The salary is quite ok, especially for the region.
Think that they put this Biotech cluster was placed there specifically because there is not much else, thus living costs in the region are generally low, especially a few villages away.
I don't know where the "up to" 65% comes from. I am quite sure that you will receive the 65 %., because I haven't seen PhD positions with less than that.
In many German research institutions PhD students nowadays receive already the 100%, but in some places this old, slightly more abusive model of just paying 2/3 of a full salary.
A delicate political situation in the region and in Germany in general is indeed an issue. But there are not many places left right now. The Leibnitz institute (if it is where you go) is definitely a science bubble there and the science nerds impact the village probably in a good way.
#LeibnitzInstitut #Gatersleben #IPKGatersleben #Pflanzengenetik

