Postdoctoral Research Assistant

On a uniquely beautiful campus, the University of Hohenheim combines the three faculties of Agricultural Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Economics and Social Sciences, in which around 9,000 students are enrolled. Our green campus with its short distances promotes cooperation and creates a lively and inspiring environ-ment for our approximately 2,000 employees to conduct research, teach and work. We are shaping a sus-tainable future and developing solutions for the social challenges of our time. Here, aspiring minds find a community in which they can grow and develop.

The State Plant Breeding Institute at the University of Hohenheim is one of the leading national institutes in the field of transferring basic research into applied plant breeding. Its tasks are geared towards the social requirements of resource-efficient, environmentally friendly and market-oriented agricultural plant production.

To start on 1 May 2026, the university is looking for a

Research Associate (Postdoc) (f/m/d)

Fixed-term until 30 April 2029, up to E13 TV-L, 100%, subject to final approval of the third-party funded project at the State Plant Breeding Institute.

The project aims to establish a scientific basis for more quickly and reliably assessing the expected future quality of wheat harvests and classifying them into quality clusters relevant to practice. To this end, several work packages and specialist disciplines are collaborating on an interdisciplinary basis. The plant breeding sub-project, which is the focus of this advertisement, focuses on further developing breeding evaluation and selection approaches for sustainable wheat breeding. This involves developing and validating selection indices for nutrient use efficiency, comparing different cultivation methods and optimising the recording and evaluation of key quality characteristics.

YOUR TASKS

• Scientific processing of the work package and support for project coordination in this interdisciplinary project, including coordination of schedules, interfaces, data flows and milestones.
• Further development, implementation and validation of breeding, selection and evaluation approaches, particularly indices for nutrient use efficiency and combined quality/stability indicators.
• Analysis and modelling of genotype-environment interactions (G×E) by integrating phenotype, weather and, where applicable, soil data (envirotyping), in order to evaluate performance, plasticity and stability.
• Comparison and evaluation of different cultivation methods in terms of yield and quality, and derivation of conclusions for breeding purposes.
• Further development of quality trait recording and evaluation (including baking quality and process parameters), with consideration given to protein-related effects (e.g. grain protein deviation and utilisation efficiency).
• Preparation, documentation and communication of results (reports, publications, presentations and transfer to breeding and practice), as well as support for third-party funding and collaborative activities.

YOUR PROFILE

• Completed a doctorate (Dr rer nat/agr) in Plant Breeding, Quantitative Genetics, Biometrics/Biostatistics, Agricultural Sciences or related disciplines.
• Very good knowledge of statistical modelling and evaluation of complex experimental and multi-environment datasets (e.g. mixed models, G×E, stability parameters); proficient in R.
• Experience with ASReml (or comparable mixed model tools).
• Experience in scientific project work, ideally including the coordination of work packages/interfaces, as well as structured documentation and reporting.
• Very good written and spoken English (publications/presentations). Good German skills are advantageous.
• Practical experience in plant breeding field trials (planning, data collection and trial evaluation) would be an advantage.
• Class B driving licence advantageous.

The University of Hohenheim promotes equal opportunities and diversity. What matters to us are your knowledge, skills, and strengths, regardless of age, gender, origin, or religion. Applications from women are expressly welcome. People with severe disabilities and those of equal status are also particularly encouraged to apply and will be given preferential consideration if they are essentially equally qualified.

We look forward to receiving your application, which you can submit via our online portal by 28 February 2026 ( If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact: Dr. Patrick Thorwarth,