Research Assistant (m/f/d) (0,6 EG 13 TV-L) at the Institute for Integrated Natural Sciences, Department of Biology - Koblenz

The University of Koblenz is the youngest university in Germany – while also preserving a long-standing academic tradition. A multitude of transdisciplinary research projects spanning several institutions concentrated on a com-pact campus favourably affects our university routine. As the interdisciplinary university in the north of Rhineland-Palatinate with more than 9,400 students, we live the knowledge – transformation – innovation triad in our four profile areas “Education”, “Computer Science”, “Culture and its Mediation” as well as “Material and Environment”. We provide and conduct state-of-the-art teacher-training studies for all school types and maintain the transfer of our research results to civic society and regional businesses in a resilient and sustainable way. Join an aspiring university community and aid in advancing our further growth!

We are seeking to fill the position of Research associate with doctorate opportunity (m/f/d)

at the Institute for Integrated Natural Sciences, Department of Biology, Aquatic Ecosystem Analysis Working Group
 

A Ph.D. position in Plankton Ecology is available in the newly established working group “Aquatic Ecosystem Analysis” led by Prof. Dr. Kenneth Dumack. The part-time position (60%) is limited to three years, in accordance with the provisions of the German Act on Temporary Scientific Contracts (Wissenschaftszeitrvetragsgesetz).

Teaching responsibilities are defined by the regulations of the Rhineland-Palatinate Higher Education Teaching Obligation Or-dinance (HLehrVO).

This advertised position provides access to cutting-edge molecular, biochemical, and ecological tools to explore the diversity & ecology of algae and heterotrophic protists. We welcome applicants who are excited to link aquatic protistology, microbial ecology and evolution. The candidate will work primarily in a wet-lab setting, including methods such as environmental sample analyses, culturing & (fluorescence) microscopy, and will also conduct dry-lab analyses of self-generated data with bioinformatic and statistical tools commonly used in microbial ecology. Methods include culturing eukaryotic microorganisms, simple culture-based experiments to generate genomic & transcriptomic data, which subsequently will be analysed from ecological and evolutionary perspectives. The candidate will work on microbial communities stemming from marine habitats, from the Arctic to the Mediterranean Sea. Primary group of interest is marine Cryomonadida (protists) - their ecology and underlying evolutionary adaptations. More information about the working group is available at www.kennethdumack.de.

Responsibilities:

• Participation in research, teaching, and academic self-administration
• Involvement in sampling and field excursions
• Presentation of research results at scientific conferences and in peer-reviewed journals

Qualifications:

• A successfully completed university degree (except for a bachelor's degree) in biology or a related field
• Preference will be given to candidates with solid experience working with microbial eukaryotes (protists, including algae) or plankton in general
• Expertise in common ecological data analysis techniques such as metabarcoding, NMDS, correlation analysis, s of advantage
• Expertise in common evolutionary data analysis techniques such as phylogenomics, (meta)genome assembly is of advantage

What we offer:

• Integration into a research-active, well-networked environment with good infrastructure.
• A stimulating and varied range of responsibilities within a collegial team that values open communication
• Remuneration according to pay group 13 TV-L.
• Usual social benefits in the general public sector according to TV-L (annual special payment, pension scheme (VBL)).
• Compatibility of family and work, flexible working hours
• Varied sports program with health-promoting offers.
• Extensive opportunities for further education and training. 

The University of Koblenz welcomes applications from all age groups, regardless of gender identity, disability, ethnic or cultural background, religion, ideology or sexual orientation. We aim to increase the proportion of women and are therefore particularly interested in applications from women. In the event of under-representation, women with equivalent aptitude and qualifications will be given preferential consideration. Severely handicapped persons will be given preferential consideration if their professional and personal qualifications are otherwise equal.

For further information, please contact Prof. Dr. Dumack (kenneth.dumack@uni-koblenz.de).

Please, send your informative documents by 20.05.2026, quoting the reference number 033/2026, exclusively by e-mail in one PDF file to: bewerbung@uni-koblenz.de.

Please, refrain from sending in application photos. At the end of the procedure, the application documents will be destroyed in compliance with data protection regulations.

www.uni-koblenz.de/karriere