At the Institute of Pharmacy, Working Group Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, which belongs to the University of Greifswald’s Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, there is a job vacancy, subject to the allocation of funds, expected to be available from 01 October 2025, for a part-time position (65 %) as

Research Assistant.

The position is limited until 31 March 2029. Payment will be made in accordance with pay group 13 TV-L Wissenschaft. 

We are looking for highly motivated candidates for the state research excellence project “Alg4Nut”, which is funded by the State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and the European Union. Alg4Nut combines the expertise of the University of Greifswald, the University of Rostock, the Neubrandenburg University of Applied Sciences and the Research Institute of Farm Animal Biology (FBN) in Dummerstorf.

The aim of the Alg4Nut research programme is to investigate the influence of marine algae that can be cultivated in the Baltic Sea region on animal health. The sub-project belonging to the Working Group Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at the University of Greifswald involves the investigation of the rumen microbiome and bacterial strategies for the utilisation of algal polysaccharides. The aim is to elucidate unknown enzyme functions and metabolic pathways that contribute to the possible utilisation of algal polysaccharides in the rumen microbiome. In addition, the Greifswald sub-project contributes to the development of new biotechnological production strains.

Details on the overarching research focus, the specific topics of the Alg4Nut network and the project partners can be found at www.mikrobiologie.uni-rostock.de/forschung/projekte/aktuelle-projekte-mikrobielle-physiologie/alg4nut/.

You will work on biochemical and microbial issues in the project. The focus is on the investigation of carbohydrate-active enzymes and the physiology and interaction of key bacteria in the rumen microbiome. These enzymes will be characterised biochemically, e.g. with regard to substrate spectrum, multi-modularity and structure-function relationships. Further aspects are enzyme cascades in glycan degradation and physiological studies in cultivable model bacteria.

Tasks:

• Recombinant overproduction and purification of proteins/enzymes
• Detailed biochemical characterisation
• Application of these enzymes in the degradation of glycans
• Omics analyses to investigate the physiology of key bacteria in the rumen microbiome
• Presentation of scientific results
• Preparation of scientific publications
• The position offers the opportunity for academic qualification; tasks are assigned that are conducive to the preparation of a doctorate

Required:

• M.Sc. degree (or equivalent) in either biochemistry/biology/biotechnology or another related discipline by the time employment starts
• Experience with a wide range of science approaches of gene cloning, protein purification, functional protein analyses and microbiology
• Excellent English language skills

Desired:

• Strong interest in microbial and biochemical basic research related to enzymes and their structure-function relationships
• High level of motivation and above-average qualifications for actively joining an interdisciplinary research and training environment
• Ability to work independently with hands-on mentality, team spirit, helpfulness and reliability

This vacancy is open to all persons, irrespective of gender. Severely disabled applicants with the same qualifications will be considered with preference.

In accordance with § 68(3) PersVG M-V, the Staff Council will only be involved in staff matters of the academic or artistic staff on request.

Unfortunately, application costs (e.g. travel expenses for interviews) will not be reimbursed by the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. 

Please note that by submitting your application, you provide your consent pursuant to data protection law for our processing of your application data. Further information about the legal bases and the use of your data can be found here.

Applications comprising all usual documents must be sent with reference to the job advertisement number 25/Wi25by 31 July 2025, preferably via email (one PDF file), to:

Universität Greifswald
Institut für Pharmazie
Prof. Dr. Thomas Schweder
Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 3
17489 Greifswald

schweder@uni-greifswald.de