Postdoc

The position is subject to final funding approval and is until 30.06.2030. The starting date is 01.07.2026. The position is fulltime with salary and benefits commensurate with a public service position in the state Hesse, Germany (TV-H E 13, 100%).

 The project focuses on plant ecology and local adaptation in the era of climate change. The main questions are whether plant populations are adapted to their local environmental across Europe, to which degree local adaptation lags behind climate change and what is the role of phenotypic plasticity. The focal plant is a wild annual grass Hordeum murinum, a relative of cultivated barley. The project capitalizes on previous work which collected seeds from over 1000 plants from Northern Africa to southern Scandinavia, and previous common garden experiments that already acquired substantial amounts of data. While this project is clearly ecological, it is a cooperation with plant geneticists (AG Korff, HHU Düsseldorf) who will focus on how the adaptation is reflected on the genome level. In case of interest, the candidate will have the opportunity to participate in genomic analyses. This project is part of a large, DFG funded consortium TRR341 “Plant Ecological Genetics”.

Tasks:

• Designing, performing and coordinating a large reciprocal transplant experiment across Europe and Northern Africa
• Coordination of cooperating researchers, supervision of students across Europe
• Data curation and analysis
• Co-developing additional research questions and experiments
• Preparation of publications

Profile:

• MSc-degree or equivalent and PhD in ecology or a related discipline, scientific publications in the field
• Proficiency in English, ability to communicate in German
• Physical and psychological ability to perform common garden work through Europe (long travels, carrying material), excellent communication skills
• Proficiency in data analysis using R, documented ability to lead scientific publications
• Experience with common garden experiments and with student or helper supervision
• Driving license B

We offer:

• Ticket for free use of public transport in Hesse (Landesticket)
• Teleworking
• Career developement

We support women and strongly encourage them to apply. In areas where women are underrepresented, female applicants will be preferred in case of equal qualifications. As a certified family-friendly university, we support our employees in balancing family and career. A reduction of working time is possible. Applicants with a disability as discribed in the Social Security Code (Section 2(2) and (3) of Book IX of the Social Security Code (SGB IX)) will be preferred in case of equal qualifications. Application and interview costs can not be refunded.

Please apply by 19th April 2026 using the application-button below.