Postdoctoral Position

About us

The overarching theme of the Environmental Biochemistry Group is to gain a better understanding on the ecological role of secondary metabolites from marine macro- and microorganisms. A current focus is the search for novel coral larvae settlement cues and investigation of already known coral larvae settlement cues in the tropical reef environment. By investigating the chemical ecology of the cue producing bacteria we also aim to gain new insights into the ecological function of such bacterial produced chemical compounds. 

Another research focus is ecotoxicological studies with corals. By applying and developing various LC-MS methods for the detection and quantification of various pollutants, the successful candidate will support the development of an ecotoxicological test for corals.

Laboratory research in our aquarium facilities, combined with field research on coral reefs is looking at phase shifts from coral dominated reefs to alternate states dominated by algae, soft corals or sponges. By applying metabolomics and natural products chemistry techniques to identify, characterize and quantify natural products we aim to identify bioactive compounds that allow these alternate organisms to become the dominating organisms

Your tasks

The Working Group Environmental Biochemistry at the University of Oldenburg, Germany, is seeking an advanced postdoctoral researcher to carry out projects in natural products chemistry, ecotoxicology and chemical ecology of marine invertebrates and associated microorganisms.

We are seeking a motivated postdoctoral candidate with an academic university degree (master or equivalent) and a PhD in either Biology, Chemistry, Marine Environmental Science or related research field to join our team. The successful candidate will contribute to our ongoing scientific efforts and will have access to our large collection of tropical and deep-sea macro and microorganisms to discover potential new bioactive marine natural products. In addition, the candidate should have a strong background and extensive experience in marine natural products research, especially in running and maintaining high resolution mass spectrometers. The candidate will be joining a team of chemical and microbial ecologists, chemists and microbiologist at the ICBM in Wilhelmshaven. Working place is the ICBM in Wilhelmshaven.

Your profile

• PhD in Chemistry, Biology, Marine Environmental Science or related field
• Completed academic university degree (master or equivalent)
• Extensive experience in running and maintaining analytical equipment such as high-resolution mass spectrometers
• Efficient self-organization and laboratory management skills
• Strong background and experience in metabolomics and marine natural products research (i.e., extraction, dereplication, isolation (preparative HPLC), structure elucidation via MS, MS/MS and NMR)
• Experience in analytical methods for ecotoxicological studies using LC-MS
• Excellent English speaking and writing/publication skills are essential
• Candidate should be inquisitive and critical thinking, problem solving and team-leading, as the candidate is expected to teach (4SWS), co-supervise Bachelor, Master and PhD students

Additional Qualifications desirable: 

• Experience with operating and maintaining Waters SYNAPT G2-Si Mass Spectrometry and/or Xevo TQ-S micro triple quadrupole mass spectrometer or similar instruments
• Experience in Imaging Mass Spectrometry (MALDI)
• Experience with gas chromatography
• Experience with metabolomic studies (i.e., targeted and untargeted metabolomics)

Our standards

The University of Oldenburg is dedicated to increase the percentage of female employees in the field of science. Therefore, female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. In accordance to § 21 Section 3 NHG, female candidates with equal qualifications will be preferentially considered. Applicants with disabilities will be given preference in case of equal qualification.