The Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS) announces 9 faculty positions, 4 full professor (W3) and 5 tenure-track positions (W1/W2)
Innovative Strategies for Crop Improvement
Plants are the basis of all human life; they provide food and feed, medicine and drugs, and raw materials for clothing, housing and energy production. Due to global change, the role of crop plants as foundation of human civilisation becomes threatened. Innovative strategies for crop improvement are required that aim at enhancing crop productivity while minimizing resource requirements. The CE- PLAS mission is to contribute new paradigms to solve urgent prob- lems in plant performance and production through exploitation of natural variation and biodiversity.
CEPLAS holds a unique position within the German Excellence Ini- tiative as the only cluster focussing exclusively on plant sciences. It applies a new approach driven by evolutionary analysis and synthe- tic biology. Based on this combination paradigmatic solutions shall be provided for:
n Altering the life histories of crops n Improving primary productivity by altering
photosynthesis
n Understanding/Manipulating interactions of plants with their endophytic microflora
n Using knowledge on plant-microbe chemical communica- tion to generate genetically enhanced plants and microbes.
What We Offer
To further strengthen and complement the joint research program- me of Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, the University of Colo- gne, the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, and the Forschungszentrum Jülich, CEPLAS announces 9 faculty positions affiliated either to Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) or to the University of Cologne (UoC). Positions include an attractive start- up package and access to a suite of state-of-the-art research facilities. CEPLAS invites applications for:
W3 Evolutionary Plant Genomics (HHU):
The successful candidate is expected to have a strong track record in using evolutionary and quantitative genomics approaches for the identification of gene functions that underlie complex traits. W3 Plant Cell Biology & Biotechnology (HHU):
The successful candidate is expected to have a strong track record focussing on the understanding and/or re-designing of fundamental plant cell functions. W3 Plant Biochemistry (UoC):
The successful candidate should have a strong record in plant biochemistry, preferably with a focus on secondary metabolism/ metabolomics.
W3 Terrestrial Microbiology (UoC):
The successful candidate will pursue an internationally recognised research programme with a strong focus on the community structure and function of the plant or soil microflora, preferably using genomic information.
W1/W2 Synthetic Microbiology (HHU):
The successful candidate is expected to develop a competitive re- search programme focussing on the production of plant natural pro- ducts in microorganism and/or on the field of genetic programming. W1/W2 Microbial Ecological Genetics (UoC):
The successful candidate will pursue an internationally recognised research programme on ecological principles underpinning plant-mi- crobiome interactions. Priority will be given to candidates studying genetic and metabolic mechanisms.
W1/W2 Quantitative and Theoretical Biology (HHU):
The successful candidate is expected to complement the experimental approaches of CEPLAS through focussing on the deduction of design principles of complex biological systems using large-scale data sets. W1/W2 Molecular Systematics (UoC):
The successful candidate will pursue an internationally recognised re- search programme in the field of trait diversification in flowering plants utilising phylogenetic and genomic information. Priority will be gi- ven to candidates studying developmental or reproductive processes. W1/W2 Plant Genetics (HHU):
The candidate‘s research programme focusses on the functional ana- lysis of genetic programmes controlling organ development and/or plant architecture, preferably employing monocotyledonous model systems.
Conditions for employment are, in addition to the general admi- nistrative conditions in accordance with §36 of the North Rhine- Westphalia University Act (Gesetz über die Hochschulen des Landes NRW), an aptitude for teaching, exceptional competence in research, and additional scientific achievements.
Successful candidates are expected to actively participate in teaching in the respective study programmes. During the funding period of the excellence initiative the teaching load is reduced. Applicants must include a letter of interest, CV incl. publication list (reprints of five selected publications), statement of research and teaching interests, and contact information for at least three references. Applications should be addressed to the Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences and sent electronically to bewerbung(at)ceplas.de. Closing date for applications is 8 February 2013.
The Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf and the University of Cologne are equal opportunity employers in compliance with the German disabi- lity laws. Applications from women are expressly welcome. Women with comparable qualifications will receive particular consideration, unless another applicant displays compelling reasons to prefer this person. Applications from suitably qualified severely disabled persons or disabled persons regarded as being of equal status according to Book IX of the German Social Legal Code (SGB – Soziales Gesetzbuch) are encouraged. Disabled persons with equal qualifications will be given priority. HHU and UoC offer a Dual Career Service and are members of the Rhineland Dual Career Network (Dual Career Netzwerk Rheinland).
Further information can be found under www.dualcareer-rheinland.de