Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research

Bean root system, text: "Dig into the latest in root and rhizosphere science: Mini Symposium of the ISRR, January 28th 2026"

Rooting for roots?
#PlantScience

Join us online for the Mini Symposium of the International Society of Root Research @rootscientists.bsky.social

Register here for free:

tinyurl.com/yzeddrjx

Programme👇

Job alert🚨I am advertising a 2-year postdoctoral position to work on the mathematics of plant morphogenesis @mpipz.bsky.social. Candidates with interests in mathematical modelling, mechanics, or biophysics are strongly encouraged to apply. 🌱Reposts are appreciated!

jobs.mpipz.mpg.de/jobposting/4...

A Banner that shows the open call for the international PhD program on interdisciplinary Plant Biology in Cologne Germany between University of Cologne and Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research. A button reads "apply now!".

We are #hiring!
Join Miltos Tsiantis’s lab within the IMPRS @mpipz.bsky.social to identify genes driving root sucker formation in crucifer plants — combining evolution & genetics.
📆 Deadline: Jan 5, 2026
✏️ Apply via: gradschool.mpipz.mpg.de
ℹ️ More info: mpipz.mpg.de/imprs

Evolution of repressive sequences within an enhancer contributed to morphological diversity in crucifer plants | PNAS Cis-regulatory sequences, such as enhancers, play a crucial role in morphological evolution, but how their diversification leads to evolution of no...

📣📣Paper alert! Excited to share a new paper @pnas.org from the Tsiantis lab @mpipz.bsky.social and colleagues on how enhancer evolution shapes leaf diversity. 🌱🌿Congratulations! 👏🥳 Read more 👉 bit.ly/4583PdR #plantsci #evolution
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

How do plants fight disease? 🌱 #NASmember Jane Parker studies NLR proteins that help plants sense attackers and launch powerful immune defenses. She shares her latest findings on how these proteins signal plants to resist disease in a new @pnas.org QnAs: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

A Banner that shows the open call for the international PhD program on interdisciplinary Plant Biology in Cologne Germany between University of Cologne and Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research. A button reads "apply now!".

We are #hiring!
In Nadine Töpfer’s group within the IMPRS @unicologne.bsky.social, the PhD candidate will use computational modelling to unravel metabolic interactions between plants and their root microbiota.
📆Deadline: Jan 5, 2025
✏️Apply via: gradschool.mpipz.mpg.de
ℹ️More info: mpipz.mpg.de/imprs

The post shows a picture of Mingming after successfully passing his viva on a green background with words congratulating him on acquiring the PhD title.

Congratulations to Mingming Fang on successfully defending his PhD!
Completed at @mpipz.bsky.social in the lab of Miltos Tsiantis — all the best for what’s next! 🎉👏
#PhDone #NewDoctor #PlantScience

A Banner that shows the open call for the international PhD program on interdisciplinary Plant Biology in Cologne Germany between University of Cologne and Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research. A button reads "apply now!".

We are #hiring!
Join Raphael Mercier’s team within the IMPRS @mpipz.bsky.social to investigate meiotic recombination, focusing on inversions, selection & genome evolution.
📆 Deadline: Jan 5, 2025
✏️ Apply via: gradschool.mpipz.mpg.de
ℹ️ More info: mpipz.mpg.de/imprs

A Banner that shows the open call for the international PhD program on interdisciplinary Plant Biology in Cologne Germany between University of Cologne and Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research. A button reads "apply now!".

We are #hiring!
This IMPRS PhD project @algazuccaro.bsky.social group @unicologne.bsky.social explores plant–microbiome interactions.
🗓️ Deadline: Jan 5, 2025
✏️ Apply via: gradschool.mpipz.mpg.de
ℹ️ IMPRS: mpipz.mpg.de/imprs
🔗 Group: ag-zuccaro.botanik.uni-koeln.de

📣🥳 We are thrilled to share that our director, Raphaël Mercier @raphmercier.bsky.social has been awarded the VinFuture Special Prize for Innovators with Outstanding Achievements in Emerging Fields 🌱✨. Congratulations 👏👏 #plantsci #genetics 👉https://bit.ly/3MtCGLW
vinfutureprize.org/laureates/pr...

