In the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, the independent research group Receptor Biochemistry invites applications for a

Postdoctoral Researcher Position— N-terminomics and Protease Degradomics (m/f/d) (11/2026)
How does proteolytic regulation control plant plasma-membrane receptor function and plant immune responses?

The plant plasma membrane is a dynamic hub for nutrient uptake, pathogen detection and stress signalling, anchored by surface receptors. In animals, proteolytic cleavage of membrane proteins is a major regulatory mechanism in immunity. In plants, its role remains largely unexplored.

FRONTERA, funded by the European Research Council through an ERC Starting Grant, sets out to close that gap. The project combines chemoproteomics, cell biology, protease biochemistry and genetics, and looks at both sides of the process: the proteases that cut, and the substrates they act on. It is curiosity-driven research with a long view towards crop resilience and sustainable agriculture.
- You will lead the degradomics side of FRONTERA,



establishing terminomics in our system to identify cleaved substrates and map where they are cut.
- Establish and optimise a terminomics workflow for plant samples
- Identify protease substrates and determine cleavage sites, and follow how processing changes during immune responses
- Develop the data analysis alongside the wet-lab method, working with our in-house mass spectrometry facility
- Validate candidate cleavage events biochemically and relate them to immune signalling, in collaboration with the team
- Co-supervise a doctoral researcher
- Present and publish your scientific data

Your profile
- A doctoral degree in biochemistry, analytical chemistry, molecular biology, plant science or a closely related field. If your thesis is submitted but not yet defended by the start date, please apply and tell us your timeline.
- Substantial hands-on experience in MS-based proteomics, working independently from sample preparation t

📌 Postdoctoral Researcher Position— N-terminomics and Protease Degradomics (México)
🏢 Ipb Halle
📍 México