Scientist; f, m, div.) in Plant-Insect-Pathogen Interactions and Resistance Research

Leibniz-Institute for Horticultural Sciences (IGZ) e.V.

Organisation/Company Leibniz-Institute for Horticultural Sciences (IGZ) e.V. Research Field Agricultural sciences » Agronomics Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Established Researcher (R3) Positions Postdoc Positions Final date to receive applications 26 Oct 2026 - 00:00 (Europe/Berlin) Country Germany Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 40 Offer Starting Date 1 Jan 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number 15/2026/2 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? Yes

The Leibniz Institute for Horticultural Sciences (IGZ) conducts excellent basic research in plant sciences with applications in horticulture focusing on vegetables and the use of plant diversity. The IGZ is a member of the Leibniz Association and is based in Grossbeeren. For further information, please visit our website:  .

The following position is available at the institute subject to approval by the funding organization from January 1, 2027, limited until December 31, 2030 in the research group ‘Plant-Microbe Systems’ within the BMFTR project ‘Phytoprotect:
Penta Cross – Cross-Crop Research on Pentastiridius–Pathogen–Host Interactions in the S /Stolbur Complex’:

Scientist (f, m, div.) in Plant-Insect-Pathogen Interactions and Resistance Research

Reference number: 15/2026/2

The salary will be based on qualification and research experience according to the wage agreement TV-L, up to pay scale 13, full-time .

The ‘Penta Cross’ research project investigates the reed glasswing cicada Pentastiridius leporinus as a native but invasive species in sugar beet, potato and vegetable cropping systems, as well as the pathogens it transmits:
Candidatus Arsenophonus phytopathogenicus (S ) and Candidatus Phytoplasma solani (Stolbur). The aim is to gain a better understanding of the vector’s biology and the host plants’ defence mechanisms, and to derive sustainable strategies for integrated pest management from this.

Tasks include

• planning, conducting and evaluating greenhouse and laboratory experiments to characterise the interaction of P. leporinus with vegetable crops such as carrots and beetroot
• establishment of insect cultures, as well as standardised rearing and synchronisation of P. leporinus
• investigating the transmission of pathogens to various host plants
• assessment of plant phenotypes, disease symptoms, yield and other physiological characteristics
• performing and supervising molecular biological analyses, in particular DNA extraction and qPCR for the quantification of pathogens
• processing and statistical analysis of extensive phenotypic and genotypic datasets as a basis for genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to identify and characterise resistance markers
• integration of phenotypic, molecular, proteomic and metabolomic data to elucidate resistance mechanisms
• documentation, interpretation and presentation of results, as well as writing of publications and scientific reports
• independent communication and collaboration with the scientific institutions involved in the project and other partners from research, breeding industry and farmers, as well as supervising technical assistants

Your profile

• a completed PhD in agricultural sciences, plant sciences, phytopathology, entomology or a comparable discipline
• sound knowledge of, or a keen interest in, plant-insect-pathogen interactions
• experience in planning and carrying out biological experiments involving plants and insects
• good knowledge of molecular biology methods, in particular DNA extraction and qPCR
• proven experience in the quantitative recording and statistical analysis of biological…