Group Leader (f/m/d) in the field of “Structural Cell Biology”

The IPK is one of the world’s leading international institutions in the field of plant genetics and crop science . Its research program and services contribute significantly to conserving, exploring and exploiting crop diversity , driven by the need to ensure an efficient and sustainable supply of food, energy and raw materials—thereby addressing a major global ecological challenge.

Research in the Physiology and Cell Biology department focuses on the physiological, cell-biological and molecular characterization of performance or stress resilience traits in crops , such as root architectural properties or nutrient efficiency. This work employs a wide range of technical platforms and analytical methods , including microscopy, transcriptomics, metabolomics and genetic engineering.

We seek a new lead for our Research & Service group responsible for the light and electron microscopy platform , who will also conduct independent and collaborative research on structural and cell biological traits in crop species .

Your tasks

You run a platform of different microscopes , including CLSM, SEM and TEM
You cooperate with researchers inside and outside the IPK to develop solutions for tracking or visualizing structural traits
You conduct independent and internationally competitive research
You attract competitive extramural funding
Your research aligns with the priorities of the IPK
You communicate your findings in scientific journals, conferences and to the general public

Your qualifications and skills

Profound knowledge in plant anatomy, morphology and cell biology
Technical expertise and experience in microscopy
Experience in designing and establishing protocols for sample preparation
A PhD in Plant Biology, Genetics, Agricultural Sciences or related subjects
Demonstrated international competitiveness through research publications and conference contributions
Willingness to develop further skills in STEM or 3D-electron tomography

You fit to us if

Internationally competitive research is your ambition
You are competent in leading and motivating a team
You enjoy supervising students, early career scientists and technical staff
You have experience in interdisciplinary interaction and cooperation
You possess demonstrated fundraising skills

We offer

A competitive research environment with state-of-the-art infrastructure
A friendly and productive working atmosphere
An immediately available tenure-track position , to be converted into a long-term status after evaluation according to § 2 (1) WissZeitVG
A gross salary up to E14 TV-L

The IPK strives to increase the proportion of women in underrepresented sectors and explicitly encourages qualified women to apply . We are certified for Career and Family (“berufundfamilie”) and offer family-friendly working conditions and flexible hours . Applicants with disabilities will be given preference in case of equal qualification. For us, qualifications and strengths count—everyone is welcome, independent of gender, origin, age or disability .

Job description automatically summarized using AI

Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK)