphering the nutrient-sensing mechanisms that regulate root development, nutrient uptake, and nutrient allocation

PhD Research Topic: Uncovering novel molecular players for nitrogen acquisition with a multi-targeted CRISPR approach

Objectives: Exploit the power of gene editing at the transcriptome scale to identify genes that regulate root system architecture and uptake mechanisms for efficient nitrogen capture. The project combines large-scale CRISPR library generation – using the Multi-Knock system to target multiple gene family members – with multi-level root phenotyping, gene expression pattern analysis, RNA sequencing, and nitrogen uptake assays.

Your tasks:

- Phenotype the root system architecture and morphology of CRISPR/Cas9 mutants generated by our project partner using the Multi-Knock system.
- Explore the tissue- and cell type-specific expression patterns of prioritized high-impact genes and discover their functional hierarchy within nitrogen-responsive gene regulatory networks with transcriptomics and reverse genetics approaches.
- Establish how the newly identified genes regulate nitrogen uptake and nitrogen-dependent root development.

Your qualifications and skills:

- You hold a MSc degree (or equivalent) in biology, biochemistry, plant science or a related field.
- Practical experience with cultivating plants under sterile conditions is required.
- Practical experience in plant genotyping, gene cloning and genome editing is strongly desirable.

You fit to us:

- if you are fascinated by plant nutrition and plant development and have a strong interest in molecular biology, phenotyping and microscopy.
- if you have a strong scientific curiosity and motivation.
- if you enjoy working in an interdisciplinary team.
- if you have solid oral and written English skills.

We offer you:

- to work in a world-class research center with state-of-the-art facilities and scientists from all over the world.
- a collegial and collaborative working atmosphere.
- a 3-year PhD position, starting earliest by 15.10.2026.
- a gross salary up to 65% E13 TV-L.

If you need further information, feel free to contact Dr. Ricardo Giehl Tel.: +49 (0) 39482 5293 directly.

What you need to know:

For us, your qualifications and strengths count. Therefore, everyone is welcome – independent of gender, origin, age, or disability. The IPK is striving to increase the proportion of women in sectors where they are underrepresented and, therefore, explicitly encourages qualified women to apply. Our institute has been certified for Career and Family (“berufundfamilie”), and we offer family-friendly working conditions and flexible working hours. The IPK has set a goal to employ more people with disabilities. Qualified applicants with a disability will be given preference.

Your application:

We are looking forward to receiving your online-application (http://leibgate.pi-asp.de/bewerber-web/?company=IPK-FIRMA-ID&tenant=&lang=D#position,id=7665155b-a896-4fa6-9fed-3eebeb5656a8,popup=y) as one single pdf-file (http://www.ipk-gatersleben.de/en/job-offers/) by 21.09.2026. If you have questions or require more information, please contact Kerstin Schweigert ([email protected] (https://mailto:[email protected]) ). Please indicate the reference number 32/08/26 in your correspondence. Foreign qualifications must carry out an equivalence test in Germany, which is subject to a fee. This must be presented in the event of later hiring: https://zab.kmk.org/en/statement-comparability (https://zab.kmk.org/en/statement-comparability)