PhD Position in Molecular Microbiology, Genomics and Bioinformatics 100%

Join the SNSF-funded FoodN'Feed project and contribute to pioneering research on microbial symbiosis and biofertilizers for sustainable grain legume production in Switzerland and across Europe

School:

Life Sciences und Facility Management

Starting date:

1. April 2026 for 48 months

Your role

The PhD position is fully funded by the SNSF project, FoodN'Feed. The doctoral candidate will conduct research at ZHAW for 48 months under the supervision of Dr. Joël F. Pothier and Dr. Claire Prigent-Combaret (F), with promotion from Prof. Dr. Saskia Bindschedler (NE). This project is related to two international COST Actions CA22142 Root-Benefit and CA22158 MiCropBiomes, which run until October 2027. We are seeking an enthusiastic, qualified PhD candidate to join our research team working on environmental genomics and systems biology. This project aims to enhance the sustainability and self-sufficiency of Swiss and European agri-food systems by increasing the production of grain legumes. The research will focus on symbiotic nitrogen fixation and plant growth-promoting (PGP) microbes in soybeans, faba beans, and dry peas. The successful candidate will investigate root-associated microbial communities using metabarcoding and apply long-read sequencing to reconstruct nodule metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). Additional tasks will include isolating and characterizing rhizobia and PGP microbes using MALDI-TOF MS and whole-genome sequencing. The project involves developing locally adapted biofertilizer consortia (SynComs) and assessing their impact on yield and disease resistance under Swiss and European agro-climatic conditions. This position offers an exciting opportunity to combine molecular microbiology, genomics, and sustainable agriculture to mitigate the effects of climate change. Your research could significantly advance the transformation of European protein production, reduce reliance on imports, and promote climate-smart agriculture to help create a more sustainable future. The PhD student must meet the entry criteriafor the Doctoral School in Life Sciences at the Institute of Biology in the Faculty of Science at the University of Neuchâtel. The results of the research must meet the Faculty of Science's standards at the University of Neuchâtel for a successful PhD thesis. The salary for the PhD position is in accordance with the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) guidelines.

Your profile

• Excellent master's degree in bioinformatics, biology, or genetics from a university or university of applied sciences
• First experience in microbiology, genetics or genomics; experience with molecular biology (DNA/RNA isolation, RT-PCR), NGS, or MALDI-TOF MS is a plus
• Strong interest in sustainable agriculture, plant-microbe interactions, and microbiomes research
• Good communication skills and willingness to work in collaborative projects with multiple partners, write and present results at journals, conferences, university events, project meetings and partners
• Very good English language skills; good knowledge of German and French are required.
• Sense of responsibility, self-motivation, and the ability to independently achieve goals as well as to contribute effectively to the team

Your application for this PhD position should include: a motivation letter, curriculum vitae (including publications, awards, if available), two reference names with contact details, a research statement indicating the skills you have and want to learn during your PhD studies as part of the FoodN'Feed project, and your master diploma together with your bachelor's and master's grades.

This is what we stand for

Zurich University of Applied Sciences ZHAW is one of Switzerland's largest multidisciplinary universities of applied sciences, with over 14'000 students and 3'400 faculty and staff.

ZHAW is committed to gender-mixed and diverse teams in order to promote equality, diversity and innovation. In order to increase the proportion of women in management positions, applications from women are particularly welcome.

The Department of Life Sciences and Facility Management is located in Wädenswil on the Lake Zurich. Here, teaching and research are conducted in the fields of life sciences, the environment, and nutrition/food.

The Institute of Natural Resource Sciences (IUNR)'s research focuses on the idea of landscape as a resource. Forward-looking urban and countryside development involves weighing up different ecological, social and economic interests, and the breadth of disciplines represented at IUNR allows to integrate different perspectives and approach the landscape as a system.

What you can expect

We offer working conditions and terms of employment commensurate with higher education institutions and actively promote personal development for staff in leadership and non-leadership positions. A detailed description of advantages and benefits can be found at Working at the ZHAW. The main points are listed below:

Contact

Joël F. Pothier
Senior researcher

Manuela Laure
Recruiting Manager

We would like to inform you that our offices will be closed for the period from 24 December 2025 through 4 January 2026.