In the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, the research group of Dr. Clemence Marchal invites applications for a
Salary group E13 TV-L, 65%, limited for 4 years, Application deadline: 09/03/2026, Earliest start date: 01/05/2026
Who we are:
The Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry (IPB) is a non-university research institution of the Leibniz Association on the Weinberg Campus of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. As a foundation under public law, the IPB is under direct supervision of the state of Saxony-Anhalt. The IPB is an internationally recognized research institution and consists of four scientific Departments and additional independent research groups (approx. 200 employees, including around 40 doctoral students). Research at the IPB aims to understand the (bio)chemical basis of plant resilience and performance in challenging environments related to climate change. The IPB offers excellent research facilities and state-of-the-art infrastructure to study the chemical diversity, biochemical interactions and biological functions of small natural product molecules in and from plants and fungi (https://www.ipb-halle.de/en/).
PhD position in biology (m/f/d)
Salary group E13 TV-L, 65%, limited for 4 years, Application deadline: 09/03/2026, Earliest start date: 01/05/2026
Who we are:
The Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry (IPB) is a non-university research institution of the Leibniz Association on the Weinberg Campus of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. As a foundation under public law, the IPB is under direct supervision of the state of Saxony-Anhalt. The IPB is an internationally recognized research institution and consists of four scientific Departments and additional independent research groups (approx. 200 employees, including around 40 doctoral students). Research at the IPB aims to understand the (bio)chemical basis of plant resilience and performance in challenging environments related to climate change. The IPB offers excellent research facilities and state-of-the-art infrastructure to study the chemical diversity, biochemical interactions and biological functions of small natural product molecules in and from plants and fungi (https://www.ipb-halle.de/en/).
Activities and responsibilities
Research topic:
Our newly established research group investigates how plant immune receptors cooperate to trigger an immune response and how to leverage this knowledge to develop strategies for sustainable disease resistance in crops.
Plants have evolved diverse immune receptors to perceive biotic stresses and trigger defence responses. Among these, Nucleotide-binding, Leucine-rich-Repeat proteins (NLRs) constitute a large family of intracellular receptors of pathogen-associated molecules, termed effectors. To restrict infection, NLRs trigger a response leading to cell death upon pathogen recognition. A recent evolutionary model proposes that NLRs have evolved from single units (singleton NLRs) able to both detect and respond to the presence of pathogen associated molecules to functionally specialised units that either detect the pathogen (sensor NLRs) or execute the immune response (helper NLRs). Some sensor and helper NLRs work as genetically linked pairs or complex interconnected networks. Importantly, both sensor and helper partners are required for resistance upon pathogen infection.
In the ERC-funded project “CooPAIRation”, we aim to harness the genetic diversity and evolutionary history of a wheat immune receptor pair to uncover the molecular mechanisms underpinning paired receptor compatibility and guide the design of optimised immune receptor pairs for disease resistance.
We are looking for a motivated candidate with a strong interest in plant immunity and plant-microbe interactions. Please submit a single PDF containing a CV and cover letter describing your research interests. Applications will be reviewed until the 09/03/2026 and interviews will be held shortly after.
Your tasks:
Our newly established research group investigates how plant immune receptors cooperate to trigger an immune response and how to leverage this knowledge to develop strategies for sustainable disease resistance in crops.
Plants have evolved diverse immune receptors to perceive biotic stresses and trigger defence responses. Among these, Nucleotide-binding, Leucine-rich-Repeat proteins (NLRs) constitute a large family of intracellular receptors of pathogen-associated molecules, termed effectors. To restrict infection, NLRs trigger a response leading to cell death upon pathogen recognition. A recent evolutionary model proposes that NLRs have evolved from single units (singleton NLRs) able to both detect and respond to the presence of pathogen associated molecules to functionally specialised units that either detect the pathogen (sensor NLRs) or execute the immune response (helper NLRs). Some sensor and helper NLRs work as genetically linked pairs or complex interconnected networks. Importantly, both sensor and helper partners are required for resistance upon pathogen infection.
