University of Cologne
10 Doctoral Researchers / Doctoral positions (f/m/d)
TRR 341 – ‘Plant Ecological Genetics’
The University of Cologne is one of the largest and most research-intensive universities in Germany, offering a wide range of subjects. With its six Faculties and its inter-Faculty centres, it offers a broad spectrum of scientific disciplines and internationally outstanding profile areas, supported by the administration with its services.
The TRR 341 is a Collaborative Research Centre funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) at the Universities of Cologne, Düsseldorf, Bochum, Marburg, Potsdam and Ilmenau, as well as Julius-Kühn Institute, Forschungszentrum Jülich and the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research. In a joint and interdisciplinary approach integrating plant molecular biology, evolutionary and quantitative genetics and ecology, we are investigating the genetic underpinnings of plant responses and adaptation to global environmental changes. Our collective aim is to provide resources in molecular and genetic data and tools to better understand the molecular basis of plant adaptation. We thereby hope to support current and future efforts for the preservation of plant biodiversity.
To this end, five of the partner institutions (UoC, HHU, RUB, JKI and MPIPZ) offer a total of 10 doctoral researcher / PhD candidate positions.
YOUR TASKS / YOUR PROFILE
We are looking for talented and highly motivated doctoral candidates with a master’s degree (MSc or equivalent) in Plant Sciences, Molecular Biology, Evolutionary Biology, Genetics, Population Genetics, Ecology, Artificial Intelligence, Systems Biology, Bioinformatics or related disciplines. We encourage candidates with strong interests in the aforementioned disciplines and specifically in the ecological and genetic adaptation of plants to changing environments, together with a motivation to contributing to conservation of plant ecosystems/diversity. Successful candidates will convince us that they are excellent team players, driven by curiosity and with an aptitude for interdisciplinary research. The main working language will be English.
We invite candidates to apply for one or more of our projects, for which you will find details here: https://trr341.uni-koeln.de/join-us.
OUR OFFER
As a TRR 341 early career researcher, you will benefit from the unique and interdisciplinary TRR 341 research network in the field of Plant Ecological Genetics that bundles the expertise of excellent scientists from the nine different research institutions. We are dedicated to supporting your scientific and career development as future experts in Plant Ecological Genetics. Our integrated ‘Graduate School in Ecological Genetics’ (GEcoGen) offers you a comprehensive training program with targeted scientific education in the field of Plant Ecological Genetics as well as complementary training to support your personal and career development. Furthermore, regular meetings with other members of the TRR 341 community at all career levels will provide you with ample opportunities for interdisciplinary exchanges.
APPLICATION PROCESS
All participating institutions promote equal opportunities and diversity. Applications from suitably qualified severely disabled persons or people of equivalent status according to Book IX of the German Social Legal Code (SGB – Soziales Gesetzbuch) are encouraged. Severely disabled applicants of equal merit and qualifications will be given priority. Women will be considered preferentially in accordance with the Equal Opportunities Act of North Rhine Westphalia (Landesgleichstellungsgesetz – LGG NRW) or the Federal Equal Opportunities
Act (Bundesgleichstellungsgesetz - BGleiG). We also expressly welcome applications from all suitable candidates regardless of their gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation and identity.
The place of employment is defined by the respective research project. The positions are available as soon as possible and are to be filled for fixed term until 30.06.2030, on the basis of the Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz (WissZeitVG). The respective funding conditions of the individual partners apply. Depending on the personal qualifications of the applicant and the respective funding conditions of the individual partners, the salary will be up to pay grade 13 TV-L for UoC, HHU and RUB 65% (part-time) / or based on TVöD-Bund for JKI and MPIPZ, 65%.
All formal applications will be accepted and reviewed through the job portal of the UoC only, unless stated otherwise. Please send your application (without a photo) with proof of the required qualifications online with the reference number Wiss2605-14 to https://jobportal.uni-koeln.de. Please provide the following as proof of qualification: a letter of motivation, a CV (including the contact details of two references), degree certificates and transcript of records. If you wish to apply to multiple projects, please also provide the list of project your are applying to ordered by your preferences. Please feel free to indicate your motivation for each project either in the letter of motivation or the list. All personal information provided will be processed according to the local data protection regulations (DSGVO).
The application deadline is 10.07.2026. For further questions, please contact [email protected].