Shining a Spotlight on Polyploid Cells – a tool to uncover spatial patterns of DNA content across tissues Several research teams have collaborated to develop a new computing pipeline that enables high-throughput quantification of ploidy, i.e., the number of copies of chromosomes, in different tissues base...

Press release on our new work about inferring Spatial Ploidy (iSPy), a collaboration with the @roederlab.bsky.social and the Fox Lab, with @nickrussell31.bsky.social being the first author @mpipz.bsky.social @cp-cellrepmethods.bsky.social www.mpipz.mpg.de/5771290/pr-f...

Spatial ploidy inference using quantitative imaging Polyploidy (whole-genome duplication) is a common yet under-surveyed property of tissues across multicellular organisms. Polyploidy plays a critical r…

🚀New publication out by @pauformosa.bsky.social @mpipz.bsky.social and collaborators @duke-university.bsky.social, @cornelluniversity.bsky.social introducing a computational pipeline enabling high-throughput ploidy quantification. 🔬📊 👏👏 👉https://bit.ly/4pOipiq
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

A Banner that shows the open call for the international PhD program on interdisciplinary Plant Biology in Cologne Germany between University of Cologne and Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research. A button reads "apply now!"

We are #hiring!
Join Juliette de Meaux’s group within the IMPRS @unicologne.bsky.social to explore the genomic & ecological drivers of gene flow in grassland Arabis species.
🗓️ Deadline: Jan 5, 2025
✏️ Apply via: gradschool.mpipz.mpg.de
ℹ️ More info: mpipz.mpg.de/imprs

A Banner that shows the open call for the international PhD program on interdisciplinary Plant Biology in Cologne Germany between University of Cologne and Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research. A button reads "apply now!".

We’re #hiring! Our #IMPRS @mpipz.bsky.social & @unicologne.bsky.social recruits 4 PhD students. We look for candidates with a keen interest in experimental & computational plant biology to join us in 2026!

Find details at www.mpipz.mpg.de/imprs/imprs-... and apply by Jan 5.

#PlantSciJobs

Florigen activation complex forms via multifaceted assembly in Arabidopsis Nature - In flowering plants, DNA–FD–14-3-3 recruits FT to the florigen activation complex both through DNA–FT interactions and by reducing liquid phase condensation of FD...

Honoured to have participated in this amazing story uncovering novel #florigen roles in #Arabidopsis Congrats to @HeGao @NaDing and collaborators!!
Check it out @nature.com
🌱 🌸 🧬 🔬

#bZIP #proteinphosphorylation @mpipz.bsky.social
rdcu.be/ePPjS

Florigen activation complex forms via multifaceted assembly in Arabidopsis - Nature In flowering plants, DNA–FD–14-3-3 recruits FT to the florigen activation complex both through DNA–FT interactions and by reducing liquid phase condensation of FD protein, which promotes dimerization,...

📣Paper alert! New paper out in @nature.com by the group of George Coupland @mpipz.bsky.social and colleagues on new roles for the florigen protein in flowering 🌱🌿. Congratulations!👏👏 👉https://www.mpipz.mpg.de/pr-coupland-2025-11-en
#Arabidopsis #plantsci
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

A common pathway controls cell size in the sepal and leaf epidermis leading to a nonrandom pattern of giant cells Arabidopsis leaf epidermal cells have a wide range of sizes and ploidies, but the mechanisms patterning their size and spatial distribution remain unclear. This study shows that the pathway controllin...

Check out our story in @plosbiology.org about how a nonrandom, clustered giant cell pattern forms in the sepal and leaf epidermis! It has been a great journey with @gweissbart.bsky.social, Frances Clark, Xihang Wang, @roederlab.bsky.social and co-authors.
journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...

🌱 Postdoc position in Plant Genomics/Bioinformatics!

Love genome plasticity, computational methods, and solving big questions in plant biology? Join our newly established Institute for Crop Biology at HHU Düsseldorf.

