The mission of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) as a nationally and internationally active research institute is to deliver knowledge and solutions for an ecologically, economically and socially sustainable agriculture. ZALF aims for excellent and integrated research with societal impact. The institute is a member of the Leibniz Association and is located in Müncheberg (approx. 35 minutes by regional train from Berlin-Lichtenberg). It also maintains research stations in Dedelow and Paulinenaue.

With its Tenure Track System, ZALF aims to recruit excellent scientists with essential expertise by providing a guaranteed transitioning to a permanent contract subject to successful evaluation.

The scientist position will be affiliated with the Research Area ‘Landscape Functioning’ and the Working Group ‘Microbial Biogeochemistry (MicGeo)’. MicGeo explores the importance of the microbiota for provision of ecosystem functions and services relevant for crop- and grasslands.

We are offering at our location in Müncheberg a full-time position as

This Classic Tenure Track Call invites applications of scientists with a focus on spatial upscaling of soil and plant microbiome mediated ecosystem functions (ESF) in crop- and grasslands. The research shall consider spatial heterogeneity of major drivers on ecosystem scale to quantify and describe these ESF. Employing state-of-the-art methods of functional microbiome assessment (e.g. meta-omics) and combining these with spatial analyses of vegetation and soils, new data integration and modelling approaches to overcome the gap between spot, regional and global scale. Linking these approaches to soil fauna ESFs could be a further goal. This research will contribute to a mechanistic understanding of microbiome dynamics on the landscape scale. Research shall aim for quantitative evaluations of microbiome-mediated ESF in agroecosystems to guide transfomational changes towards sustainability and to evaluate effects of agroecological management measures on (agro-) ecosystem services such as pest and disease control.

The successful candidate will:

• Develop soil and plant sampling and sensing strategies for assessing microbiome ESFs, preferrably for fungi-mediated ones
• Develop data synthesis and modelling approaches that make use of above-mentioned data to study spatially explicit microbial dynamics crucial for ESF in crop- and grasslands
• Establish an own and international research profile, will actively and initiatively collaborate with ZALF and external researchers, and will acquire third-party funding preferably from DFG, EU, BMBF and BMEL

The call is aimed at dynamic and highly motivated researchers, preferably early-career researchers, with a PhD in Microbial Ecology, Microbiology, Fungal Ecology, Ecosystem & Soil Sciences or related disciplines. Candidates must have demonstrated their capacity to independently carry out research, including an excellent publication record, successfully acquired competitive third-party funding, and visibility in their respective field of research. Candidates should have interest in agri-food systems and their sustainable transformation.

The successful candidate will receive a Regular Tenure Track position (2 x 3 years) with transition to a permanent position, subject to successful evaluations (midterm and final tenure evaluation). If candidates are not legally eligible for two consecutive fixed-term contracts (according to German academic employment law – WissZeitVG), they may enter the Fast Tenure Track (1 x 3 years) if the required scientific achievements are fulfilled.

Further:

• Full-time contract, with part-time option to allow for the reconciliation of family and career
• Salary will follow the guidelines for public employees according to the German TV-L, E13
• Individual options for career support such as a mentoring tandem, courses & trainings
• An interdisciplinary working environment that encourages independence and self-reliance
• State-of-the-art experimental facilities for field and soil investigations, glasshouse, high performance cluster access for bioinformatics, molecular biology & microbiology labs
• Access to a network of national and international scientific partners in the field of research
• A collegial and open-minded working atmosphere in a dynamic research institution
• Relocation within commuting distance of ZALF is welcome; remote working is permitted up to 40% per month
• Company ticket for public transport

Application and candidate selection

ZALF is an equal opportunities employer (audit berufundfamilie® certificate) and specifically encourages female scientists to apply. Applications of disabled applicants with equal qualifications will be favored.

Application documents must follow the specifications given in the respective guideline available at the ZALF website (www.zalf.de/en/karriere/tenure-track) and include two standardized letters of recommendation of scientists who are familiar with your research accomplishments and academic credentials (template available here: Reference_Letter).

Candidate selection is based on scientific achievements, strategic aspects, and personal suitability. Details on criteria, minimum requirements and evaluation processes can be obtained from the ZALF Tenure Track System guideline, which is an official annex to this call: Tenure_Track_Guideline. Please send your application preferably online (see link below). For e-mail application, create a single PDF file and send it to tenuretrack@zalf.de stating the reference number T01-2025.

The deadline for applications is 26 MARCH 2025.

If you have any questions regarding the research profile of this position, please contact Prof. Dr. Steffen Kolb (Kolb@zalf.de). For questions regarding the Tenure Track System, please contact Dr. Susanne Kramer (Phone +49(0)33432/82-221; Susanne.Kramer@zalf.de).

If you apply, we collect and process your personal data in accordance with Articles 5 and 6 of the EU GDPR only for the processing of your application and for purposes that result from possible future employment with ZALF. Your data will be deleted after six months. You can find further information at: www.zalf.de/en/ueber_uns/Pages/Datenschutzerklaerung.aspx