Biologist (m/w/d)

Max-Planck-Institut für Pflanzenzüchtungsforschung; Köln; On-site; EUR 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Childcare for under-3

German TVöD-based pay and benefits

Job summary

The Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research (MPIPZ) in Cologne seeks to fill 2 x Research Support positions (m/f/d) to advance our daily laboratory work on mechanisms of plant development and diversity. Candidates will work with experienced technicians and scientists, cultivating and characterizing developmental traits in various plant strains, including transgenic lines.

Ideal applicants have background in molecular biology, plant genetics, Arabidopsis, and CRISPR/Cas; single-cell

Qualifications

• Experience in molecular biology including DNA extraction, PCR and cloning.
• Experience in handling and cultivating plants and plant genetics.
• Experience with Arabidopsis and generation of transgenic plants; CRISPR/Cas mutants a strong asset.
• Experience with single cell approaches is of interest.
• Professional training as a research technician or biology graduate with work experience is desirable.
• Excellent documentation skills and fluent English are required.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to daily laboratory work on mechanisms underlying plant development and diversity.
• Cultivate and characterize developmental traits in plant strains derived from mutagenesis and wild collections as well as transgenic plants.
• Assist in generation of new transgenic plants and maintain lab genetic collections.
• Prepare culture media and assist in organizing daily running of an S1 lab.
• Collaborate closely with experienced research technicians and scientists at different levels.

Skills

Molecular biology

Arabidopsis

CRISPR/Cas

Plant genetics

Genetic analysis

Lab techniques

Documentation

Education

B.Sc. in plant genetics or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Electronic lab notebooks

Job description

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 Society strives to increase employment of severely disabled people. Applications from severely disabled people are expressly encouraged.

Furthermore, the Max Planck Society wants to increase the proportion of women in areas where they are underrepresented. Women are therefore expressly encouraged 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.

The Department of Comparative Development and Genetics at the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research (MPIPZ) in Cologne is seeking to fill

2 x Research Support positions (m/f/d) to contribute to our daily laboratory work on mechanisms underlying plant development and diversity. The successful applicants will work in close collaboration with experienced research technicians and scientists at different levels and they will cultivate and characterize developmental traits in plant strains derived from mutagenesis and wild collections as well as transgenic plants. They will also be involved in generation of new transgenic plants. Experience in molecular biology (genomic DNA extraction, PCR, cloning), and in handling and cultivating plants, as well as experience with plant genetics is essential (further information on our research: https://www.mpipz.mpg.de/tsiantis). Experience working with Arabidopsis, including the generation of transgenic plants and CRISPR/Cas mutants, is a strong asset. Experience with single cell approaches is also of interest. Additional tasks will involve maintaining lab genetic collections, preparing culture media and assisting in organizing and daily running of an S1 lab. The level of independent work and responsibility will depend on qualifications.

Successful candidates will have completed professional training as either a research technician with first professional experience, or as a biology graduate (B.Sc. in plant genetics or an equivalent discipline) with work experience or an additional educational qualification. We are searching for highly motivated candidates with an organized working style and highly developed teamwork skills. Applicants should be enthusiastic about scientific research in an international environment. Excellent documentation skills, computer literacy (Microsoft Office, Electronic lab book applications) as well as fluent English are required.

We offer stimulating and multi-faceted positions (full-time employment) in a friendly and international environment. Payment and benefits are according to the German TVöD and will depend on experience, knowledge and qualifications. The positions are for one year, starting as early as possible and no later than February 2027, with the possibility of renewal.