More info on schneebergerlab.org/career/
Apply by Nov. 30 | 3-year position

The post shows a picture of Mung after successfully passing her viva on a green background with words congratulating her on acquiring the PhD title.

🌟 We celebrate Dr. Mung Hsia Foo from Hirofumi Nakagami’s lab @mpipz.bsky.social for completing her PhD! 🎓👏 Best of luck for the exciting journey ahead! 🌱
#PhDSuccess #PlantScience #PhDone #ScientificAchievement

The post shows a picture of Raissa after successfully passing her viva on a green background with words congratulating her on acquiring the PhD title.

🎉 Fantastic news! Dr. Raissa Krone from Stanislav Kopriva’s group within the IMPRS @mpipz.bsky.social and @unicologne.bsky.social has earned her PhD. Congrats on this great achievement and best wishes for what’s next! 🌿✨
#PhDSuccess #PlantScience #PhDone #ScientificAchievement

The post shows a picture of Lara after successfully passing her viva on a green background with words congratulating her on acquiring the PhD title.

👏 Congratulations to Dr. Lara Van Dijck from Jane Parker’s lab @mpipz.bsky.social on successfully completing her PhD! Wishing you continued success ahead! 🎓🌱
#PhDSuccess #PlantScience #PhDone #ScientificAchievement

Genetic variation at transcription factor binding sites largely explains phenotypic heritability in maize - Nature Genetics Pan-cistrome of the maize leaf under well-watered and drought conditions profiled by haplotype-specific MOA-seq highlights the relevance of transcription factor binding QTLs for understanding phenotyp...

📣New @natgenet.nature.com The Hartwig group @mpipz.bsky.social and colleagues @hhu.de unveil a scalable way to map plant genomic "switches" - these overlooked regions hold huge promise for crop breeding & climate resilience. 👉http://bit.ly/41BmCwD #plantsci
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Speech bubble with text: we are hiring

Please RT: We are hiring 📣! We are looking for a coordinator of our CEPLAS Graduate School!
If you are interested in working in an international and dynamic academic environment with highly motivated and talented ECRs, check out the details here: karriere.hhu.de/index.php?ac...

We’re pleased to announce two new vacancies for senior roles at our institute:

Group Leader in Discovery Plant Sciences: www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/gr...

🗓️ Closes 25 August

Independent Fellowship in Plant-Associated Microbial Interactions: www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/in...

🗓️ Closes 5 September

Open Call for Expressions of Interest in Max Planck Directorships: Expressions of interest can be submitted until 31 October 2025.

Director at Max Planck - a unique position! The Open Call for Expressions of Interest in Max Planck Directorships is open now and can be submitted by the 31st of October 2025. ➡️ mpg.de/directors - Please share the Open Call among potential candidates.

The post shows a picture of Nick after successfully passing his viva on a green background with words congratulating him on acquiring the PhD title.

🎓👏 Congratulations to Dr. @nickdunken.bsky.social Nick Dunken on the successful PhD defense in the lab of @algazuccaro.bsky.social at the University of Cologne and @mpipz.bsky.social! Welcome to the circle of doctors!
#phdone #plantscience #sciencecareer

Image shows diverse students with different backgrounds interested in getting informed about their career opportunities. Writing says "Rock your Career".

📣Your PhD journey starts NOW! Join our #webinar on Sept 4, 1-3 PM (CEST) & explore #PhD opportunities at Max Planck's IMPRS in NRW, Germany! 🇩🇪 Gain insights into groundbreaking research & register here: events.gwdg.de/e/PhDatMaxPl... #MaxPlanck #Research #Germany #Science

🥳 Well-deserved celebration 🥳🎉. What a wonderful tradition – fantastic science, brilliant cover picture @nature.com and awesome cake 🍰 🌹. Huge congratulations @amarques.bsky.social and team 👏👏

📣Great news – Congratulations to @tonnigrubeandersen.bsky.social and all winners of this year’s award! 👏🥳🎉 #plantscience