W 3 Professorship for Plant Biotechnology

Last day

Full-time

Research and Instruction

The Faculty of Biology is offering a W 3 Professorship for Plant Biotechnology to be filled by April 1, 2027.

Application deadline: 10. July 2026
Publication date: 29. May 2026
Start-date: 1. April 2027
Scope of work: Full-time position
Id no.: 00005002

Description

The future position holder will lead an internationally recognized research program that combines excellent basic research with clear perspectives for biotechnological and societally relevant applications. The research must include plant model systems and/or algae, addressing fundamental mechanisms of signal processing, cellular regulation, and functional modulation of biological systems. Work on signal integration, signal technologies, and scale-spanning processes from the subcellular to the organismic level is particularly welcome. Focus areas may include modern engineering approaches (chromatin, protein, and enzyme design; metabolic/organelle engineering; synthetic biology), AI/data-driven regulation of signaling and metabolic pathways, or similar research approaches. The candidate's research direction must be evidenced by successful acquisition of third-party funding.

The professorship strengthens the expertise in molecular plant sciences, supports Collaborative Research Centers (SFBs), graduate schools, and international consortia, and enhances Freiburg's visibility in integrative biotechnology. It strengthens the university’s research profile “Signals of Life” and is closely integrated into the Excellence Cluster CIBSS – Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies.

In teaching, the professorship is involved in courses of the Bachelor and Master of Science programs in Biology as well as the trinational degree program "Biotechnology"; Parts of the teaching will be held in German.

In all other respects, the conditions for appointment according to § 47 Landeshochschulgesetz apply.

The following application documents are requested:

Curriculum vitae
Certificates and credentials
Complete list of publications and invited lectures specifying the ten most important publications
Link to a curated ORCID or Google Scholar profile
A brief (3-page) overview of current and future research areas
A list of previous and current research projects and their funding
A list of previous and current teaching activities

We will be particularly pleased to receive applications from women for the position advertised here.

The university supports individuals appointed to professorial positions through a Dual Career Service and a Family Service.

Application

Please send your application including supporting documents mentioned above and the application form citing the reference number 00005002, by 10. July 2026 at the latest. Please send your application to the following address in written or electronic form:

Dean of the Faculty of Biology
Schaenzlestr. 1
D-79104 Freiburg 
or at the following email address: application@biologie.uni-freiburg.de.

For further information, please contact Herr Prof.Dr. Oliver Niehuis on the phone number +49 761 203-2506 or E-Mail oliver.niehuis@biologie.uni-freiburg.de.
Further information on the appointment procedure can be found in the Code for Practice for professorial appointments (in German).

Full-time positions may generally be split up into two or more part-time positions, provided that there are no formal or legal barriers. Candidates are selected in accordance with the provisions of the AGG (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz - German General Equal Treatment Act).
Applicants with disabilities (Schwerbehinderte Menschen) will be given preferential consideration in case of equal qualification.
The department offering the position is liable for the content of this job posting. Textual errors do not constitute a basis for any claims or rights. The relevant human resources department has sole responsibility for all legal transactions made within the context of the selection and hiring process.
Please note that breaches in privacy and unauthorized access by third parties cannot be excluded in communication by unencrypted email.

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