Founded in 1607, Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU) is a research university rich in tradition. Inspired by curiosity about the unknown, we enable around 25,000 students and 5,800 employees to advance science for society. Join us in breaking new ground and writing success stories – your own and those of our university.
Support us from 01.02.2026 in part-time (75 %) as a
Doctoral student / Research Associate (m/f/d)
in the field of Microbiology
The position is part of a collaborative research project between the Universities of Giessen and Kassel (Germany), Adaptation to Drought and Extremes: The Surface-Soil-Groundwater Buffer under Climate Stress (ADAPT). The main task of this position to investigate microbial community shifts and gene expression in aquifers under dynamic water availability and is limited for the duration of 42 months and is based at the Professorship for General and Soil Microbiology, Department of Applied Microbiology, Faculty of Agricultural Science, Nutritional Science, and Environmental Management. The salary is in accordance with the collective labour agreement of the State of Hessen (E 13 TV-H).
Your tasks at a glance
- Molecular analyses of microbial metabolic activities and microbial communities in aquifer and soil columns after simulated drought periods and subsequent irrigation with nitrate pulses and pollutant cocktails
- Construction and sampling of aquifer and soil columns in the infiltration laboratory in cooperation with project partners
- Establishment of single-factor experiments with small soil columns for eluate analysis and quantification of microbial transcripts of the N cycle
- Microbiome analyses after various treatments
- Ion chromatographic analyses of nitrogen compounds
- Writing international publications and reports
- Co-supervision of student projects and theses
Your qualifications and competences
- Completed Master‘s or equivalent university degree with very good grades in environmental sciences, agricultural sciences, biology, or a related discipline with a focus on microbiology
- Practical experience in microbiology and molecular biology
- A keen interest in working with bioinformatics and statistics computer programs is expected
- Excellent communication skills in German and English, as well as in the organization and coordination of sampling
- Possessing a Class B driver’s licence is an advantage
Our offer to you
- Collaboration in the interdisciplinary ADAPT project team with regular meetings and scientific exchange
- Scientific continuing education at the Giessen Graduate Center for Life Sciences
- Opportunity to pursue a doctorate
- A varied job with flexible working hours
- Free use of local public transport (LandesTicket Hessen)
- More than 100 training seminars, workshops and e-learning opportunities per year for personal development, as well as a wide range of health and sports activities
- Remuneration according to TV-H, company pension scheme, child allowance and special payments
- Good compatibility of family and career (certificate “audit familiengerechte hochschule”)
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Prof. Dr. Sylvia Schnell by e-mail (Sylvia.schnell@uni-giessen.de).
JLU welcomes qualified applications regardless of biological and social gender, disability, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, ideology, age as well as sexual orientation and identity. The JLU aims for a higher proportion of women in accordance with the women’s promotion plan. We therefore particularly encourage qualified female candidates to apply. JLU is certified as a family-friendly university. Applications from disabled people of equal aptitude will be given preference.
You want to break new ground with us?
Apply via our online form by October 13th, 2025, indicating reference number 478/09. The application should consist of a single PDF file containing (1) your motivation for applying and your research interests, (2) curriculum vitae, (3) copy of transcripts(s), (4) contact information of 2 references. We look forward to receiving your application.
