Postdoc in Plant Biology Biochemistry in University of Strasbourg – France

Summary

The Université de Strasbourg is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher in Plant Biology and Biochemistry for a 12-month temporary, full-time position. The role is part of the BotaniChem project, which aims to characterize and utilize the metabolic diversity of plant collections at the Strasbourg Botanical Garden. The successful candidate will be involved in selecting and collecting plant specimens, preparing samples, conducting mass spectrometry-based metabolomic analyses, and processing and interpreting data. Applicants must hold a PhD in Plant Biology or Biochemistry, awarded less than a year ago, with strong experience in metabolomics. Good communication skills in French and English are required. The application deadline is October 14, 2026, with a start date of December 1, 2026.

Key Facts

Department	Direction des ressources humaines
Position Type	Postdoctoral Researcher
Discipline	Biological sciences, Botany
Research Area	Plant Biology, Biochemistry, Metabolomics, Plant Metabolism, Chemodiversity
Degree Required	PhD in Plant Biology or Biochemistry
Experience	Recent PhD graduate (thesis defended less than a year ago) with in-depth experience in mass spectrometry-based metabolomics, covering the entire analytical workflow from sample preparation to data analysis. Good understanding of plant metabolism is desirable.
Funding	Not funded by an EU programme
Contract Duration	12 months
Language	French and English
Deadline	2026-10-14
Employer Address	4 rue Blaise Pascal, 67000 Strasbourg, France

About the Project

The BotaniChem project, "Unlocking Strasbourg’s Botanical Garden Chemodiversity," aims to characterize and harness the metabolic diversity of plant collections at the Strasbourg Botanical Garden (JBS). Botanical gardens are rich in plant biodiversity, but their chemodiversity is largely unexplored. The project combines expertise in metabolomics and plant metabolism from two teams at the CNRS Institute of Molecular Plant Biology with the JBS's botanical collection management. The goal is to analyze the metabolic diversity of numerous species in the garden using mass spectrometry-based metabolomics, establishing a reference resource for studying plant chemodiversity and analyzing the distribution and evolution of metabolite families.

Key Responsibilities

• Select and collect plant specimens from the Strasbourg Botanical Garden in collaboration with JBS teams, following collection and conservation procedures.
• Ensure traceability of metadata associated with each specimen (botanical identification, collection conditions, location).
• Prepare samples (freeze-drying, grinding, extraction) and contribute to establishing a physical collection of plant material and extracts.
• Carry out metabolomic analyses using mass spectrometry in partnership with research teams and the metabolomics platform.
• Process, annotate, and analyze metabolomic data using dedicated pipelines (molecular networks, spectral databases, in silico annotation, metabolic diversity indices).
• Contribute to the interpretation of results, especially regarding the distribution and evolution of metabolite families.
• Contribute to the scientific dissemination of the project through articles, conference presentations, and result communication.
• Take part in project scientific meetings and those of the research teams.
• Interact with project partners (Institute of Molecular Plant Biology teams, metabolomics platform, Strasbourg Botanical Garden teams).
• Contribute to the rigorous management and organization of plant extracts and metabolomic data.
• Contribute to the supervision of students where appropriate.

Required Skills

• PhD in Plant Biology or Biochemistry (awarded by 1 December 2026).
• In-depth knowledge of plant metabolism and concepts associated with plant chemo-diversity.
• Proficiency in metabolomic approaches using mass spectrometry and dedicated analysis pipelines.
• Interest in plant diversity and the promotion of scientific literacy.
• Experience in the preparation of plant extracts.
• Experience in the characterisation of plant metabolites using high-resolution mass spectrometry.
• Proficiency in dedicated metabolomic analysis workflows (molecular networks, spectral databases, in silico annotation, metabolic diversity indices).
• Ability to analyse, interpret, and disseminate scientific results.
• Experience in scientific writing and publication in international journals.
• Organisational skills and ability to work independently.
• Ability to work as part of a team in an interdisciplinary environment.
• Scientific rigor.
• Good written and oral communication skills in French and English.

Who Should Apply

This position is suitable for recent PhD graduates in Plant Biology or Biochemistry who have defended their thesis less than a year ago. Ideal candidates will have in-depth experience in mass spectrometry-based metabolomics, covering the entire analytical workflow from sample preparation to data analysis, and a good understanding of plant metabolism. The role requires strong organizational skills, the ability to work independently and as part of a team, scientific rigor, and good communication skills in both French and English.

About the Employer

The Université de Strasbourg is hosting this postdoctoral position. The research will be conducted within the CNRS Institute of Molecular Plant Biology (UPR2357), which is the largest CNRS unit dedicated to plant science. The institute comprises 20 research teams and numerous technological platforms, focusing on fundamental research in integrative plant biology, including plant metabolism, genome expression, and plant virology. The BotaniChem project is coordinated by Prof. Emmanuel Gaquerel and involves the Biology of Plant Isoprenoids team led by Dr. Hubert Schaller, as well as the Strasbourg Botanical Garden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the duration of this postdoctoral position?

The position is for a temporary contract of 12 months.

What is the main goal of the BotaniChem project?

The BotaniChem project aims to characterize and harness the metabolic diversity of plant collections at the Strasbourg Botanical Garden.

What degree is required for this position?

A PhD in Plant Biology or Biochemistry is required, and it must have been awarded less than a year ago and by the start date of December 1, 2026.

What are the required language skills?

Good written and oral communication skills in both French and English are required.

Is this job funded by an EU Research Framework Programme?

No, the job is not funded through an EU Research Framework Programme.

When is the application deadline?

The application deadline is October 14, 2026, at 23:59 Europe/Paris time.