3 Junior Research Group Leaders (f/m/d)

The University of Bonn is an international research university with a wide education and research profile. With a 200-year history, approximately 31,500 students, more than 6,000 staff, and an excellent reputation at home and abroad, the University of Bonn is one of the most important universities in Germany and is recognized as a university of excellence.

The Cluster of Excellence PhenoRob – Robotics and Phenotyping for Sustainable Crop Production seeks for

3 Junior Research Group Leaders (f/m/d)

From January 1, 2027 onwards, limited until December 31, 2032 in accordance with § 2 (1) WissZeitVG with the option for permanent employment. The working hours per position are 100%.

Each group comes with two funded PhD positions, easy access to laboratory and field experiments, and the possibility for financial support from the Cluster. The task of the Junior Research Group Leader is to design the research profile of their group and build up an independent and internationally visible research group. The research group will be expected to contribute significantly to one of the seven core projects (CPs) of the Cluster:

• CP1: Robotics for Crop Science: Sensing and Intervention,
• CP2: Foundation Model for Crop Production,
• CP3: Assessing Crop Performance by Measurements and Phenotyping,
• CP4: Soil-Root-Interactions for Crop Performance,
• CP5: Sustainable Innovations in Cropping Systems,
• CP6: Fusing Information from Sensing and Modeling Across Spatio-Temporal Scales,
• CP7: Implications for Agro-Ecosystems and Society.

Preference will be given to Junior Research Groups supporting the core projects CP1, CP5, or CP6, for example by addressing the following topics:

• Performing robotic interventions in diversified crop fields (CP1),
• Modeling of multifunctional diversified systems, combining cropping system and farm models (CP5),
• Mechanistic / Process-based modeling of biodiversity interactions in cropping systems (CP6).

Though preference will be given to excellent candidates who contribute significantly to CP1, CP5, or CP6, applications from outstanding candidates related to other CPs or who can bridge gaps between CPs are also welcome.

The Junior Research Group Leader will become a key member of PhenoRob and will be in a position to shape the Cluster’s future research strategy and activities. The Cluster of Excellence PhenoRob is a large-scale research initiative in its second funding phase in the context of the Excellence Strategy of the German Federal and State Governments. PhenoRob’s research agenda addresses central challenges of humanity: producing sufficient food, feed, and biomass for an ever-growing world population while simultaneously reducing the environmental footprint of agricultural production. To achieve this, the Cluster’s research agenda focuses on transforming crop production with a focus on novel technological solutions for the future of agriculture. In the current funding phase, the Cluster is intensifying its integrative approach to develop new innovative cropping systems that simultaneously tackle ecological, economic, and societal needs. For more information about the Cluster and the core projects, visit the official website: www.phenorob.de.

Your tasks:

• Designing the research profile and building up an internationally visible, independent research group that makes central contributions to at least one of the seven CPs. Central contributions include (i) publishing in high-ranked publications, (ii) collaborating with other PhenoRob members, (iii) building research demonstrators around a CP use case, and (iv) attracting additional funding.

Your profile:

• A postdoctoral researcher in one of the Cluster’s or any related disciplines with a strong publication record,
• An independent scholar who wants to shape the Cluster’s research and has the ability to conduct highly visible and impactful research,
• An interest in interdisciplinary and collaborative research and openness to new ideas,
• The aptitude to lead a small team of PhD students.

We offer:

• Remuneration in accordance with TV-L pay grade / Entgeltgruppe 14,
• An independent research group with two funded PhD positions,
• Easy access to laboratory and field experiments,
• Financial support from the Cluster,
• The opportunity of conducting independent research and the support that is necessary to do so,
• Formal eligibility to supervise PhD students,
• An individual target agreement for permanent employment,
• An open, stimulating and interdisciplinary work environment.

Applicants are asked to submit:

1. An application consisting of: (a) motivation letter (max. 1 page); (b) curriculum vitae; (c) list of publications; (d) link to Google Scholar profile; and (e) one copy of your PhD certificate;
2. An outline of the concept for your Research Group, including a short outline for two PhD projects (max. 2 pages in sum);
3. The name and contact details of two potential referees (position, professional address, email).

The University of Bonn is committed to diversity and equal opportunity. It is certified as a family-friendly university. It aims to increase the proportion of women in areas where women are under-represented and to promote their careers in particular. It therefore strongly encourages women with relevant qualifications to apply. Applications will be handled in accordance with the Landesgleichstellungsgesetz (State Equality Act). Applications from suitable individuals with a certified serious disability and those of equal status are particularly welcome.

If you are interested in this position, please submit your complete application documents by May 10, 2026 to administration@phenorob.de with the application code 2026/146. Before sending your application, please combine and convert all of your documents into one PDF file. For further information please contact Prof. Dr. Heiner Kuhlmann (heiner.kuhlmann@uni-bonn.de).