Postdoctoral Researcher Position— Plant Membrane Biochemistry and Chemoproteomics (m/f/d)

In the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, the independent research group Receptor Biochemistry invites applications for a

Postdoctoral Researcher Position— Plant Membrane Biochemistry and Chemoproteomics (m/f/d)

(Salary group E13 TV-L, full-time 100 % (part-time is possible), limited for 3 years, Application deadline: 4 October 2026 - continuing until the position is filled, Earliest start date: 01/01/2027) 

Who we are:

The Independent Research Group Receptor Biochemistry, led by Dr. Mariana Schuster, is dedicated to understanding and engineering the molecular decisions that determine whether a plant gets sick, focusing on the proteases deployed by plants and pathogens and the proteins they cut. We are small, international and deliberately interdisciplinary. People here come from plant science, biochemistry, chemistry and computational backgrounds, and much of the useful thinking happens in the conversations between them.

The IPB is a non-university research institute of the Leibniz Association on the Weinberg Campus of Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, a foundation under public law under the direct supervision of the state of Saxony-Anhalt. Around 200 people work here, including about 40 doctoral researchers, across four scientific departments and two independent research groups. Research at the IPB aims to understand the (bio)chemical basis of plant resilience and performance in challenging environments related to climate change. The IPB offers excellent research facilities and state-of-the-art infrastructure, including in-house mass spectrometry. More at ipb-halle.de.

Halle (Saale) is a green, walkable city with a large student population, low living costs by German standards, and fast connections to Leipzig and Berlin.

The question

How does proteolytic regulation control plant plasma-membrane receptor function and plant immune responses?

The plant plasma membrane is a dynamic hub for nutrient uptake, pathogen detection and stress signalling, anchored by surface receptors. In animals, proteolytic cleavage of membrane proteins is a major regulatory mechanism in immunity. In plants, its role remains largely unexplored.

FRONTERA, funded by the European Research Council through an ERC Starting Grant, sets out to close that gap. The project combines chemoproteomics, cell biology, protease biochemistry and genetics, and looks at both sides of the process: the proteases that cut, and the substrates they act on. It is curiosity-driven research with a long view towards crop resilience and sustainable agriculture.

Your tasks: 

You will lead the membrane biochemistry and chemoproteomics side of FRONTERA: establishing the preparations and the activity-based profiling needed to study proteases where they work, at the plant plasma membrane.

• Develop and optimise membrane preparation methods suited to downstream chemoproteomics
• Apply activity-based protein profiling and mass spectrometry to characterise membrane-associated protease activities, working with our in-house facility
• Relate biochemical findings to immune responses in planta, in collaboration across the group
• Co-supervise a doctoral researcher
• Present and publish your scientific data

Your profile: 

Essential

• A doctoral degree in biochemistry, plant science, molecular biology, chemical biology or a closely related field. If your thesis is submitted but not yet defended by the start date, please apply and tell us your timeline.
• Solid hands-on experience in protein biochemistry
• Real interest in method development, including tolerance for the weeks when a protocol refuses to work
• Interest in mentoring a doctoral researcher
• Excellent English language skills, written and spoken. German is not required.

Desirable

• Membrane protein handling, subcellular fractionation or membrane isolation
• Activity-based protein profiling, chemical probes or related chemical biology
• LC-MS/MS proteomics, from sample preparation to data analysis
• Work with plant systems, including transient expression
• Proteomics data analysis (MaxQuant, FragPipe, Perseus, R, Python)
• Supervision or teaching experience

Read the second list as a description of the project, not a test. Nobody arrives with all of it. Candidates who would do this job well routinely talk themselves out of applying because they match four points instead of six. If the science interests you and you bring the essentials, we would like to see your application. Tell us in your cover letter what you would need to learn.

 Our benefits:

• Excellent working conditions in an international environment 
• Flexible and family-friendly working hours and the possibility of home-office 
• Offer of professional training courses and measures for skill improvement 
• Compensation according to TV-L (including annual special payment) 
• Contribution to your company pension plan (VBL) 
• On-site opportunities for health promotion 

How to apply and information:

If you have questions before applying, about the science, the working arrangements or anything else, you are welcome to write to Mariana (mariana.schuster(at)ipb-halle.de)

Applications must include a cover letter outlining your motivation, your fit to the role and your career goals, a CV plus publication list, and contact details of two referees.

We are looking forward to receiving your online application https://ipb-halle.mhm.jobs/jobs/31-postdoctoral-researcher-position-plant-membrane-biochemistry-and-chemoproteomics-m-f-d-10-2026/job_application/new Applications sent by email cannot be considered.

Foreign qualifications must comply with German standards (TV-L-EntgeltO Protokollerklärung Nr. 1 Absatz 4) and be certified (equivalence test in Germany, subject to a fee) and presented to IPB Human Resources at the time of hiring: https://www.kmk.org/zab/central-office-for-foreign-education

Diversity, family and equal opportunities: 

The IPB aspires to the goal of equal opportunity, diversity, and the promotion of work-life balance as it was awarded the certificate "Total E-Quality". In addition, the IPB is a member of the nationwide company network "Success Factor Family" and of the “Diversity Charter” (Charta der Vielfalt). 

Applications from disabled persons or applicants with equivalent status are expressly welcome.

Further information can be found at: https://www.ipb-halle.de/en/institute/ 

Data protection:

Please note the data protection information for applicants (m/f/d) according to Article 13 and 14 GDPR on data protection processing during the application process: 

https://www.ipb-halle.de/en/career/data-protection-information-for-applicants/