Research Associate in AI-guided Barley Adaptation to Rising Temperatures

Research Associate in AI-guided Barley Adaptation to Rising Temperatures

IPB - Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry

Halle (Saale), Germany

Your area of responsibility

Research topic:

We are seeking a highly motivated Research Associate to join the MADBARLEY project at IPB. In collaboration with the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK Gatersleben), the MADBARLEY project will identify and characterize central regulators of the thermo-tolerance signalling network in barley. The successful candidate will employ (phospho)-proteomics and metabolomics to identify barley signalling hubs that mediate the response to elevated temperature. Moreover, the successful candidate will use protein biochemistry, AI-guided protein design and molecular dynamics simulations to characterize natural and designed proteoforms of a novel regulatory node in barley temperature adaptation. The aim of this approach is to identify proteoforms that mitigate the adverse effects of elevated temperature on barley productivity in a changing climate.

Your tasks:

• combined proteomics and metabolomics analyses of the elevated temperature response in barley;
• biochemical characterization of a central signaling protein from barley by phospho-proteomics and recombinant protein expression;
• characterization of natural and designed proteoforms with the aim of identifying variants that mediate improved thermo-tolerance.

The position is initially available for up to 28 months. Depending on the applicant’s individual professional experience or if part-time work is desired, the contract term may be adjusted and extended accordingly.

Your profile

• university PhD in biochemistry, biology, or a related discipline;
• experience in plant (phospho-)proteomics and metabolomics;
• expertise in recombinant expression and purification of plant proteins;
• strong interest in crop stress resilience and AI-guided protein design;
• excellent communication, organizational, and analytical skills;
• high level of English language proficiency;
• strong motivation to conduct scientific projects in an international and interdisciplinary team.