The Friedrich Schiller University Jena is a dynamic and innovation-driven university centrally located in Germany. With a broad range of disciplines, it shapes the future through excellent research and teaching. Its scientific excellence is reflected in the profile areas Light – Life – Liberty, which provide pioneering insights and sustainable solutions for the society of tomorrow. Through close collaborations with leading research institutions, innovative companies, and renowned cultural organizations, it advances interdisciplinary developments. With around 17,000 students and approximately 10,000 employees, it defines Jena as a vibrant, internationally connected city of science and innovation.
The Institute of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution and the Senckenberg Institute for Plant Form and Function (SIP) seek to fill the position of a
Doctoral Candidate in Evolution and Systematics of Plants
commencing as soon as possible.
We offer a part-time position (65%; 26 hours per week) for three years.
We are seeking a motivated doctoral candidate for the project “Integrative taxon-omics and machine learning to decipher reticulate plant speciation – a proof-of-concept from Thymus (Lamiaceae)”. The economically important genus Thymus comprises many di- and polyploid, widespread, and endemic species, ranging from Greenland to Europe, Africa, and Asia. Not much is currently known about the relationships between the species and their species status. The aim of the project is therefore to conduct phylogenomic, biogeographic, morphometric, and ecological analyses based on state-of-the-art analytical methods in order to reconstruct the evolutionary history of the species. As a doctoral candidate, you will be part of the newly established lab of Integrative Plant Taxonomy and an active collaboration with scientists from Germany, Europe, and North America. The position offers the opportunity to obtain an academic qualification (doctoral degree).
Candidates with severe disabilities will be given preference in the case of equal qualifications and suitability. The place of work is Jena.
Are you eager to work for us? Then apply by April 30th, 2026, using our online form. Questions about the position can be directed to Dr. Kevin Karbstein (spezbot@uni-jena.de).
