Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB), Potsdam

The Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy is a pioneer and a driver of bioeconomy research. We create the scientific foundation to transform agricultural, food, industrial and energy systems into a comprehensive bio-based circular economy. We develop and integrate techniques, processes and management strategies, effectively converging technologies to intelligently crosslink highly diverse bioeconomic production systems and to control them in a knowledge-based, adaptive and largely automated manner. We conduct research in dialogue with society - knowledge-motivated and application-inspired.

Subject to funding approval, the following position is to be filled for the three-year main phase of the joint project "Diversification of cropping systems for the one health of soils, plants and humans (DCropS4OneHealth)", which has been applied for within the framework of the BMBF call "Biodiversity and Health"

In the field of agrobiodiversity, the DCropS4OneHealth project aims to identify causal relationships between how the diversification of crop production systems affects biodiversity in the agricultural landscape, health-relevant properties of field produce and human health. The position is assigned to ATB's Technology Assessment Department in close collaboration with the Departments Microbiome Biotechnology and Data Science in Bioeconomy. External partners are the Teaching and Research Station for Animal Breeding and Husbandry (LVAT), the University of Potsdam, the Leibniz Institute for Plant Biochemistry (IPB), the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK).

Your responsibilities

• Organising, executing and evaluating work on the plant microbiome in an on-farm field experiment, including plant and produce sampling
• Detection of the plant microbiome by metabarcoding amplicon sequencing using the Oxford Nanopore Technology platform
• Bioinformatic evaluation of amplicon datasets, determination of ecological values based on statistical methods (e.g. PCoA, NMDS, TITAN), construction of microbial networks as well as trait-based models
• Presentation of project results at scientific conferences and stakeholder meetings, writing project reports and scientific publications

Your professional qualification profile

• PhD in the field of microbial ecology or related subjects with the specialisation on the plant microbiome
• Knowledge and experience in designing and conducting field experiments
• Knowledge and experience in microbiological analyses, including the extraction of nucleic acids, PCR techniques, modern sequencing technologies and bioinformatics and statistics
• Knowledge in programming (e.g. with R, Python, Pearl) and mathematical modelling with special focus on the field of microbial ecology is desirable
• Strong interest in interdisciplinary collaboration at the interface of agronomy, agricultural engineering, ecology, microbiology, biochemistry and the application of digital tools, especially artificial intelligence
• Experience in scientific publishing
• Very good written and spoken English skills, German skills are an advantage
• Ability to work in a team and willingness to cooperate, reliability, flexibility, personal commitment and ability to work independently
• EU-Driving license class B is an advantage

We offer

• An attractive, interdisciplinary working environment in a mixed team of experienced and young scientists and technicians
• Excellent infrastructure for carrying out scientific work
• Access to national and international networks for your scientific career
• Family-friendly working conditions that promote the compatibility of work and family life
• Company-owned electric bicycles for work trips
• Participation on the VBB company ticket and Deutschland ticket
• An easily accessible work place (bike, public transport) on the edge of a park-like landscape

Subject to funding approval, the position is expected to be filled from August 1, 2024 for a limited period of three years in accordance with the project duration. The salary is dependent on your qualifications and professional experience up to pay group 13 TV-L.

For further information please contact Dr. Susanne Theuerl (E-Mail: stheuerl(at)atb-potsdam.de) and visit our website www.atb-potsdam.de.

If you would like to contribute your expertise to our interdisciplinary research, please apply by June 14, 2024 using ATB’s online application form for the job advertisement, reference code 2024-2-6 at https://www.atb-potsdam.de/en/career/vacancies.

Equality of opportunity is part of our personnel policy. Disabled applicants with adequate qualification will be preferentially considered.

By submitting an application, you agree that your job application documents will be stored for a period of six months, even in the case of an unsuccessful application. Further information on the processing, storage and protection of your personal data can be found at: https://www.atb-potsdam.de/de/special/datenschutzerklaerung-fuer-den-bewerbungsprozess