Postdoc (f/m/d) Influence of microbiological processes on hydraulic, mechanical and chemical properties of potential backfill materials for the final disposal of high-level radioactive waste – 2026/115 Part-time NEW

Postdoc For Experimental Research

With cutting-edge research in the fields of ENERGY, HEALTH and MATTER, around 1,500 employees from more than 70 nations at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) are committed to mastering the great challenges facing society today.

The Institute for Resource Ecology (IRE) conducts applied basic research into the protection of people and the environment from the effects of pollutants resulting from technical processes of energy and raw material extraction. An important goal is a better understanding of fundamental processes that influence the transport and the accumulation of radiotoxic elements in the geo- and biosphere including the food chain. This also includes research on microbial activity in potential repositories for high-level radioactive waste.

The Group Deep Biosphere is looking for a Postdoc for experimental research on the Influence of microbiological processes on hydraulic, mechanical and chemical properties of potential backfill materials for the final disposal of high-level radioactive waste, subject to project approval.

Microorganisms are naturally present in geotechnical barrier materials (backfill materials) and in the geological barrier of final repositories for high-level radioactive waste and, under certain conditions, can be metabolically active, interact with their environment in various ways and thus influence the properties of the barrier materials. The aim of the project is to investigate whether the natural microbial communities in the backfill materials influence its hydraulic, mechanical and chemical properties. This is being investigated through three parallel experimental approaches: microcosms, long-term observation cells and oedometer cells. This involves investigating the effects of microbial activity on the mineralogy and chemical composition of clays and clay pore solutions, swelling behaviour and permeability of clays; reaction behaviour of a container material at the interface with the clays and the effect of corrosion of a container material on the clay and the clay-pore solution.

Your Tasks

• Conducting and evaluating experiments in microcosms and long-term observation cells under anoxic conditions in the presence of one type of backfill material and one type of container material
• Analysis of the gas phase by gas chromatography, and of the liquid phase by sensors, HPLC, HPIC and ICP-MS and the solid phase by XRD und RAMAN
• DNA extraction from the backfill material followed by 16S rRNA gene analysis
• Cultivation of anaerobic bacteria
• Conducting literature review, writing scientific publications, and presenting research results
• Supervising scientific supporting staff
• Supervision of (under)graduate and doctoral students as well as student courses

Your Profile

• Completed university studies (PhD) in the field of Geosciences as geomicrobiology or geochemistry, Biology and Chemistry
• Relevant professional experience in the specified area
• Many years of experience in experimental laboratory work, high motivation and initiative
• Willingness to work with open radioactive materials in a radiation-controlled laboratory is required
• Excellent knowledge of a broad range of molecular biological (DNA extraction, 16S rRNA gene analysis), geochemical and analytical as well as spectroscopic (HPLC, HPIC, ICP-MS, XRD, SEM-EDX und RAMAN) methods are an advantage
• Strong planning, project and time management, and organizational skills are required
• Ability to communicate and carry out work in an interdisciplinary research team (radiochemistry, biochemistry, geochemistry, physical chemistry) and willingness to participate in scientific conferences and workshops
• Independent, structured, and solution-oriented way of working
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English

Our Offer

• A vibrant research community in an open, diverse and international work environment
• Scientific excellence and extensive professional networking opportunities
• Salary and social benefits in accordance with the collective agreement for the public sector (TVöD-Bund) including 30 days of paid holiday leave, company pension scheme (VBL)
• Depending on the personal qualifications, the candidate may be classified in salary group 13 according to TVöD-Bund
• We support a good work-life balance with the possibility of part-time employment, mobile working and flexible working hours
• Numerous company health management offerings
• Employee discounts with well-known providers via the platform Corporate Benefits
• An employer subsidy for the “Deutschland-Ticket Jobticket”