Doctorado en microbiomas de insectos y patógenos de plantas en Viena

PhD student position in symbiosis research on "Plant pathogens in insect microbiome" - University of Vienna, Austria - Fully funded, up to 4 years - Deadline 20 December 2026

Location: Vienna, Austria

Organization: University of Vienna, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science (CeMESS), Division of Microbial Ecology. Team of Dr. Alejandro Manzano Marín, in collaboration with Dr. Anna Michalik (Jagiellonian University, Poland), within an FWF/NCN-funded Weave project

Contract Type: PhD position, paid and fully funded with an employment contract under University of Vienna standards; up to 4 years (initially limited to 1 year, extended after a positive evaluation). Start date: from 8 January 2027 (negotiable)

Main Description: PhD project to identify which bacteria found in insect microbiomes are true plant pathogens, how frequently they occur, how they evolve, and how the host's ability to transmit plant pathogens is influenced by facultative symbionts, using hemipteran samples and experimental and bioinformatic approaches: genomic, metagenomic and transcriptomic analyses, microbial cultivation, microscopy and field sampling. Tasks include designing and performing experiments, data analysis, conference presentations and publications, student supervision, and close collaboration with the Polish partner team (planned secondments).

Requirements:

• Completed (or soon to be completed) Master's in Biology or a related area; proof of completion required before the start of the contract
• Bioinformatics-based research experience
• Excellent command of written and spoken English (working language of the group)
• Passion, curiosity and motivation for research; willingness to learn new techniques and to work both independently and as part of a team
• Advantageous: experience with genomics, molecular techniques, symbioses, computational analysis or hemipterans

Benefits/Conditions: Fully funded position within a cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research environment; access to advanced analytical and computational infrastructure; membership in the Vienna Doctoral School Microbiology and Environmental Science; international networking and conference participation.

How to Apply: Send a single PDF in English (motivation letter of max 1 page, academic CV, and Bachelor's and Master's certificates/transcripts with grades) to alejandro.manzano.marin@univie.ac.at with subject "open.positions.PhD.LastnameFirstname". Two reference letters must be sent directly by the referees to the same address (subject "open.positions.PhD.reference.LastnameFirstname"). Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis until a suitable candidate is found. Questions: same address, subject "open.positions.PhD.query".

More information (official advert): https://besymblab.univie.ac.at/wp-content/uploads/PhD_student_advert_2026_09_PPIM_v2.pdf