Abschlussarbeit

Master Thesis Opportunity in Plant Molecular Biology

Title: Deciphering Epigenetic Mechanisms of Temperature Sensing in Plants

Background
Global warming is placing unprecedented pressure on agriculture and natural ecosystems. Plants, being immobile, must constantly sense and respond to changes in temperature. Even small shifts can dramatically alter their growth and development.

Thesis Project
In this project, you will investigate candidate genes that may act as novel temperature sensors, with a particular focus on epigenetic regulation. You will use molecular and cell biology approaches to explore how these genes influence plant growth and development at different temperatures.

Experimental approaches may include:

• Generating CRISPR/Cas9 knockout lines in Arabidopsis thaliana
• Performing seedling growth assays under normal and elevated temperatures
• Studying protein localization and dynamics using confocal microscopy
• Investigating downstream effects on gene expression using molecular assays (RNAseq, reporter lines)

What you will gain:

• Hands-on training in molecular cloning, genome editing, and plant physiology
• Experience with microscopy and quantitative image analysis
• Exposure to next-generation sequencing data analysis and interpretation
• Skills in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific communication
• Insight into how fundamental plant research connects to real-world challenges like climate change

Who we are looking for:

• Motivated Master students in biology, molecular biology, biotechnology, or related fields.
• Curiosity about plant adaptation and interest in combining molecular and physiological approaches.
• Prior laboratory experience, ideally in molecular biology techniques such as CRISPR, gene expression analysis, or microscopy, is desirable. However, comprehensive training in project-specific methods will be provided.

The thesis will be conducted in a dynamic and supportive research group at the Leibniz Institute for Horticultural Sciences (IGZ), working at the interface of molecular genetics, epigenetics, cell biology, and environmental responses in plants.

If you are excited to explore how plants sense temperature, we’d love to hear from you! Please send us a short email explaining why you would like to join, along with your contact information, to: hankofer@igzev.de and wigge@igzev.de.