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

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.

Your tasks

• 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 organize 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