The University of Marburg, in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, is recruiting talented researchers for 7 doctoral positions and 2 postdoctoral positions within the prestigious Microbes for Climate (M4C) Cluster of Excellence. The positions are scheduled to begin on 1 January 2027.
M4C Research Focus & Biogeochemical Scope
Microorganisms are the primary drivers of Earth’s biogeochemical cycles. Understanding their role in carbon cycling is critical for predicting climate feedbacks and designing bio-based mitigation strategies. The M4C Cluster of Excellence combines biochemistry, structural biology, synthetic biology, and computational biology to investigate and engineer microbial carbon conversion. Key research focus areas include:
- Microbes as Drivers of Climate Change: Reconstructing the evolutionary origins of microbial carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and enzymatic carbon fixation.
- Microbes as Responders to Climate Change: Analyzing cellular regulation, metabolic networks, and stress adaptation strategies of microbial systems under environmental stress.
- Synthetic Microbiology for Future Climate Solutions: Designing and engineering novel synthetic pathways to optimize CO2 and methane (CH4) conversion compared to natural pathways.
Recruitment Details & Remuneration
- 7 Doctoral Positions: Part-time contract (65% standard German PhD scale) for 3 years, with a potential extension of up to 1 year.
- 2 Postdoctoral Positions: Full-time contract for 2 years, with a potential extension of up to 2 years.
- Salaries are paid according to the German public sector collective agreement (E13 TV-H scale), including annual bonuses and pension benefits.
Required Qualifications
- M.Sc. (for PhD candidates) or Ph.D. (for Postdoc candidates) in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, or related life science fields.
- Prior research experience, strong analytical capacity, and ability to work in interdisciplinary, international teams.
- Excellent English communication skills.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted as a single PDF document through the official University of Marburg online recruitment portal before the application deadline of 20 August 2026. Applicants must specify their preferred project numbers (1 to 3 projects) in their motivation letter. Inquiries can be sent to the cluster office at m4c@uni-marburg.de.