University of Cologne
www.uni-koeln.de
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 administra-
tion 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 in-
terdisciplinary approach integrating plant molecular biology, evolutionary and
quantitative genetics and ecology, we are investigating the genetic underpin-
nings 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, Evo-
lutionary 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/diversi-
ty. 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 inter-
disciplinary 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 develop-
ment 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 Ge-
netics 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. Appli-
cations from suitably qualified severely disabled persons or people of equiva-
lent 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 preferential-
ly 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 applica-
tions 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 po-
sitions 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 condi-
tions 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 (with-
out 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 con-
tact 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 moti-
vation 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].
10 Doctoral Researchers / Doctoral positions (f/m/d)
TRR 341 – ‘Plant Ecological Genetics’
