PhD Position – Linking Above-Ground Plant Function to Root Dynamics Full-time NEW

PhD Position – Linking Above-Ground Plant Function to Root Dynamics

Plant roots are essential for water and nutrient acquisition and play a key role in how crops respond to environmental stress. Yet, because roots are hidden in the soil, their development and activity remain difficult to observe – particularly under field conditions.

Advances in plant phenotyping, on the other hand, allow us to characterize above- and belowground plant structure and function with increasing temporal resolution. Physiological measurements provide information about photosynthetic carbon assimilation, while sensor-based phenotyping captures dynamic changes in plant growth and stress responses.

To what extent can available above-ground traits be related to root structure and function?

At the Institute of Bio- and Geosciences – Plant Sciences (IBG-2) at Forschungszentrum Jülich, we are looking for a doctoral researcher to address this question within the PhenoRob – Robotics and Phenotyping for Sustainable Crop Production – research environment.

Your Job

The aim of your PhD project is to relate root dynamics to above-ground physiological and phenotypical measures and traits.

You will investigate how photosynthesis, carbon allocation, shoot development and root growth are connected over time and how these relationships change in response to environmental conditions. To achieve this, you will combine experiments done under controlled conditions with field experiments.

Complementary experiments will provide direct and non-invasive information about shoot and root structure and function. Using advanced imaging approaches such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET), you will follow root development and physiological processes over space and time. You will also measure photosynthetic performance to help reveal how carbon assimilation and allocation are related to source-sink dynamics and subsequent root and shoot growth.

By combining these complementary datasets, you will investigate whether measurable changes above ground can serve as indicators – and ultimately predictors – of dynamic processes in the hidden root system.

Your tasks will include:

• Design and conduct plant experiments under controlled and field conditions
• Quantify temporal changes in plant structure and function using non-invasive approaches
• Investigate relationships between photosynthetic carbon assimilation, carbon allocation, and subsequent root and shoot growth
• Develop quantitative approaches to relate root development and stress responses to above-ground measurements
• Contribute experimental data to the parameterisation and validation of functional-structural plant models
• Present your results at international conferences and publish them in peer-reviewed scientific journals

The project will be highly collaborative and will connect expertise in plant physiology, root biology, phenotyping, sensing, imaging, data analysis and plant modelling within IBG-2 and the interdisciplinary PhenoRob research environment.

Your Profile

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate who combines scientific curiosity with an interest in experimental and quantitative plant science.

• Excellent Master's degree in plant sciences, biology, agricultural sciences, crop science, environmental sciences, bioengineering or a related discipline
• Motivation to combine controlled experiments with field-based plant research
• Interest in linking physiological processes with imaging and sensor-derived plant traits
• Experience in quantitative data analysis and statistics
• Experience with R, Python or comparable tools is advantageous
• Very good command of written and spoken English is required (at least B2 level according to the CEFR), ideally supported by a certificate confirming the language level

Experience with photosynthesis measurements, root phenotyping, plant imaging, MRI, PET, field phenotyping, remote sensing, image analysis, machine learning or plant modelling is an advantage, but not a prerequisite.

Our Benefits for You

• Team & Environment: You will work in a motivated team with an international and interdisciplinary focus – at one of the largest research institutions in Europe
• Research & Infrastructure: You will have access to excellent scientific and technical facilities for your work
• Networking & Exchange: You will participate in (international) conferences and project meetings and actively build your scientific network
• Supervision & Support: We will accompany your doctoral studies with continuous, expert guidance from your academic supervisor
• Work-life balance: We offer flexible working hours to help you balance your professional and personal life. You also have the option of flexible working (in terms of location), which is generally possible after consultation and in line with upcoming tasks and (on-site) appointments
• Annual Leave: You get 30 days of annual leave
• Knowledge & Development: Your professional development is important to us – we support you specifically and individually e.g., through training and networking opportunities specifically for doctoral candidates (JuDocS)
• Successful start: It is important to us that you quickly settle into the team and are given structured training for your tasks. We also support you from the very beginning and make your start easier with our Welcome Days and Welcome Guide
• Support for international employees: Our International Advisory Service makes it easier for international employees to get started

In addition to exciting tasks and a collegial working environment, we offer you much more.

We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds, e.g. in terms of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation / identity, and social, ethnic and religious origin. A diverse and inclusive working environment with equal opportunities in which everyone can realize their potential is important to us.