The mission of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) as a nationally and internationally active research institute is to deliver solutions for an ecologically, economically and socially sustainable agriculture – together with society. ZALF is a member of the Leibniz Association and is located in Müncheberg (approx. 35 minutes by regional train from Berlin-Lichtenberg). It also maintains a research station with further locations in Dedelow and Paulinenaue.

The Working Group Microbial Biogeochemistry (MicGeo) investigates the role of microbiomes in biogeochemical processes of agroecosystems and focusses on its ecosystem functions and beneficial interactions with crops in European but as well in globally relevant agroecosystems. The WG collaborates routinely with Humboldt University Berlin and further research institutions in Berlin and Potsdam, Europe and worldwide.
We are offering a permanent full-time position from 1 November or later at our location in Müncheberg as an

• implementation and utilization of software applications for metabarcoding, functional gene marker analysis, multivariate statistics (R statistics) & metagenome, and -transcriptome analysis
• development and maintenance of a microbiome data storage concept
• script programming for content-specific solutions
• advising scientists of third party funded research projects in regard to bioinformatic applications and multivariate statistics, training of beginners
• supporting research projects with microbiome data analysis
• collaboration with scientists in the group to develop new bioinformatic solutions
• support of routine wet-lab work and sampling campaigns of the group

• Bachelor and/or Masters degree in a study program of bio- or geosciences, microbiology, ecology, systems biology, or bioinformatics
• very good communications skills
• interest in agriculture research and microbial ecology
• very good teaming skills
• willingness to travel in Germany
• as an internationally research institution, located in Germany we require good to very good written and spoken English skills and the willingness to take part in further training as part of the language courses in German offered internally
• driving license

Advantageous:

• very good knowledge on & practical experiences in analyses of metagenomes/-transcriptomes
• interest and experiences in lab and field work
• experiences with application of machine learning and/or network analysis in microbiome research

• membership in a team with young and experienced scientists and technicians
• dynamic and international working environment and team
• a collegial and open-minded working atmosphere
• modern state of the facilities and computing infrastructure
• interdisciplinary working environment that encourages independence and self-reliance
• support of the compatibility of career and family
• salary classification according to the collective agreement of the federal states (TV-L) up to EG12 (incl. special annual payments)
• company ticket

Women are particularly encouraged to apply. Applications from severely disabled persons with equal qualifications are favored. It is generally possible to work in the position on a part-time basis. Please send your application preferably online (see button online application below). For e-mail applications, create a PDF document (one PDF file, max. 5 MB; packed PDF documents, archive files like zip, rar etc. Word documents cannot be processed and therefore cannot be considered!) with the usual documents, in particular Cover letter, CV, proof of qualification and certificates, stating the reference number 65-2024 until 15 Sep 2024 to (see button e-mail application below).

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us: Prof. Dr. Steffen Kolb, Tel. +49 (0) 33432/82 326, Email: kolb@zalf.de. Link to webpage of WG MicGeo.
Application documents sent by post or extensive publications will not be returned

For cost reasons, application documents or extensive publications can only be returned if an adequately stamped envelope is attached.
If you apply, we collect and process your personal data in accordance with Articles 5 and 6 of the EU GDPR only for the processing of your application and for purposes that result from possible future employment with the ZALF. Your data will be deleted after six months.