registration number:
ZE-0098-M4C-wmz-2025
Entry date: 2026-01-01
Application deadline: 2025-11-16
Salary: E 13 TV-H
Duration:
2 years / 3 years + 1
Volume of employment: full-time/part-time
The University of Marburg, founded in 1527, offers a variety of excellent programs of study for around 22,000 students and confronts the important topics of our time through excellent research across a broad spectrum of sciences.
The Cluster of Excellence ‘Microbes for Climate (M4C)’ deciphers the fundamental molecular mechanisms of microbial contributions to the carbon cycle and uses synthetic biology to develop more efficient ways to sustainably convert CO2. This knowledge will be generated in a scale-bridging approach (from the atomic structure of enzymes to the systems level of the cell) through highly interdisciplinary and integrative studies. Within M4C, Marburg University, the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology in Marburg, the University of Münster and the University of Giessen join forces. Together, we invite applications for
Doctoral and Postdoctoral Researcher Positions in the Cluster of Excellence “Microbes for Climate”
The following qualification positions are to be filled:
- 3 doctoral positions limited to 3 + 1 years, part-time 65%
- 5 postdoctoral positions full-timelimited to 2 years
- one open level doctoral or postdoctoral position with wet-lab or computational focus
Remuneration is according to the currently applicable collective agreements.
The projects starting from January 2026 are embedded in three research foci:
Research Focus 1
Microbes as Drivers of Climate Change: Evolution of the Biological Carbon Cycle - Combining molecular evolutionary and biochemical approaches, we will generate an integrative, comprehensive understanding of how microbes evolved the ability to capture CO2 billions of years ago, initiating and shaping the development of the biological carbon cycle.
Research Focus 2
Microbes as Responders to Climate Change - We elucidate the integration of CO2-converting molecular machines into the cellular context in space and time, how stress factors influence these processes, and how the cellular network enables their robust functioning.
Research Focus 3
Microbes providing Solutions to Climate Change: Developing a future Carbon Cycle with Synthetic Microbiology - To overcome the limitations of naturally evolved CO2/CH4-converting processes, we will leverage the methods of synthetic biology and break new ground: We will develop and test “new-to-nature” solutions that open radically novel, more efficient biological paths for CO2/CH4-conversions that nature has not explored so far.
Within the scope of the assigned tasks, the opportunity for independent scientific work is offered, which serves one's own scientific qualification. The limitation is in accordance with § 2, 1 WissZeitVG.
Profile:
- completed academic university degree (Diploma, Master's or equivalent) in microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, chemistry, bioinformatics, computational biology or a related field
- a doctoral degree (PhD) for a postdoctoral position
- curiosity, high self-motivation, enthusiasm to develop your research project
- You work independently and as part of an international team, have excellent English communication skills and are eager to contribute to M4C
We offer:
- the opportunity to take on a varied and responsible role and become part of a renowned and future-orientated institution,
- a motivated team that values a good work-life balance, further development and consolidation of your individual professional and personal skills,
- seminars, workshops and e-learning opportunities for personal development
- a wide range of health and sports programmes, flexible working hours and opportunities for mobile working,
- a comprehensive programme to promote the compatibility of family and career as well as a pension scheme and annual bonus payment
Find out more:
about our vibrant community, cross-system research approach, cutting-edge research facilities, comprehensive career support and the available positions on our website „“.
Join us in learning from microbes to overcome the limitations of natural CO2-conversions and providing perspectives on new solutions to climate change.
Selected applicants will be invited for a recruitment meeting in late November 2025.
The positions will be funded through the Excellence Strategy of the German federal and state governments. All partners within M4C promote women and therefore expressly encourage them to apply. In areas where women are underrepresented, women with equal qualifications are given preferential consideration. As a family-friendly Cluster of Excellence, we support our employees in balancing family and career. People with disabilities within the meaning of SGB IX (§ 2, Para. 2, 3) will be given preference if equally qualified. Application and interview costs will not be reimbursed.
Please apply by November 16th, 2025 exclusively via the application button below.