The Institute of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology in the Department of Biology at the University of Münster is seeking to fill the position of a
Doctoral Research Associate (Wissenschaftliche*r Mitarbeiter*in. salary level E 13 TV-L, 65 %)
at the earliest possible date. We are offering a part-time position (65% FTE) for 3 years. Full-time employees are required to teach 4 hours per week during the semester. The position involves working towards a PhD project and is to be integrated into the new project PREWAPHARM funded within the Interreg North-West Europe (NWE) program. In the PREWAPHARM project an interdisciplinary and international team of scientists from 18 partner organizations is aiming to reduce the input of pharmaceuticals into water. For this, a two-part solution – one part focusing on medicine use and the other on wastewater treatment - will be designed and developed. The part of the project run at the University of Münster aims to optimize biological filter systems in decentral water treatment to make microbial and technical water purification processes compatible and synergistic. For this, microbial communities in medicine-receiving water treatment systems will be analysed by highthroughput sequencing. Microbes that are able to degrade selected medicines will then be enriched and isolated from these systems to establish a repository of microbes capable of modifying and/or degrading high-priority pharmaceuticals. These microbes will be further characterized through genome sequencing and physiological characterization. A pilot fluidized bed bioreactor bioaugmented from this repository will then be tested under real wastewater treatment conditions in cooperation with the Institute of Hygiene. The impact of bioaugmentation on removal efficiencies for pharmaceuticals in small-scale water treatment systems will be evaluated.
Your tasks:
- Enrichment, isolation and characterization of pharmaceutical-degrading bacteria
- Microbiome analysis of contaminated waters and sites for remediation
- Elucidation of metabolic pathways
- Functional analysis of bacterial genomes
- Developing strategies for bioremediation
- Interdisciplinary exchange with international partners
This position is tied to working towards a doctorate
Our expectations:
- A graduate degree (i.e. a German Diplom and/or master's degree) in (micro)biology, biotechnology, chemistry or biochemistry is required
- Very good knowledge of microbiology, biochemistry and molecular biology and a deep understanding of metabolism is essential.
- Strong interest in (waste)water purification is expected.
- The ability to work in a team, communication skills, organizational skills and independent working methods are expected.
- A willingness to travel regularly to partner countries is required.
- Excellent English communication skills are a must.
- German language skills would be advantageous, but are not a requirement
Advantages for you:
- You will have the opportunity to contribute to an area with high societal importance.
- You will have the change to collaborate in an interdisciplinary and international team.
- Our broad range of diverse work-time models offers great flexibility – also when working from home.
- If you have family members or young children in your care, our Family Service Office offers concrete support to help you balance your private and professional responsibilities.
- As an educational institution, we are deeply committed to offering occupational training and continuing education opportunities tailored to your individual needs
The University of Münster strongly supports equal opportunity and diversity. We welcome all applicants regardless of sex, nationality, ethnic or social background, religion or worldview, disability, age, sexual orientation or gender identity. We are committed to creating family-friendly working conditions.
We actively encourage applications by women. Women with equivalent qualifications and academic achievements will be preferentially considered unless these are outweighed by reasons which necessitate the selection of another candidate.
Are you interested? Then we look forward to receiving your application electronically (please send all documents combined into one PDF file) by 2025-03-28. to: bodo.philipp@uni-muenster.de.
University of Münster
Institute of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology
Prof Bodo Philipp
Corrensstraße 3
48149 Münster
Reference number: 2025_02_11
