Research Associate for the Project “MOMOBIO-2” § 28 Subsection 3 HmbHG
Institution Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, Department of Biology, Institute of Plant Science and Microbiology
Salary level
Start date 01.11.2024, fixed until 31.05.2027 (This is a fixed-term contract in accordance with Section 2 of the academic fixed-term labor contract act [Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz, WissZeitVG]).
Application deadline 23.08.2024
Scope of work part-time
Weekly hours 65 % of standard work hours per week
Your responsibilities
Duties include academic services in the project named above. Research associates may also pursue independent research and further academic qualifications.
General information on the MOMOBIO-2 collaborative research project (BMBF funding line BioDivGesundheit2):
The increasing release of antibiotics, biocides, toxins, plasticizers and microplastics has a direct and indirect impact on microbial diversity and, through selection, promotes the spread of bacterial resistance mechanisms causing a high risk for human and animal health. In addition, climate change and other man-made factors increase and speed up these effects. The MOMOBIO-2 project will develop very detailed mainly omic-based data sets and models to track, monitor and predict the urban microbiota and changes in its biodiversity and resistance profile along the wastewater streams of the City of Hamburg as well as urban water bodies. Our main goal is to use changes in microbial biodiversity as an indirect measure for animal and human health.
The candidate will represent the functional diversity of microbial communities in a process-based ecological modelling approach and simulate the impacts of different environmental factors, in particular stressors, on shifts in community composition. The model will then be applied to predict abundances of potential pathogens that are relevant for human health, thereby integrating the experimental work in other parts of the MOMOBIO-2 project.
Functional diversity will be explicitly modelled based on population dynamics of a large number of microbial functional types that differ with regard to several key traits, based on existing eco-evolutionary models. The model will be parameterized using data on reaction rates and the simulated abundances will be validated against observational data, collected in other work packages of the project. The model will focus on evolving resistomes, xenobiotic gene loads, and virulence factors. The spread of antibiotic resistance in microbial communities will be scaled up along the flowpath toward the Elbe river in response to changes in stressor levels.
Your profile
A university degree in a relevant field.
Such as Ecology, Biology, or Microbiology, at the start of the contract. The successful candidate needs to have advanced knowledge and experience in at least two of the following research disciplines: Ecology, biogeochemistry, soil science, microbiology. Advanced and proven skills in numerical modeling and scientific writing are required. Further assets are team spirit, high motivation, independent thinking and working, and general experience with Unix-like operating systems and associated software. Very good oral and written English skills are necessary.
We offer
1. Reliable remuneration based on wage agreements
2. Continuing education opportunities
3. University pensions
4. Attractive location
5. Flexible working hours
6. Work-life balance opportunities
7. Health management
8. Educational leave
9. 30 days of vacation per annum
Universität Hamburg—University of Excellence is one of the strongest research educational institutions in Germany. Our work in research, teaching, educational and knowledge exchange activities is fostering the next generation of responsible global citizens ready to tackle the global challenges facing us. Our guiding principle “Innovating and Cooperating for a Sustainable Future” drives collaboration with academic and nonacademic partner institutions in the Hamburg Metropolitan Region and around the world. We would like to invite you to be part of our community to work with us in creating sustainable and digital change for a dynamic and pluralist society.
Severely disabled and disabled applicants with the same status will receive preference over equally qualified non-disabled applicants.