Postdoctoral position in Phytopathology / Plant Molecular Biology

This is how you can contribute

• Develop and refine innovative inoculation protocols for ToBRFV to closely replicate production conditions and discriminate tolerance among tomato genotypes
• Implement an integrated infection-quantification approach, combining sampling strategy, viral load analysis, and methodological validation for highly tolerant or partially resistant varieties
• Assess the robustness of resistance under heat stress, by examining how heat waves affect defense stability, infection pathways, and plant-virus interaction dynamics
• Link phenotype, physiology, and molecular markers to identify determinants of plant resilience and generate actionable knowledge for breeding and sector-specific recommendations

This makes you unique

• PhD in plant–pathogen interactions with a strong understanding of plant physiology, or PhD in plant physiology with solid knowledge of plant–pathogen interactions
• Strong background in molecular techniques and plant molecular biology
• Experience in transcriptomics / bioinformatics would be considered an asset
• Proactive, autonomous and committed to her/his work
• Excellent communication skills
• Knowledge of two official Swiss languages and English

In a nutshell

The Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) currently poses a major challenge for the tomato industry due to its significant economic impact and the requirement - following its reclassification in 2025 as a regulated non-quarantine organism (RNQP) - that growers be responsible for managing infections. In this context, the project aims to provide a robust scientific foundation for the Swiss tomato sector by evaluating, under conditions similar to those in production, the resistance and resilience of commercial varieties with varying levels of tolerance.
Building on complementary projects focusing on the agronomic quality of varieties as well as microclimatic and agronomic monitoring in greenhouses, this work is structured around two main areas: (1) the evaluation, under real production conditions, of resistant varieties, including resistant rootstocks and (2) the study of plant resilience to high temperatures, in light of the increasing frequency of heat waves observed at Swiss production sites
The project relies on standardized inoculations under controlled conditions which closely replicate field constraints, combined with molecular analyses to precisely characterize the tolerance levels of the different varieties. Particular attention will be paid to the stability of resistance mechanisms during heat waves.
The expected results will enable the development of specific recommendations for growers, while contributing to the creation of a future national catalog of tomato varieties resistant to ToBRFV.

Closing date: 6 september 2026 (or until position is filled). Online applications consist of a single PDF comprising an application letter, a CV, a reference letter, copies of PhD diplomas, and the email addresses of 2 referees.