Doctoral Researcher (m/f/d) in the Collaborative Project SiProtect

Senckenberg Gesellschaft fuer Naturforschung; Deutschland; Hybrid; EUR 32.000 - 42.000; Teilzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

International network of scientists &?

Flexible working hours

Free admission to Senckenberg museums

Company pension plan

Zusammenfassung

Senckenberg Society for Nature Research (SGN), headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, seeks a Doctoral Researcher for the SiProtect project at Müncheberg. You will study insect communities in rye, combining field entomology with molecular identification, metabarcoding and nanopore sequencing to advance biodiversity monitoring.

The role offers a 65% part-time schedule with a fixed-term contract until 31 December 2030, TV-L E13 pay scale, and opportunities to contribute to interdisciplinary research

Qualifikationen

• Master’s degree in entomology, biology, ecology, molecular biology, biodiversity research or related discipline.
• Good knowledge of the major insect orders and families of the German fauna and experience using taxonomic identification literature.
• Basic practical experience in molecular biology, including DNA extraction, PCR and gel documentation.
• Interest in DNA barcoding, metabarcoding or molecular species identification.
• Basic programming skills in R and/or Python.
• Experience handling dried or ethanol-preserved specimens an advantage.
• Ability to organise research activities independently and reliably.
• Strong communication skills and interest in interdisciplinary, collaborative research.
• Valid Class B driving licence and willingness to undertake fieldwork.
• Good written and spoken English; German skills are an advantage.

Aufgaben

• Plan and conduct entomological research activities within SiProtect, focusing on rye-associated insects.
• Conduct standardised insect monitoring using Malaise, pan, sticky traps and sweep netting.
• Identify collected insects using morphological and taxonomic approaches; contribute to a reference database.
• Develop and validate metabarcoding approaches for bulk samples; compare with traditional methods.
• Develop portable molecular lab workflows based on Oxford Nanopore sequencing for field use.
• Create computational pipelines for molecular species identification and insect community analysis.
• Assess pest and beneficial insect responses to rye resilience strategies in field conditions.

Kenntnisse

Insect taxonomy knowledge

Molecular biology basics

DNA barcoding

R/Python programming

Driver's license

English proficiency

Ausbildung

Master’s degree in entomology, biology, ecology, molecular biology, biodiversity research or related discipline

Tools

R

Python

Jobbeschreibung

Organisation/Company Senckenberg Gesellschaft fuer Naturforschung Research Field Biological sciences » Biodiversity Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 22 Nov 2027 - 23:59 (Europe/Berlin) Country Germany Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Part-time Hours Per Week 26 Offer Starting Date 1 Jan 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Reference Number #09-26005 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Senckenberg Society for Nature Research (SGN), headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, is seeking, as soon as possible, a candidate for the PhD position in the collaborative project SiProtect at its Müncheberg location:

Doctoral Researcher (m/f/d) in the Collaborative Project SiProtect

(part-time, 65%)

Scope of Employment: part-time, 65% (26 weekly working hours)

Contract type: ideally starting on 01 January 2027; fixed term until 31 December 2030

Payment: Collective agreement for the federal states TV-L E 13

The Senckenberg Society for Nature Research (SGN) was founded in 1817 and is one of the leading research institutions in the field of biological diversity. At our twelve locations throughout Germany, scientists from over 40 countries conduct cutting-edge research at the international level. The Senckenberg German Entomological Institute (SDEI) is located in Müncheberg, Brandenburg, a research town in the Berlin area with state-of-the-art scientific research institutions.

About the project

Exploring insect communities with molecular tools.

How do crop resilience strategies affect insect communities – and how can molecular technologies help us monitor these changes directly in the field?

As a PhD Researcher in the collaborative project SiProtect, you will investigate insect communities associated with rye and contribute to the development of innovative approaches for species identification and biodiversity monitoring.

SiProtect explores how amorphous silicate (ASi) can strengthen rye resilience to biotic and abiotic stressors, including insect pests, associated pathogens and drought. Your research will connect field-based entomological monitoring with molecular identification, metabarcoding and portable nanopore sequencing.

A particular focus will be the development and validation of a low-cost, portable molecular laboratory based on Oxford Nanopore MinION technology. The resulting workflow aims to accelerate species identification under field conditions and provide a transferable approach for sustainable crop protection and biodiversity monitoring.