In the ERC-funded project “CooPAIRation”, we aim to harness the genetic diversity and evolutionary history of a wheat immune receptor pair to uncover the molecular mechanisms underpinning paired receptor compatibility and guide the design of optimised immune receptor pairs for disease resistance.
We are looking for a motivated candidate with a strong interest in plant immunity and plant-microbe interactions. Please submit a single PDF containing a CV and cover letter describing your research interests. Applications will be reviewed until the 09/03/2026 and interviews will be held shortly after.
Your tasks:
- Phylogenetic analyses
- Routine molecular biology work
- Protein biochemistry
- Immune response assays in plants and protoplasts.
- Documentation and presentation of results, drafting publications
- Lab supervision of students, support of guest scientists
Qualification profile
Your profile:
- Diploma or master’s degree in biology, biochemistry, or closely related field
- Very good English language skills (written and spoken)
- Independent and solution-oriented work ethic
- Interdisciplinary mindset and enthusiasm for teamwork
- Ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity
- Some lab experience in molecular biology and/or biochemistry
- Desirable, but not required, knowledge and skills include:
- Experience with plant work, preferentially Nicotiana benthamiana and/or grasses
- A good understanding of key concepts in plant-microbe interactions
We offer
Our benefits:
- Excellent working conditions in an international environment
- Flexible and family-friendly working hours
- Offer of professional training courses and measures for skill improvement
- Compensation according to TV-L (including annual special payment)
- Contribution to your company pension plan (VBL)
- On-site opportunities for health promotion
Contact details:
We are looking forward to receiving your online application
For informal enquiries, please contact Dr. Clemence Marchal via clemence.marchal(at)zmbp.uni-tuebingen.de, Bluesky (@clemmar.bsky.social), or LinkedIn.
Foreign qualifications must comply with German standards (TV-L-EntgeltO Protokollerklärung Nr. 1 Absatz 4) and be certified (equivalence test in Germany, subject to a fee) and presented to IPB Human Resources at the time of hiring: https://www.kmk.org/zab/central-office-for-foreign-education
Diversity, family and equal opportunities:
The IPB aspires to the goal of equal opportunity, diversity, and the promotion of work-life balance as it was awarded the certificate "Total E-Quality". In addition, the IPB is a member of the nationwide company network "Success Factor Family" and of the “Diversity Charter” (Charta der Vielfalt).
Applications from disabled persons or applicants with equivalent status are expressly welcome.
Further information can be found at: https://www.ipb-halle.de/en/institute/
Data protection:
Please note the data protection information for applicants (m/f/d) according to Article 13 and 14 GDPR on data protection processing during the application process:
https://www.ipb-halle.de/en/career/data-protection-information-for-applicants/
We are looking forward to receiving your online application
For informal enquiries, please contact Dr. Clemence Marchal via clemence.marchal(at)zmbp.uni-tuebingen.de, Bluesky (@clemmar.bsky.social), or LinkedIn.
Foreign qualifications must comply with German standards (TV-L-EntgeltO Protokollerklärung Nr. 1 Absatz 4) and be certified (equivalence test in Germany, subject to a fee) and presented to IPB Human Resources at the time of hiring: https://www.kmk.org/zab/central-office-for-foreign-education
Diversity, family and equal opportunities:
The IPB aspires to the goal of equal opportunity, diversity, and the promotion of work-life balance as it was awarded the certificate "Total E-Quality". In addition, the IPB is a member of the nationwide company network "Success Factor Family" and of the “Diversity Charter” (Charta der Vielfalt).
Applications from disabled persons or applicants with equivalent status are expressly welcome.
Further information can be found at: https://www.ipb-halle.de/en/institute/
Data protection:
Please note the data protection information for applicants (m/f/d) according to Article 13 and 14 GDPR on data protection processing during the application process:
https://www.ipb-halle.de/en/career/data-protection-information-for-applicants/
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