Postdoc Position in bioinspired protein materials

Deadline
31.10.2026

Start of work
01.11.2026

Working time model
Full time

About us

Colloids and interfaces consist of very small or thin structures with linear dimensions between nanometers and micrometers. On the one hand, the possible structures represent a „world of hidden dimensions“. On the other hand, the dynamics and structures of these small entities determine the behavior of much larger systems such as organisms.

The Department of Sustainable and Bioinspired Materials (Director Prof. Dr. Silvia Vignolini) at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (MPICI) in Potsdam Science Park, Germany announces the position of a Postdoc (m/f/d)

Your tasks and qualifications

We are looking for a highly motivated Postdoc with a background in biochemistry, material science and recombinant protein synthesis for the project “Praying mantis-inspired room-temperature 3D printing of sustainable protein materials” (). This project is in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Stuttgart.

The candidate should have a profile showing the following qualities:

Doctoral degree in biochemistry, biotechnology, material science, chemistry or a related field
Experience with recombinant protein synthesis
Experience in characterization of biological materials
Ability for both independent and team work
Strong interest in interdisciplinary research
Strong written and spoken communication skills in English
Interest in interdisciplinary research bridging biological materials, chemistry and engineering
Interest in contributing to the development of growing, collaborative research group

What we offer

an interesting and varied job in an international working environment
remuneration according to TVöD-Bund up to pay group E13
conditions and social benefits of the public sector
flexible working hours
compatibility of family and career (e.g. company Kindergarten)
subsidy for the job ticket
canteen, with an offer of meat, vegetarian and vegan dishes
outdoor sports facilities on campus

The Max Planck Society strives for gender equality and diversity. We welcome applications from all backgrounds. The Max-Planck Society is committed to increasing the number of individuals with disabilities in its workforce and therefore encourages applications from such qualified individuals. Furthermore, the Max Planck Society seeks to increase the number of women in those areas where they are underrepresented and therefore explicitly encourages women to apply.

The position is available starting from 01.11.2026 for a period of 24 months.

Please submit your application by online-application-management-tool, with attached PDF versions of your CV including a publication list, and a short motivation letter containing your skills and experiences related to the project.

**For further questions regarding the project or position please contact

For further information about the Institute see .