Are you ready to be at the cutting edge of plant science innovation? The HeatDDR Doctoral Network Consortium, supported by the European Union’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, invites talented individuals from around the world to apply for nine fully funded PhD positions. This is your opportunity to lead the research agenda in plant DNA damage response, create climate-resilient crops, and join a worldwide community of scientists working to solve one of the greatest challenges facing humankind: food security in a warming world.
Why This Programme Stands Out
International Excellence
- Work across 9 top-tier European institutions with state-of-the-art facilities
- Collaborate with industry leaders in plant breeding and biotechnology
- Contribute to EU sustainability goals while advancing your expertise
Comprehensive Funding Package
- Competitive salary (exact amount varies by country; typically €3,400-€4,000/month gross)
- Mobility allowance (€600/month) for researchers moving to a new country
- Family allowance (€660/month) if applicable
- Full coverage of research costs, conferences, and training
Cutting-Edge Research Areas
- Molecular Mechanisms: Decipher how plants detect and repair DNA damage under heat stress
- Epigenetic Regulation: Explore how environmental stress alters gene expression
- High-Tech Phenotyping: Use AI and imaging technologies to analyze plant stress responses
- Biotech Applications: Develop tools to enhance crop climate resilience
Who Should Apply?
It is targeted to ambitious researchers eager to accelerate plant science and solve world food security problems. Minimum Qualifications: Preferred qualifications include a Master’s in Plant Biology, Genetics/Genomics, Biochemistry, Computational Biology or related fields. Candidates are expected to have excellent laboratory and data analysis skills. Must have a burning desire to learn about sustainable cropping practices and the effect of climate change on crops.
Candidates should meet the eligibility conditions of the MSCA Mobility Rule, which means they should not have resided or carried out their main activity in the host country for more than 12 months in the last 3 years.
Apply Now: www.heatddr.eu/apply
Contact: recruitment@heatddr.eu
Programme Structure & Benefits
Training Components
- Intensive courses in advanced genomics and phenotyping
- Workshops on science communication and entrepreneurship
- Secondments at industry partners (3-6 months)
Career Development
- Dual supervision (academic + industry mentors)
- Patent application support for commercializable discoveries
- Placement assistance with EU agri-tech companies
Programme Timeline
- Year 1: Core training + lab rotations
- Year 2: Specialized research + industry secondment
- Year 3: Thesis completion + career preparation
How to Submit a Competitive Application
To avoid being rejected, we suggest a strategic path of selection of your applications. The first step is to research the host laboratories in detail and see if there are 1-2 target groups of research interests that align with you or that you are an expert in. Contact prospective supervisors 2 months minimum before the deadline to discuss projects and show motivation.
Your application should include:
- A polished academic CV (maximum 2 pages) that highlights:
- A compelling motivation letter (1,000 words maximum) that clearly explains:
- Two strong recommendation letters from academic or professional references
Participating Host Laboratories
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- Chromosome Dynamics Group | Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2)
- Location: Paris-Saclay University (25 km south of Paris)
- Contact: cecile.raynaud@universite-paris-saclay.fr
- Department of Developmental Biology | University of Hamburg
- Location: Hamburg, Germany
- Contact: arp.schnittger@uni-hamburg.de
- Chromosome Dynamics Group | Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2)
- Cell Cycle Group | VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology
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- Location: Ghent, Belgium
- Contact: lieven.deveylder@psb.vib-ugent.be
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- University of Silesia in Katowice for Plant Genetics and Functional Genomics (PGFG)
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- Location: Katowice, Poland
- Contact: Miriam.szurman@us.edu.pl
- Institute of Phytopathology | Justus Liebig University
- Location: Giessen, Germany
- Contact: patrick.schaefer@agrar.uni-giessen.de
- Chromatin Organization and Function | Institute of Experimental Botany (IEB)
- Location: Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Contact: pecinka@ueb.cas.cz
- Plant Morphogenesis Group | HUN-REN Biological Research Centre
- Location: Szeged, Hungary
- Contact: magyar.zoltan@brc.hu
- Seed Molecular Physiology | University of Pavia
- Location: Pavia, Italy
- Contact: alma.balestrazzi@unipv.it
- Labdeers s.r.o. | Seed Phenotyping Centre
- Location: Boskovice, Czech Republic
- Contact: dobisova@labdeers.com
How to Apply
For more information and to submit your application, visit the official HeatDDR website:
https://www.heatddr.eu/participants/
Don’t miss thisopportunity to advance your career in plant science and contribute to sustainable agriculture! Apply by March 1st, 2025.