Doctoral Researcher (f/m/d) for the Collaborative Research Centre “CONCENTRATE” - Mineral-Microbe Interactions

The University of Bremen, MARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences - is offering, subject to the approval of funds, a fixed-term position for a

Doctoral Researcher (f/m/d)
Salary Scale 13 TV-L

from 1 October 2025 at the earliest for a period of 45 months, until 30 June 2029 at the latest (according to § 2 WissZeitVG)
within the Collaborative Research Centre “CONCENTRATE”.

The position is to be filled with 65% of the regular weekly working hours (25.48 hours/week).

Berufsgruppe

Wissenschaft und Forschung

Eingruppierung

EG 13 TV-L

Besetzbar

zum 01.10.2025

Bereich

We are looking for highly motivated candidates to join the newly established Collaborative Research Centre “Carbon Sequestration at Å resolution (CONCENTRATE)”, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). This CRC combines the expertise of the University of Greifswald, the University of Bremen, the Max-Planck-Institute for Marine Microbiology Bremen, the Max-Planck-Institute of Colloids and Interfaces Potsdam, the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research and the Technical University of Berlin.

Aufgabengebiet

The aim of CONCENTRATE is to decipher the molecular and microbial processes that lead to the stabilization of glycans in the ocean. In an interdisciplinary approach, the research team combines laboratory experiments with measurements in natural marine habitats. The focus is on the interactions between algae, bacteria, fungi, their glycans and proteins - down to atomic resolution. The elucidation of these microbial and biochemical mechanisms will contribute to a better understanding of carbon fluxes in the oceans.

Within the CRC CONCENTRATE you will work on subproject A05 supervised by Prof. Michael W. Friedrich, Marine Microbial Ecophysiology.
The central working hypothesis of our project is that minerals play an important role in protecting glycans from their degradation by marine microorganisms, and thereby, are instrumental in sequestering carbon in the ocean. You will examine adsorption of glycans to minerals, characterize the composition of naturally occurring glycans adsorbed onto minerals, determine rates of glycan degradation with natural sea water microbiota and pure cultures, and identify microorganisms capable of degrading glycans using cutting edge isotope probing methods.

Your project is linked to other microbiological, biochemical and analytical subprojects of the CRC and you will be part of an interdisciplinary network. You will have the opportunity to work on your PhD in a small research group and will be supported by the University's PhD programs. You will also be able to collaborate with national and international research partners, and specifically with the Aquatic Microbiology group at the University of Greifswald.

Your responsibilities:

• Sea water sampling
• Measuring glycan adsorption with sensitive fluorescent assays
• Extracting glycans from minerals and preparation for analytical glycan chromatography (in interdisciplinary cooperation)
• Cultivation of marine microorganisms
• Microbiological degradation studies of mineral-adsorbed glycans using fluorescent and isotope labelling
• Identifying microorganisms by stable isotope probing analysis of RNA (SIP)
• Bioinformatic analyses
• Acquisition, analysis and presentation of scientific data
• Scientific publishing

Voraussetzungen

• Completed scientific university degree (Master/University Diploma) in microbiology, biochemistry, geochemistry or a related field.
• Applicants who are in the final phase of their Master's degree will also be considered. Please note that submission of the Master's degree certificate is mandatory for employment
• Experience with basic microbiological techniques, and molecular ecology methods or experience with geochemical methods (e.g., analytical chemistry)
• Willingness to work in an interdisciplinary, international research team
• Willingness to collaborate with other Collaborative Research Center PhD students and scientists
• Fluency in English

Desirable:

• Strong interest and high motivation for basic research in marine microbiology and biogeochemistry
• Experience in bioinformatics or experience in geochemical methods
• Independent working style with hands-on mentality, team spirit, helpfulness and reliability

Kennzeichen

A192-25

Bewerbungsfrist

15.08.2025

Befristet

45 Monate, längstens bis 30.06.2029

Allgemeine Hinweise

We offer

• Annual special payment ("Christmas bonus"), regular collectively agreed salary increases and additional public service pension scheme (VBL)
• A crisis-proof, interesting and varied job in a cosmopolitan university
• 30 days holiday per calendar year
• A diverse, future-orientated and open corporate culture
• Support from a collegial, motivated team with a positive working atmosphere
• Individual induction training
• The opportunity for further education and training
• Compatibility of family and career through flexible working hours (flexitime) and the option of mobile working (subject to the general conditions)
• Free social and family counselling services
• Active company health management, including the option of discounts at local sports clubs, gyms and swimming pools (EGYM WELLPASS)
• The option of using a job ticket for public transportation
• Numerous sports and cultural activities
• Varied catering options in the student union canteens

Open to unconventional approaches in research and teaching, the University of Bremen has retained its character as a place of short distances for people and ideas since its founding in 1971. With a broad spectrum of subjects, we combine exceptional performance and innovative potential. As an ambitious research university, we stand for research-based learning approaches and a pronounced interdisciplinary orientation. We actively pursue scientific cooperation in a spirit of global partnership.

Today, around 23,000 people learn, teach, research, and work on our international campus. In research and teaching, administration and operations, we are strongly committed to the goals of sustainability, climate justice, and climate neutrality. Our Bremen spirit is expressed in the courage to try new things, in supportive cooperation, in respect and appreciation for each other. With our study and research profile and as part of the European YUFE network, we assume social responsibility in the region, in Europe, and in the world.

The university is family-friendly, diverse and sees itself as an international university. We therefore welcome all applicants regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion/belief, disability, age, sexual orientation and identity.

As the University of Bremen intends to increase the proportion of female employees in science, women are particularly encouraged to apply. In the case of equal qualifications, women are given priority, unless reasons relating to the person of a competitor prevail.

Disabled applicants will be given priority if their professional and personal qualifications are essentially the same.

Bewerbungshinweise

Please note that no photos are to be attached to the application documents.

We kindly ask you to send us only copies (no portfolios) of your application documents, as we cannot return them. They will be destroyed after the selection process has been completed. Any application costs cannot be reimbursed.

Ansprechperson

For general questions about the personnel selection procedure and for questions about the content of the advertised position, please contact Prof. Dr. Michael W. Friedrich / +49 421 218 63060 / mfriedrich@marum.de.

Please send your application including a cover letter, CV, copies of degree certificates, as well as a statement of your research interests, scientific background in relation to the position and the contact details of two referees, quoting the reference number A192-25, until 15.08.2025 as a PDF file by unencrypted electronic mail to: bewerbung-a19225@marum.de or by mail to: