Interested in Joining our Group?

We have projects available for Master's and Bachelor's theses and research visits ("internships" are not possible for legal reasons). Additionally, we encourage students to pursue their own project ideas. Bachelor’s and Master’s projects in our group usually contribute to publications. If you already have a specific project in mind, please mention it in your email. To get an impression of the type of research conducted in our group, please visit our websites and review our publications. We recommend focusing on publications primarily authored by members of our group rather than collaborative projects with numerous other groups. There is no need to include multiple documents and certificates in your initial email. Instead, your first email should briefly but specifically describe what you are looking for and why you believe our group is the right fit for you. The most important attachment is a short CV (1–2 pages). Please ensure that your CV is in PDF format. To keep it concise, focus only on relevant information. If you use AI in your application or during the development of project proposals, this needs to be disclosed. Failure to do so will result in rejection. We love to interact with humans thus you must not use an AI in your correspondance with us. It is also important to understand that AI is currently not capable of developing a project proposal. However, it can be used to improve the presentation of ideas developed by humans.

 
Additional Information for Students at the University of Bonn

In addition to your CV, please include your transcript of records in your application. Some projects require experience with specific molecular biology or bioinformatics methods. We recommend taking some of our courses as preparation. Please note that Bachelor’s and Master’s thesis projects are unpaid. If you are interested in pursuing a doctoral degree, please include a brief statement about your research interests and career objectives. Securing appropriate funding for your doctoral project is often the biggest challenge. There are various options, including funded positions (e.g., DFG, BMBF, EU) and scholarships from German foundations, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. If you aspire to an academic career, obtaining your own scholarship for an individual project is highly recommended. Please reach out to schedule a meeting to discuss the best funding options for your specific situation. To demonstrate that you have carefully reviewed the information on this website before applying, please include the following text at the end of your email subject line: "#PL2026-BONN".

 
Additional Information for International Students

If you are interested in a doctoral or postdoctoral position in our group, please send your CV along with a specific statement about your interest in our research. Be clear about why you want to join our group specifically, rather than sending a generic email to multiple research groups. Generic emails will not be answered. Your CV should include the following details: date and place of birth, current address, and university education. These details are essential for processing a research stay agreement if your application is successful. Optional elements are relevant work experience, scholarships and awards received, and publications.  Please keep your CV concise, ideally no longer than two pages. If there are relevant national or international rankings/examinations, such as GATE in India, please include these results too.

If your expertise and research interests align well with our group, the biggest challenge will be securing funding. There are numerous fellowship opportunities through EMBO, Marie Skłodowska-Curie, DAAD, and other organizations. Please contact us well in advance—several weeks before the application deadline—so we can develop a suitable research project together. While you are expected to write the project proposal yourself, we will provide substantial support throughout the process. Writing a successful proposal requires significant time and effort (typically several weeks). Please carefully consider this commitment. Additionally, be aware that scholarship decisions often take several months. Please demonstrate in your email that you have checked the eligibility criteria and that you are aware of the time line of your application.

Since organizing a research stay requires considerable effort, research stays should last at least six months. It is also important to keep in mind that finding affordable accommodation for less than six months is very challenging. Please indicate the desired length of your research visit in your first email.

If you are interested in conducting the research for your Master thesis in our group, please clearly indicate this in your first email. Students from other universities can do this as part of a research visit. If you are looking for admission as a Master student, please visit the Plant Sciences website for additional information and follow the procedure described there.

If you are curiuous human following all instructions listed on this page, the chances are high that you are going to visit us. Please check the team and news page to learn about the experiences of previous visitors. To demonstrate that you have carefully reviewed the information on this website before applying, please include the following text at the end of your email subject line: "#PL2026-INT". Emails should be addressed to Boas Pucker. All requests from applicants demonstrating serious interest in joining our group will receive a response within a few hours.

Opportunity: Exploring the evolution of biosynthesis pathways with computational methods

We are looking for visiting researchers to explore questions in evolutionary plant biology with a focus on the regulation of biosynthetic pathways with computational methods. If you have a great idea for a project that aligns with our research, please get in touch with a brief and specific project proposal (about 1 page). You should have some experience with command-line interfaces (CLIs) and large datasets. However, we are mostly looking for someone creative, able to think critically, and capable of conducting original research. An outstanding track record relative to your career stage and some evidence of successfully completed research projects is expected. If the necessary criteria are met, this research visit could lead to doctoral research. Generic or AI-generated submissions will not be considered.

Interested in a collaboration?

We are generally open to exciting projects involving genomics and bioinformatics if there is a connection to our research. Please send an email to Boas Pucker.

Questions about specialized metabolism or plant genomics?

LinkedIn: @PuckerLab or @boas_pucker

Instagram: @PuckerLab or @boaspucker

Mastodon: @PuckerLab or @boas_pucker

BlueSky: @PuckerLab or @boas_pucker