Job for Researchers: Technical Assistant (Aphid & Digger Wasp Research) — Julius Kühn-Institut, Braunschweig

Original title: Technische Assistentin / Technischer Assistent (w/m/d)

About the position

The Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI) – Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants – is looking for a Technical Assistant (m/f/d) at the Institute for Plant Protection in Horticulture and Urban Green, Braunschweig site.

The position is attached to the research project “DauerREG – Durable reduction of aphids through the establishment of the digger wasp Pemphredon lethifer on vegetable farm areas”.

Your tasks

• Set up and monitor suitable trap nests for field collection of digger wasps in and around Braunschweig.
• Maintain rearings and document relevant rearing parameters of digger wasps.
• Plant and care for elderberry bushes on cultivation areas.
• Install, record, renew, and maintain digger wasp stations in field plots.
• Assess aphid infestation and digger wasp activity on farm areas.
• Carry out regular, sometimes multi-day trips for surveys on farms in northern Germany.

Your qualifications

You have successfully completed vocational training as an agricultural economics-technical assistant, agricultural-technical assistant, plant technologist, or an equivalent qualification, ideally with relevant professional experience.

• Experience in surveying pests and damage symptoms, preferably in vegetable crops.
• Experience in keeping arthropod cultures.
• Experience in conducting plant protection experiments.
• Experience with electronic data processing and standard office software (Outlook, Word, Excel).
• Willingness and physical fitness for outdoor and greenhouse work.
• A team-oriented, independent, and responsible working style.
• Driving licence class B and willingness to undertake frequent, sometimes multi-day business trips with official or leased vehicles.

What we offer

• A varied, challenging, and interesting role in an international working environment.
• Part-time employment with 19.5 hours per week, limited until 31 January 2029.
• Remuneration according to TVöD, up to pay group E 7, depending on qualifications and personal circumstances.
• Start date as soon as possible.
• Flexible working time models within the scope of official duties.
• The Deutschlandticket as a job ticket with an employer subsidy of €23.28, where applicable.

Equal opportunities and inclusion

The JKI is committed to equal opportunity, diversity, and inclusion. Applications from people with severe disabilities are expressly welcome and will be given preferential consideration. The institute supports the compatibility of work and family and has held the “audit berufundfamilie” certificate since 2021.

Contact and application

For further information, contact Dr. Elias Böckmann, phone +49 (0) 3946 47-7729, email [email protected].

Please submit your complete application documents via the online application system “Interamt”; registration in the portal is required. The application deadline is 12 August 2026 for reference number BS-G-TA-05-26. Online submission must be completed by 3 August 2026.

Julius Kühn-Institut, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Central Division, Messeweg 11/12, 38104 Braunschweig, Germany. Data protection information for job applications is available at julius-kuehn.de/datenschutz-stellenangebote.

Original vacancy