The mission of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) as a nationally and internationally active research institute is to deliver solutions for an ecologically, economically and socially sustainable agriculture – together with society. ZALF is a member of the Leibniz Association and is located in Müncheberg (approx. 35 minutes by regional train from Berlin-Lichtenberg). The institute maintains further locations in Brandenburg (Dedelow, Paulinenaue) as well as in Hesse (Giessen, Witzenhausen, and Geisenheim).

The project will be carried out in collaboration between the working groups Root-Soil Interactions (RSI) and Ecophysiology of Matter and Water Cycling (ECO) of Research Area 1 at ZALF in Müncheberg.

The project aims to investigate how maize genotypes with contrasting root architectures acquire water and nitrogen under drought stress and subsequent recovery. Using controlled pot experiments in climate chambers, stable isotope tracing, and root phenotyping, we study the spatial and temporal dynamics of resource uptake across soil depth profiles. The student assistant will support experimental work including plant cultivation, sample collection and processing, root scanning, and data organisation. The project also offers the opportunity to complete a thesis (Bachelor's or Master's) within its scope.

We are offering for 6 months, starting earliest October 2026 (40 h per month) at our site in Müncheberg a position for a

• setting up and conducting a mesocosm experiment in the greenhouse
• applying stable isotope tracers to investigate water and nitrogen uptake across soil layers
• characterising root morphology using high-resolution scanning and image analysis software
• evaluation & processing of the analysis results

• study in plant science, agronomy, environmental science, or related fields
• interest in experimental work with plants
• motivation to develop and test new methods
• basic lab skills; experience with plant physiology or stable isotopes is a plus but not required

• close supervision and training in plant ecophysiology and biogeochemistry methods
• an interdisciplinary working environment that encourages independence and self-reliance
• a collegial and open-minded working atmosphere in a dynamic research institution
• payment according to the usual hourly rates for student/scientific assistants of the state of Brandenburg
• company ticket

ZALF promotes equality among all employees and welcomes applications regardless of ethnic, cultural, or social background, age, religion, ideology, disability, gender, or sexual identity. Please send your application preferably online (see button online application below). For e-mail applications, create a PDF document (one PDF file, max. 5 MB; packed PDF documents, archive files like zip, rar etc. Word documents cannot be processed and therefore cannot be considered!) with the usual documents, in particular CV, proof of qualification and certificates, stating the reference number 38-2026, until 15 August 2026, to (see button e-mail application below).

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us: Maren Dubbert (Maren.Dubbert@zalf.de) or Maire Holz (Maire.Holz@zalf.de).

For cost reasons, application documents or extensive publications can only be returned if an adequately stamped return envelope is enclosed.

If you apply, we collect and process your personal data in accordance with Articles 5 and 6 of the EU GDPR solely for the purpose of processing your application and for purposes arising from possible future employment at ZALF. Your data will be deleted after six months.