Doctoral and Postdoctoral Researcher Positions in the Cluster of Excellence, University of Marburg, Germany

Summary

The Cluster of Excellence ‘Microbes for Climate’ (M4C) brings together the University of Marburg, the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, the University of Münster, and the University of Giessen. The cluster aims to decipher fundamental molecular mechanisms of microbial contributions to the carbon cycle and utilize synthetic biology to develop innovative ways to sustainably convert $\text{CO}_2$ and $\text{CH}_4$.

Doctoral and Postdoctoral Researcher Positions in the Cluster of Excellence, University of Marburg, Germany

Key Information

Open Positions & Designations

• Doctoral Researchers: 7 positions | Part-time (65%) | Initial duration: 3 years (Extendable by up to 1 year)
• Postdoctoral Researchers: 2 positions | Full-time (100%) | Initial duration: 2 years (Extendable by up to 2 years)

Location

• Marburg, Münster, and Giessen, Germany (Partner institutions include University of Marburg, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology in Marburg, University of Münster, and University of Giessen).

Research Foci

1. Research Focus 1 – Microbes as Drivers of Climate Change: Evolution of the Biological Carbon CycleCombining molecular evolutionary and biochemical approaches to understand how microbes evolved to capture $\text{CO}_2$ billions of years ago.
2. Research Focus 2 – Microbes as Responders to Climate ChangeElucidating the integration of $\text{CO}_2$-converting molecular machines into cellular contexts in space/time and how stress factors influence these processes.
3. Research Focus 3 – Microbes providing Solutions to Climate Change: Developing a future Carbon Cycle with Synthetic MicrobiologyLeveraging synthetic biology to build and test “new-to-nature” solutions for efficient biological paths for $\text{CO}_2$/$\text{CH}_4$ conversion.

Eligibility / Qualification

• Doctoral Positions: Completed academic university degree (Diploma, Master’s, or equivalent) in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, or a related field.
• Postdoctoral Positions: Completed Ph.D./Doctoral degree in a relevant scientific field.
• General Requirements:
  • Relevant skills and experience related to the project applied for.
  • Strong self-motivation, curiosity, and enthusiasm for research.
  • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within an international team.
  • Excellent English communication skills.

Job Description

• Conduct scale-bridging research ranging from atomic enzyme structures to cellular-level systems.
• Opportunity for independent scientific research toward personal academic qualification (§ 2, 1 WissZeitVG).
• Participate in a structured Early Career Researcher (ECR) program providing seminars, workshops, and comprehensive support.
• Benefit from flexible working hours, mobile working options, family-friendly initiatives, and health programs.

How to Apply

1. Prepare your application documents as one single PDF file.
2. Visit the M4C Job Postings Page to review available projects.
3. In your motivation letter, clearly specify your preferred project number(s) (minimum of 1, maximum of 3).
4. Submit your application directly via the official Online Application Portal on the posting page.

Last Date to Apply

• August 20, 2026 (Interviews scheduled between mid-September and October 2026)

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