The Institute of Biodiversity of the Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute, Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forests and Fisheries, is looking to fill a three year temporary

Research associate (f/m/d)

position starting January 1, 2025 in the field of applied molecular soil microbiology with salary as 50% of a regular full-time postdoctoral position on the project “EcoPath” - Evolutionary Ecology of Zoonotic Pathogens during Agricultural Transformations”.

The call for applications is explicitly aimed at applicants who, in addition to the employment relationship, seek to further their scientific education and use this project as a basis to achieve a doctorate in Natural Sciences, e.g., at the Technical University of Braunschweig.

The sustainable use of agricultural soils is determined by the performance of a diverse microbiome consisting of bacteria, archaea, fungi, protists and viruses. But what happens when pathogenic bacteria enter the soil? In the EcoPath joint project, the Thünen Institute of Biodiversity is investigating how the soil microbiome reacts to the introduction of pathogenic bacteria using the example of Clostridioides difficile and Enterococcus faecalis/faecium. A combination of pathogen monitoring in agroecosystems and soil microcosms will be used for cause-and-effect analyses. Soil DNA and RNA extractions, amplicon sequencing and metagenomic analyses will serve as a basis for determining the reaction of the soil microbiome.

The joint project is coordinated by the Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures. Project partners include the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research in Braunschweig, the Leibniz Institute for Primate Research in Göttingen, the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover and the Technical University of Braunschweig.

Your tasks:

• Soil sampling in field investigations and their storage for subsequent soil DNA and RNA extractions
• Construction of soil microcosms and experimental studies on the reaction of the soil microbiome, especially of protists and bacteria, to the introduction of pathogenic bacteria
• PCR amplification of taxonomic and functional microbial marker genes for DNA sequencing and quantification; processing of soil DNA and RNA for metagenome and metatranscriptome sequencing
• Conducting bioinformatic and statistical analyses to determine the association of microbial pathogens with compositional and functional changes in the soil microbiome
• Presentation of own work results and the project at internal institute seminars, at meetings of the EcoPath joint project, as well as at national and international conferences
• Preparation of reports and manuscripts on research results for publication in international peer-reviewed journals peer-reviewed journals

Your requirements profile:

• Completed university degree (Univ. Diploma, M.Sc.) in the fields of microbiology,
• biogeochemistry, geoecology, environmental sciences, bioinformatics or similar disciplines
• excellent knowledge of microbial ecology and a very high interest in microbiome research and ecology
• Knowledge of statistical data analysis, preferably with R
• Knowledge of molecular ecology, high-throughput DNA sequencing and bioinformatics, including experience with command-based pipelines (e.g. Qiime 2, Metawrap) and/or Linux or Python are desirable
• High organizational talent, strong team spirit and very good communication skills
• Very good written and spoken English skills
• Willingness to travel and participate in sampling in Germany

We offer you the opportunity to work in an active and stimulating research environment on socially highly relevant issues at the interface between science and practice in an active and stimulating research environment, with contacts with national and international research institutions. Because the professional and personal development of our employees is important to us, we offer a family-friendly working environment, flexible working time models and extensive professional training and development opportunities. We support the compatibility of work and family life and have been awarded the audit “Beruf und Familie” certificate.

In order to support compatibility, the Thünen Institute offers, among other things, the following within the scope of official possibilities flexible working time models, home office and teleworking.

The employment relationship is based on the provisions of the collective agreement for the public service (TVöD). The salary is paid in accordance with pay group 13 TVöD.

In addition to the employment relationship, there is the opportunity for further academic training, e.g., for work on a dissertation. The results of your own work on the project can be used for this purpose. The Technical University of Braunschweig can be considered for the doctorate.

The Thünen Institute promotes professional equality between women and men and therefore expressly welcomes applications from women.

The Thünen Institute is committed to inclusion. Applications from people with severe disabilities are are therefore expressly encouraged. They will be given special consideration in the selection process.

For further information, please contact Prof. Dr. Christoph Tebbe (Tel. 0531-596-2553; Email: christoph.tebbe@thuenen.de).

Applications with a curriculum vitae in tabular form, a description of education and professional career, addresses of two references and copies of certificates are requested by 20.10.2024, quoting the reference number 2024-172-BD electronically as one single pdf file to:

bd@thuenen.de

Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute

Institute for Biodiversity

Bundesallee 65

D-38116 Braunschweig, Germany

Information in accordance with Article 13 GDPR on the collection of personal data can be found at www.thuenen.de/de/thuenen-institut/karriere