Post-doctoral researcher (m/f/d) in (Marine) Microbial Natural Product Chemistry

GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel is a foundation of public law jointly financed by the Federal Republic of Germany (90 %) and the state of Schleswig-Holstein (10 %) and is one of the internationally leading institutions in the field of marine sciences.

Through our research and our commitment to the transfer of knowledge and technology, we contribute significantly to the preservation of the function and protection of the ocean for future generations.

In the frame of the BlueHealthTech project MorphoMarin (Regenerative medicine with marine Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) activators) funded by the BMBF as part of the WIR! Program, GEOMAR Research Unit Marine Natural Products Chemistry / GEOMAR Centre for Marine Biotechnology is seeking an experienced

starting on 1st  March 2024

Project Description

BlueHealthTech links competencies in Kiel area in marine research (Blue), health care and industry (Health) to generate novel technological approaches to improve the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of chronic diseases. The program exploits the regionally available technical and analytical knowledge for sustainable development of innovative health technologies (Tech) in new multidisciplinary partnerships.

Osteopenic diseases, such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and bone degeneration, pose significant health and economic challenges to the aging society. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), which are cytokines with central functions in tissue homeostasis and regeneration, hold osteoinductive properties, hence are of great importance for bone regeneration. Marine microorganisms have enormous biosynthetic capability for producing novel and bioactive metabolites with pharmaceutical relevance. The main aim of the MorphoMarin project is the discovery of novel marine microbial metabolites as first-in-class BMP activators. The project brings together microbial biotechnology using computational metabolomics- and bioactivity-guided marine natural product chemistry with high throughput stem-cell based phenotypic assay technology to identify safe, selective BMP activators for use in regenerative medicine.

Job Description

We are seeking a highly skilled post-doctoral researcher with demonstrated expertise in marine microbial biotechnology, i.e., microbial cultivation, extraction, downstream metabolomics and natural product chemistry. The candidate will culture/upscale the most active strains to be followed by i) LC-MS/MS-based untargeted metabolomics analysis ii) fractionation iii) mass spectrometry- and bioactivity-guided purification and iv) structure elucidation of BMBP-activating microbial metabolites. The post-holder will work closely with our project partner at Kiel University in high throughput stem-cell based phenotypic assays. He/she will actively manage the project and related administrative tasks. The candidate will be expected to write publications/patents/project reports and contribute to assessment of project results for potential development.

This is a unique opportunity for an ambitious post-doctoral researcher to further develop their career on marine microbial drug discovery that can make impact on the quality of human life.

Qualifications required:

• A diploma and a PhD in microbial natural product chemistry, preferably on marine microbes
• Hands-on experience in cultivation/fermentation and extraction of (marine) microorganisms
• A strong background and hands-on experience in dereplication/metabolomics of natural products by LC-MS/MS (preferably by molecular networks)
• Competence and hands-on experience in purification of natural products (by HPLC and other chromatographic methods)
• Demonstrated competence in structure elucidation of natural products by 1D and 2D NMR, HRMS, other spectroscopic and computational methods
• Proficiency in use of software and databases (for dereplication) and statistical analysis
• Demonstrated experience in writing first author-publications, excellent publication track record in scientific journals and conference presentations
• Excellent communication skills in English (both spoken and written).

Advantageous skills

• Previous post-doctoral experience on marine microbial natural product chemistry
• A full car driving license
• Experience in working as part of an interdisciplinary team
• Good communication skills in German.

At a workplace, directly on the Kiel Fjord with many leisure and recreational opportunities, we offer you:

• Good conditions for work-life balance: We offer, among other things, the possibility of mobile working and individual working time arrangements, vacation courses for the children of our employees, and good support in finding a place in a daycare center at the Kiel site
• Support services for professional and personal life situations
• An exciting work environment with the opportunity to provide important impetus for the development of sustainable solutions
• Exciting topics in an international environment
• Work in the field of marine and climate research, a forward-looking area with social significance
• 30 vacation days + additional time off at Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve
• Company pension plan and capital-forming benefits

The research unit Marine Natural Products Chemistry offers a dynamic, international and innovative research environment with excellent infrastructure and networks, a collaborative work culture and is therefore an ideal incubator for a successful career. Our labs are equipped with state-of-the-art chemical facilities including in-house UPLC-QTOF-MS coupled with DESI Imaging Mass Spectrometry, HPLC-DAD-MS, HPLC-HRMS, GC-MS, automated extraction systems such as Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE) and Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE), FT-IR, polarimeter and related databases, as well as excellent microbiology/biotechnology facilities and over 75 running in vitro biological assays. Our in-house microbial culturing facilities span from small (1 L) to large-scale (300 L fermenter), as well as access to sequencing facilities. GEOMAR has full access to high-resolution (cryo-) NMR facilities at Kiel University. We lead or participate multiple collaborative EU or national research projects.

Working language in the group is English.

The position is funded by the BMBF (Federal Ministry of Education and Research) and available for a funding period of 24 months. The salary depends on qualification and could be up to the class 13 TVöD-Bund of the German tariff for public employees. This is a full-time position and the position can be basically split.

GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel seeks to increase the proportion of female scientists and explicitly encourages qualified female academics to apply.

GEOMAR is an equal opportunity employer and encourages scientists with disabilities to apply. Qualified disabled applicants will receive preference in the application process.

Please submit your application in English no later than 21st  January 2024 under the following link:

online application

As soon as the selection procedure has finished, all application papers will be destroyed according to data protection regulation.

For further information regarding the position and research unit, please contact Prof. Dr. Deniz Tasdemir by e-mail (dtasdemir(at)geomar.de )

We will answer all your questions if you send us an e-mail to bewerbung(at)geomar.de . In doing so, please refer to the keyword “Postdoc-MorphoMarin”.

For further information on GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel or the Helmholtz Association, please visit www.geomar.de  or www.helmholtz.de .

GEOMAR is committed to an objective and non-discriminatory personnel selection. Our job advertisements address all people. We expressly renounce the submission of application photos.