PhD Researcher (f/m/x) - Genetic engineering of productive biofilms

Place of work

Leipzig

Working time

65%

Contract limitations

limited contract / 3 years

Salary

Remuneration according to the TVöD public-sector up to pay grade 13 including attractive public-sector social security benefits.

Contact

Your contact for any questions you may have about the job:
katja.buehler@ufz.de

Your application

Please submit your application via our online portal with your cover letter, CV (please omit your photo, age, or marital status) and relevant attachments.

Diversity and Inclusion

The UFZ has a strong commitment to diversity and actively supports equal opportunities for all employees regardless of their origin, religion, ideology, disability, age or sexual identity.
We look forward to applications from people who are open-minded and enjoy working in diverse teams.

The UFZ

The Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) with its 1,100 employees has gained an excellent reputation as an international competence centre for environmental sciences. We are part of the largest scientific organisation in Germany, the Helmholtz association. Our mission: Our research seeks to find a balance between social development and the long-term protection of our natural resources.

Your tasks

  • Cultivation of bacterial suspension cultures, including chemo-heterotrophic and photoautotrophic biotechnological workhorses
  • Cultivation of mixed-trophic microbial biofilms in reactor environments
  • Molecular engineering of bacterial strains to enhance activity and stability
  • Live-cell imaging using advanced techniques such as CLSM (Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy) and OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography)
  • Biochemical analyses to monitor expression profiles and productivity
Additional Responsibilities:
  • Providing infrastructure support within the lab
  • Supervision and mentoring of students
  • Active participation in the HIGRADE graduate school, including attending relevant courses
  • Publication and presentation of scientific results in peer-reviewed journals, internal seminars, and scientific conferences

We offer

  • Excellent supervision and optimal professional and interdisciplinary qualification through our HIGRADE graduate programme
  • The freedom to master even the most demanding challenges between basic research and practical application
  • The opportunity to work in interdisciplinary, international teams and benefit from a wide range of perspectives
  • Firstclass integration into national and international research networks to work together on global challenges
  • Excellent research infrastructure and research data management to optimally support your work
  • A wide range of options for balancing care responsibilities and work through our family office
  • Competent support and advice for international colleagues arriving at the UFZ from the ‘International Office’
  • Special annual payment, capital-forming benefits and subsidised Deutschland-Job-Ticket
  • A workplace in a vibrant region with a high life quality and social and cultural diversity

Your profile

Required Qualifications:

  • M.Sc. in Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or a related discipline
  • Strong background in molecular biology
  • Fluent English skills (spoken and written)
  • Team-oriented mindset with strong collaborative skills
Desirable Qualifications:
  • Experience with photosynthesis research and optogenetic switches
  • Familiarity with advanced molecular engineering techniques
  • Prior experience in interdisciplinary or biotechnological research environments

Apply now

Application deadline: 21.04.2025

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