Head of Plant Sciences Core Facility

The Vienna BioCenter Core Facilities (VBCF) provide cutting-edge research infrastructure and expertise that form the foundation of groundbreaking discoveries at the Vienna BioCenter (VBC), home to multiple research institutes (including IMP, IMBA, GMI, Max Perutz Labs, University of Vienna Biology Building), companies, and around 2,000 scientists. Situated at the VBC campus, the VBCF GmbH provides scientific services to research on campus and beyond, supported by the extensive expertise of over 80 trained scientists and technicians. The VBCF is currently seeking a:

Head of Plant Sciences Core Facility (f/m/d, full-time)
for our Plant Sciences team. This role involves advancing our cutting-edge research in high-throughput plant phenotyping, while also overseeing the maintenance and optimization of phytotrons to support essential plant growth and experimental services. A detailed overview of our offered services can be found on our website.

• Key responsibilitiesLead and manage a state-of-the-art, multi-sensor, high-throughput plant phenotyping research infrastructure – #PHENOPlant.
• Lead and further develop a diverse service portfolio: high-throughput plant phenotyping – technology development (prototyping) – software development – data analysis.
• Lead and evaluate scientific projects to drive innovations in plant phenotyping, focusing on high-throughput data acquisition and image processing.
• Coordinate and further develop the Austrian Plant Phenoytping Network (APPN) supporting the EU ESFRI EMPHASIS project.
• Oversee the routine operation and maintenance of phytotrons and glasshouses, ensuring optimal plant growth conditions for research.
• Manage lab organization and instrument maintenance to ensure efficient workflows and consistent service quality.
• Develop and implement new protocols to enhance the facility’s service offerings in plant sciences.
• Train and guide an interdisciplinary team, fostering a collaborative and customer-oriented environment.
• Engage with national and international customers to understand their scientific needs and provide impactful research support. Carry out business development and new customer acquisition.