Two Funded Group Leader Positions – Plant Systems Biology, TUM

24.09.2025, Wissenschaftliches Personal

The Chair of Plant Systems Biology at the School of Life Sciences, Technische Universität München (TUM) in Freising-Weihenstephan invites applications for two fully funded Group Leader positions.

We are looking for creative and ambitious scientists eager to establish their own independent research groups in the field of molecular plant sciences. These positions are ideal for researchers aiming to launch a successful academic career:

• Positions are A13/E13 salary scale, with the possibility to prepare for habilitation.
• Full technical support is available through the Chair’s resources.
• Our lab offers an interactive, collaborative, and supportive research environment.

Research Focus - We welcome applicants whose work complements and expands our strengths in molecular, cellular, biochemical, physiological, and genetic approaches:

• Position 1: Cell biology + biochemistry to unravel fundamental processes in plant development and biology.
• Position 2: Crop plant biology, development, and/or physiology, ideally leveraging genome editing approaches.

Our Infrastructure - At TUM-Weihenstephan, you will have access to:

• State-of-the-art facilities and platforms on campus and across TUM.
• A dedicated crop plant genome-editing unit.
• A vibrant network of plant scientists in an international research environment.

Apply Now

Applications (single PDF) should be sent to claus.schwechheimer@tum.de
Positions are available immediately and will remain open until filled.

Further information: https://www.mls.ls.tum.de/en/plasysbio/home/

Examples of our research

Xiao, Y., Zourelidou, M., Bassukas, A.E.L., Weller, B., Janacek, D.P., Schulz, L., Brajkovic, S., Šimura, J., Ljung, K., Kuster, B., Hammes, U.Z., Li, J., and Schwechheimer, C. (2025). KIPK and KIPK-LIKE1 suppress overbending during negative hypocotyl gravitropic growth. Plant Cell https://academic.oup.com/plcell/article/37/4/koaf056/8117847

Graf, A., Bassukas, A.E.L., Xiao, Y., Barbosa, I.C.R., Mergner, J., Grill, P., Michalke, B., Kuster, B., and Schwechheimer, C. (2024). D6PK plasma membrane polarity requires a repeated CXX(X)P motif and PDK1-dependent phosphorylation. Nature Plants https://www.nature.com/articles/s41477-023-01615-6

Janacek, D.P., Kolb, M., Schulz, L., Mergner, J., Kuster, B., Glanc, M., Friml, J., Ten Tusscher, K., Schwechheimer, C., and Hammes, U.Z. (2024). Transport properties of canonical PIN- FORMED proteins from Arabidopsis and the role of the loop domain in auxin transport. Developmental Cell https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1534580724005690

Hammes, U.Z., Murphy, A.S., and Schwechheimer, C. (2022). Auxin Transporters - A Biochemical View. Cold Spring Harbour Perspectives in Biology https://cshperspectives.cshlp.org/content/14/2/a039875.long

Koh, S.W.H., Marhava, P., Rana, S., Graf, A., Moret, B., Bassukas, A.E.L., Zourelidou, M., Kolb, M., Hammes, U.Z., Schwechheimer, C., and Hardtke, C.S. (2021). Mapping and engineering of auxin-induced plasma membrane dissociation in BRX family proteins. Plant Cell https://academic.oup.com/plcell/article/33/6/1945/6159622

Marhava, P., Bassukas, A.E.L., Zourelidou, M., Kolb, M., Moret, B., Fastner, A., Schulze, W.X., Cattaneo, P., Hammes, U.Z., Schwechheimer, C., and Hardtke, C.S. (2018). A molecular rheostat adjusts auxin flux to promote root protophloem differentiation. Nature https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-018-0186-z

Kontakt: claus.schwechheimer@tum.de