Group Leader Position in Plant Chromosome Biology

The Max Planck Society is one of the leading research organizations in Europe. We offer challenging tasks with a high degree of personal responsibility and creative freedom in research laboratories, workshops, libraries, and administration.

The Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research conducts basic research on plants and their development using a wide variety of methods, in particular molecular genetics, genomics, imaging processes, computational biology, and biochemistry. Our goal is the deep and detailed understanding of fundamental mechanisms in plant biology, which may also then be used to develop innovative strategies for plant breeding. 

The Max-Planck Society is committed to increasing the number of individuals with disabilities in its workforce and therefore encourages applications from such qualified individuals.

Furthermore, the Max Planck Society seeks to increase the number of women in those areas where they are underrepresented and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply.

The Little Pumpkins Parents' Association offers childcare for children under the age of 3 at the MPIPZ.

It is possible to apply for a low-cost Germany job ticket with a subsidy from the institute. The institute also has a rental bike station run by the provider nextbike, as well as the possibility of using rental scooters from various providers.

Interested candidates, please upload your complete application documents, including your preferred starting date.

Website: www.mpipz.mpg.de

Group Leader Position in Plant Chromosome Biology

The Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research (MPIZ) in Cologne has an opening for a five-year group leader position in the field of plant genetics. The institute is a major site in Europe committed to basic research in plant science. The working language is English.

The department of Chromosome Biology, headed by Raphael Mercier, opened in 2019. Four teams focus on diverse aspects of genome biology, with complementary aims and approaches (Molecular Mechanisms of Meiosis, Evolution of Meiosis, Polyploidy & Adaption, and Genome Plasticity & Computational Genetics – https://www.mpipz.mpg.de/chromosome-biology). The Department of Chromosome Biology is seeking a group leader to set up a team with complementary interests. The ideal applicant would have an outstanding track record in related fields and at least two years postdoctoral experience. They would have demonstrated an ability to pursue an innovative and internationally competitive research program. Applications are invited from individuals interested in topics related to chromosome biology in the broadest sense. The main criteria are the excellence of the program and complementarity with the other teams.

The group of the successful applicant is expected to be initiated in 2025 and will be supported by a technician, a postdoc, a student, and running costs from the institute’s core budget. They is also expected to attract external funding. The group will benefit from a stimulating environment and an excellent infrastructure including large plant growth facilities, in-house sequencing and computational facilities, phenotyping robot, confocal and super-resolution microscopes. The salary will be according to German civil service conditions (TVöD Bund) and includes social security benefits.

Candidates should send their curriculum vitae including a full list of publications, names of three referees, up to three selected articles, and a ~two-page resume of current and future research interests through the online system.

Candidates are invited to apply by the February 1, 2025.