• Plan and conduct entomological research activities within the SiProtect research programme, with a focus on insect communities associated with rye
• Conduct standardised insect monitoring using Malaise traps, pan traps, sticky traps and sweep netting
• Identify collected insects using morphological and taxonomic approaches and contribute to a reference database for rye-associated insect communities
• Establish, optimise and validate metabarcoding approaches for bulk insect samples and compare their performance with conventional identification methods
• Portable sequencing: Develop and validate a low-cost, portable molecular laboratory based on Oxford Nanopore MinION sequencing for rapid field-based species identification
• Develop and apply computational pipelines for molecular species identification and insect community analysis
• Assess responses of pest and beneficial insect communities to rye resilience strategies and integrate morphological and molecular monitoring data
• Contribute to interdisciplinary research within the SiProtect consortium and develop new approaches for sustainable crop protection and biodiversity monitoring
• Publish research findings in international journals and present results at scientific conferences and project meetings

Your profile

• Completed Master’s degree in entomology, biology, ecology, molecular biology, biodiversity research or a related discipline
• Good knowledge of the major insect orders and families of the German fauna and experience using taxonomic identification literature
• Basic practical experience in molecular biology, ideally including DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and gel documentation
• Interest in and ideally initial experience with DNA barcoding, metabarcoding or molecular species identification
• Basic programming skills in R and/or Python
• Experience handling dried or ethanol-preserved entomological specimens is an advantage
• Ability to organise research activities independently and work in a structured and reliable manner
• Strong communication skills and an interest in interdisciplinary and collaborative research
• Valid Class B driving licence and willingness to undertake fieldwork
• Good written and spoken English, German skills are an advantage

What you can expect

This position offers the opportunity to combine field entomology, molecular biology, metabarcoding, nanopore sequencing and bioinformatics within an interdisciplinary research project. You will contribute to a scientifically relevant question at the interface of crop resilience, biodiversity and sustainable agriculture, while developing a transferable methodological approach for field-based insect monitoring.

We look forward to welcoming a curious and collaborative researcher who is keen to develop new methods and contribute their own ideas to SiProtect.

We offer

• access to an international network of scientists, policymakers and research organizations
• an attractive job within the inspired and dynamic working environment of an internationally recognized research institution
• flexible working hours – mobile working options – employee ID card with free admission to Senckenberg museums – annual special payment – collectively agreed vacation entitlement– company pension plan

Senckenberg is committed to diversity. We benefit from the different expertise, perspectives and personalities of our staff and welcome every application from qualified candidates, irrespective of ethnic or cultural origin, age, gender, ethnic or cultural origin, religion or belief, age, sexual identity or and ideology, sexual orientation and identity or disability. Applicants with a severe disability will be given special consideration in case of equal suitability. Senckenberg actively supports the compatibility of work and family and places great emphasis on an equal and inclusive work culture.

For data protection information on the processing of personal data as part of the application and selection process, please refer to the privacy policy on our homepage at https://www.senckenberg.de/en/imprint/ .

• Completed Master’s degree in entomology, biology, ecology, molecular biology, biodiversity research or a related discipline
• Good knowledge of the major insect orders and families of the German fauna and experience using taxonomic identification literature
• Basic practical experience in molecular biology, ideally including DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and gel documentation
• Interest in and ideally initial experience with DNA barcoding, metabarcoding or molecular species identification
• Basic programming skills in R and/or Python
• Experience handling dried or ethanol-preserved entomological specimens is an advantage
• Ability to organise research activities independently and work in a structured and reliable manner
• Strong communication skills and an interest in interdisciplinary and collaborative research
• Valid Class B driving licence and willingness to undertake fieldwork
• Good written and spoken English, German skills are an advantage

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

Languages GERMAN Level Basic

Research Field Biological sciences » Biodiversity Years of Research Experience None

Additional Information

• access to an international network of scientists, policymakers and research organizations
• an attractive job within the inspired and dynamic working environment of an internationally recognized research institution
• flexible working hours – mobile working options – employee ID card with free admission to Senckenberg museums – annual special payment – collectively agreed vacation entitlement– company pension plan

Selection process

The selection process will start after the application deadline, followed by interviews (either online, or in person).