Research Assistant (m/f/d) Part-time NEW

The Department of Ecology at the School of Biology/Chemistry is seeking to appoint a

Research Assistant (m/f/d)
(salary grade E 13 TV-L, 65 %)

to commence at the earliest possible date. The duration of the position is limited to three years.

Your duties:

• Participate in the DFG-funded research project: “Emergence and self-organisation of bacterial metabolism in consortia of cross-feeding bacteria”
• Generate and characterize bacterial mutants
• Perform coculture experiments with different bacterial strains
• Analyse the formation of clusters among bacteria using laser diffractometry and fluorescence microscopy
• Investigate bacteria on a single-cell level using microfluidics and flow-cytometry
• Quantify the production of amino acids and metabolic fluxes via mass spectrometry
• Interact with collaboration partners (Alexander Grünberger, Bielefeld University; Vasily Zaburdaev, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg; Knut Drescher, University of Basel)
• The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work towards a PhD

Required qualifications:

• Completed university degree (M.Sc. or comparable) in biology or a related field
• Solid knowledge of molecular biological methods
• Practical experience with microbiological working techniques
• Excellent command in written and spoken English

Desirable qualifications:

• An excellent university degree
• Strong motivation and curiosity
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team
• Structured and independent way of working
• Experience in high-resolution fluorescence microscopy and microfluidics
• Practical experience in the use of mass spectrometry
• Good working knowledge in the application of statistical analysis procedures
• Sound knowledge of ecological and evolutionary concepts
• Basic knowledge in the use of programming languages (e.g., Python or R)

We offer:

• An exciting and highly topical research project
• Supportive working atmosphere in an international research team
• Collaboration with national and international partners within the DFG priority program SPP 2389 “Emergent functions of bacterial multicellularity”
• Participation in the excellent graduate education programs at Osnabrück University (ZePrOS)
• Access to state-of-the-art research infrastructure at the School of Biology/ Chemistry (CellNanOs)
• Live and work in the vibrant and livable city of Osnabrück

Osnabrück University is a family-friendly university and is committed to helping working/studying parents balance their family and working lives.

Osnabrück University seeks to guarantee equality of opportunity for women and men and strives to correct any gender imbalance in its schools and departments.

If two candidates are equally qualified, preference will be given to the candidate with disability status.

Please submit your application (including a letter of motivation, CV, copies of certificates, as well as names and contact details of 3 referees) the latest by November 12, 2025 as one PDF file via email to the Dean of the School of Biology/ Chemistry (email: bewerb-bio@uni-osnabrueck.de). Please state the reference number ‘ESO’ in the subject of your email.

Please contact Prof. Dr. Christian Kost (email: christian.kost@uni-osnabrueck.de) with any question regarding the position and check the website of the working group for further information (www.kostlab.com).

We are very much looking forward to receiving your application.

Tagged as: Chemistry