PhD Position in Biology | Biologe (m/w/d)

Job Summary

This PhD position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge synthetic biology and genome repair engineering within the internationally recognized Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry. The primary focus of the three-year project is to develop efficient molecular tools to modulate undesired DNA End-Joining (EJ) processes in plants, thereby significantly increasing the frequency of precise Homology-Directed Repair (HDR)-based genome editing. Day-to-day tasks involve designing, cloning, and rigorously testing synthetic tools tailored for plant EJ factors, establishing and applying the Bindcraft pipeline for peptide binder design, and conducting inhibitor screening using Nicotiana benthamiana and Arabidopsis thaliana reporter lines. The successful candidate will be responsible for presenting and publishing scientific data. Key requirements include a Master’s degree in biology or biochemistry, a solution-oriented work ethic, and very good written and spoken English skills. This role is ideal for an independent researcher passionate about advancing scalable and sustainable biotechnology through transgene-free precise genome editing.