Post-doctoral researcher (m/f/d) in ‘‘Seagrass (Exo)Metabolomics’’

Deadline: 16^th January 2025

GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel is a foundation under public law jointly financed by the Federal Republic of Germany (90%) and the State of Schleswig-Holstein (10%). It is one of the internationally leading institutions in the field of marine research. Through our research and our commitment to the transfer of knowledge and technology, we contribute significantly to the preservation of the function and protection of the ocean for future generations.

GEOMAR Research Unit Marine Natural Products Chemistry / GEOMAR Centre for Marine Biotechnology is seeking an experienced

Post-doctoral researcher (m/f/d) in ‘Seagrass (Exo)Metabolomics’

The position is available for three years starting at the earliest date possible.

Job Description:

Seagrasses are key foundational species of coastal environments providing many ecosystem services that directly benefit human and oceans. Seagrass meadows have recently been shown to reduce the abundance of various pathogenic bacteria in their surrounding water column. We are seeking a skilled and motivated post-doctoral researcher who will continue our successful research on seagrass chemical ecology and pathogen suppression effect, mainly to understand (exo)metabolites, mechanisms and microbiomes involved in this phenomenon with the aid of massive metabolomics, statistics, AI and relevant environmental and natural product chemistry techniques. The project will include extensive field work for sampling; extraction and profiling the chemical composition of the extracts by comparative metabolomics (computational untargeted metabolomics using LC-MS/MS-based molecular networking workflows); fractionation of the extracts and bioactivity testing of the samples. The candidate will be part of an international team, and expected to supervise students and technical staff and take care of the relevant analytical equipment.

Qualifications required:

• A PhD in LC-MS based metabolomics, environmental/ecological metabolomics or a related field
• Demonstrated competence and hands-on skills in LC-MS/MS metabolomics of secondary metabolites (employing molecular network tools) and MS platforms
• Proficiency in bioinformatics, databases, big data management
• High competence in in-depth statistical analyses and cheminformatics
• Excellent track record of publication (as first author) in high quality journals
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English

Desirable qualifications:

• Field work experience
• Ability to snorkel and dive (scientific diving license)
• Prior post-doc experience
• A full car driving license
• Prior experience on running and maintaining analytical equipment (UPLC-MS)
• Prior experience in supervision of students, technicians
• Some exposure to microbiome work

At a workplace, directly on the Kiel Fjord with many leisure and recreational opportunities, we offer you:

• Good conditions for work-life balance: We offer, among other things, the possibility of mobile working and individual working time arrangements, vacation courses for the children of our employees, and good support in finding a place in a day-care center at the Kiel site
• Support services for professional and personal life situations
• An exciting work environment with the opportunity to provide important impetus for the development of sustainable solutions
• Exciting topics in an international environment
• Work in the field of marine and climate research, a forward-looking area with social significance
• 30 vacation days + additional time off at Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve
• Company pension plan and capital-forming benefits

The research unit Marine Natural Products Chemistry offers a dynamic, international and innovative research environment with excellent infrastructure and networks, a collaborative work culture, thus is an ideal incubator for a successful career. Our labs are equipped with state-of-the-art chemical facilities including in-house UPLC-QTOF-MS coupled with DESI Imaging Mass Spectrometry, HPLC-DAD-MS, HPLC-HRMS, GC-MS, automated extraction systems such as Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE) and Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE), FT-IR, polarimeter and related databases, as well as excellent microbiology/biotechnology facilities and over 75 running in vitro biological assays. Our in-house microbial culturing facilities span from small (1 L) to large-scale (300 L fermenter), as well as access to sequencing facilities. GEOMAR has full access to high-resolution (cryo-) NMR facilities at Kiel University. We lead or participate in multiple collaborative EU or national research projects.

Working language in the group is English.

The position is available for a funding period of three years, starting at the earliest date possible. The salary depends on qualification and could be up to the class 13 TVöD-Bund of the German tariff for public employees. This is a full-time position and the position can be basically split. The fixed-term contract shall comply with Section 2 Paragraph 1 of The Act of Academic Fixed-Term Contract (German WissZeitVG).

GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel seeks to increase the proportion of female scientists and explicitly encourages qualified female academics to apply. GEOMAR is an equal opportunity employer and encourages scientists with disabilities to apply. Qualified disabled applicants will receive preference in the application process.

Please submit your application in English no later than 16^th January 2025 using the following link:

https://bewerbung.geomar.de/P000161384/en

As soon as the selection procedure has finished, all application papers will be destroyed according to data protection regulation. For further information regarding the position and research unit, please contact Prof. Dr. Deniz Tasdemir by e-mail (dtasdemir(at)geomar.de) or visit our website https://www.geomar.de/en/research/fb3/fb3-mn/research-topics.

Further questions will be answered by e-mail to bewerbung(at)geomar.de. In doing so, please refer to the keyword “Seagrass Metabolomics-MN”.

For further information on GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel or the Helmholtz Association, please visit www.geomar.de or www.helmholtz.de.

GEOMAR is committed to an objective and non-discriminatory personnel selection. Our job advertisements address all people. We expressly renounce the submission of application photos.