PhD Candidate in Molecular Microbiology, Genomics and Bioinformatics 100%

PhD Candidate in Molecular Microbiology, Genomics and Bioinformatics 100%

Participate in the SNSF project "FoodN'Feed" and contribute to groundbreaking research in microbial symbiosis and biofertilization to promote sustainable production of legumes in Switzerland and across Europe.

Department: Life Sciences and Facility Management

Start date: 1.4.2026 for 48 months

The PhD position is fully funded by the SNSF project "FoodN'Feed." The PhD candidate will conduct research for 48 months at ZHAW under the supervision of Dr. Joël F. Pothier and Dr. Claire Prigent-Combaret (F), with support from Prof. Dr. Saskia Bindschedler (NE). The project is linked to the two international COST Actions CA22142 Root-Benefit and CA22158 MiCropBiomes. We are looking for a dedicated and qualified PhD candidate for our research team working on environmental genomics and systems biology. The project's goal is to improve the sustainability and self-sufficiency of Swiss and European agricultural and food systems by increasing the production of grain legumes. The research focus is on symbiotic nitrogen fixation and plant growth-promoting (PGP) microbes in soybean, faba bean, and dry pea. The successful candidate will investigate root-associated microbial communities using metabarcoding and apply long-read sequencing to reconstruct metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from nodule metagenomes. Additional tasks include isolating and characterizing rhizobia and PGP microbes using MALDI-TOF MS and whole-genome sequencing. The project will develop locally adapted biofertilizer consortia (SynComs) and evaluate their effects on yield and disease resistance under the agroclimatic conditions of Switzerland and Europe. This position offers an exciting opportunity to combine molecular microbiology, genomics, and sustainable agriculture to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Your research could significantly advance the transformation of European protein production, reduce import dependency, and promote climate-friendly agriculture. This could create a more sustainable future. The PhD candidate must meet the admission criteria of the PhD School for Biosciences at the Institute of Biology of the Faculty of Science of the University of Neuchâtel. The research results must meet the standards of the Faculty of Science of the University of Neuchâtel for a successful doctoral thesis. The remuneration for the PhD position follows the guidelines of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).

• Excellent Master's degree in Bioinformatics, Biology, or Genetics from a university or university of applied sciences
• Initial experience in microbiology, genetics, or genomics, ideally with molecular biology (DNA/RNA isolation, RT-PCR), NGS, or MALDI-TOF MS
• Strong interest in sustainable agriculture, plant-microbe interactions, and microbiome research
• Good communication skills and willingness to work in collaborative projects with multiple partners, write results, and present them in scientific journals, conferences, university events, project meetings, and to partners.
• Very good English skills are required; good German and French skills are an advantage.
• Responsibility, self-motivation, and the ability to achieve goals independently and contribute effectively to the team.

Your application for this PhD position should include the following documents: a motivation letter, a CV (including publications and awards, if any), two references with contact details, a research statement outlining the skills you aim to acquire during the PhD within the FoodN'Feed project, as well as your Master's diploma along with your Bachelor and Master transcripts.

The ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences, with over 14,000 students and more than 11,000 continuing education participants, as well as around 3,700 employees, is one of the largest multi-disciplinary universities of applied sciences in Switzerland.

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

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

The research of the Institute for Environment and Natural Resources (IUNR) focuses on the concept of landscape as a resource. Future-oriented urban and rural development requires balancing various ecological, social, and economic interests. The breadth of disciplines represented at IUNR allows integrating different perspectives and viewing the landscape as a system.

We offer university-appropriate working and employment conditions and actively promote the personnel development of our employees and managers. A detailed description of the benefits can be found on the "Working at ZHAW" website. Here are the key points:

Joël F. Pothier

Senior researcher

Manuela Laure

Recruiting Manager

Our offices will be closed from December 24, 2025, to January 4, 2026.