Work group:
IBG-1 - Biotechnologie
Area of research:
Scientific / postdoctoral posts
Job description:
Your Job:
This position is ideal for postdocs with a passion for innovation, interdisciplinary science, and entrepreneurial impact.
At the IBG-1 at Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ) and within a multidisciplinary Helmholtz and University consortium (FZJ, HZI, Helmholtz Munich and HHUD), we are creating a unique platform to monitor and steer how living, therapeutic gut-microbes compete with multidrug-resistant pathogens. In this position as a postdoc you will develop innovative microfluidic habitats that generate precisely controlled oxygen and nutrient dynamics for high-throughput microbial invasion assays and live-cell imaging. Working at the interface of microfluidics, quantitative microbiology, and AI-assisted microscopy, you will transform these methods into a robust screening platform. Beyond fundamental discovery, your work will foster translational applications and commercialization pathways, paving the way for spin-off ventures in microbiome diagnostics, probiotic development, and microfluidic automation.
Your tasks in detail:
* Design and fabricate microfluidic cultivation chips emulating colon-like oxygen and nutrient dynamics and gradients for high-throughput operation. Therefore, develop and Implement dual-layer gas–fluid architectures (Kasahara et al., LOC 2025) and SLE-glass top layers to achieve fine oxygen control
* Conduct microbial co-cultivation experiments on model gut communities under controlled conditions and integrate chip systems with AI-assisted live-cell microscopy for autonomous feedback imaging and data analysis.
* Contribute to trainings, technology transfer and perform lab rotations across Helmholtz centers.
* Publish results in high-impact journals and present on international conferences.
* Explore funding opportunities for potential spin offs
Your Profile:
* Masters degree with subsequent PhD in microfluidics, bioengineering, biotechnology, biophysics, or closely related field, with demonstrated expertise in microfluidics design and fabrication.
* Proven experience with live-cell imaging, quantitative analysis, and automated microscopy workflows.
* Excellent interdisciplinary communication, teamwork, and presentation skills, with confidence engaging across biology, engineering, and data science.
* Scientific writing skills and first journal publications
* Experience in programming (e.g. Python, MATLAB) for experiment control and data analysis is advantageous.
* Self-motivated, organized, and open to collaborative, cross-institutional research.
* Fluent in English; German is a plus but not required.
Our Offer:
We work on the very latest issues that impact our society and are offering you the chance to actively help in shaping the change! We support you in your work with:
* State-of-the-art facilities for microfabrication (Helmholtz Nano Facility) and automated live-cell microscopy, and microbial physiology.
* Comprehensive training courses and individual opportunities for personal and professional further development
* Opportunities to engage in technology translation and spin-off preparation within FZJ’s innovation ecosystem.
* Extensive company health management
* Ideal conditions for balancing work and private life, as well as a family-friendly corporate policy
* A full-time position (39h/week) with flexible working hours, and 30 days of annual leave
* A large research campus with green spaces, offering the best possible means for networking with colleagues and pursuing sports alongside work
* Targeted services for international employees, e.g. through our International Advisory Service
* Exploration and preparation of next career opportunities supported by our Career Center & Postdoc Office ( )
We offer you an exciting and varied role in an international and interdisciplinary working environment. Salary and social benefits will conform to the provisions of the Collective Agreement for the Public Service (TVöD-Bund), pay group 13, depending on the applicant’s qualifications and the precise nature of the tasks assigned to them. All information about the Collective Agreement for the Public Service (TVöD-Bund) can be found on the BMI website: go.fzj.de/bmi.tvoed The monthly salaries in euro can be found here: go.fzj.de/bmi.tvoed.entgelt
In addition to exciting tasks and a collaborative working atmosphere at Jülich, we have a lot more to offer: go.fzj.de/benefits
We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds, e.g. in terms of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation / identity, and social, ethnic and religious origin. A diverse and inclusive working environment with equal opportunities in which everyone can realize their potential is important to us.
Further information on diversity and equal opportunities: go.fzj.de/equality and on specific support options: go.fzj.de/womens-job-journey
This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over € 5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific organisation.
Company
The Helmholtz Association contributes to solving major challenges to assure the future of our society. With more than 47.500 people on staff in 18 national Research Centers and an annual budget of more than 6 billion euros, the Helmholtz Association is Germany’s largest scientific organization. The name Helmholtz stands for concerted research, in which networks form the key principle behind inquiring thought and action.
The profile of the Helmholtz Association
The Helmholtz Association performs cutting-edge research which contributes substantially to solving the grand challenges of science, society and industry. To succeed in meeting these responsibilities, Helmholtz concentrates its work in six research fields: Energy, Earth and Environment, Health, Information, Matter, as well as Aeronautics, Space and Transport. Within each of these fields, research programs are developed by our scientists and regularly evaluated by renowned international experts. Their evaluation forms the basis for the program-oriented funding that is allocated to Helmholtz research. Within the six research fields, Helmholtz scientists cooperate with each other and with external partners – working across disciplinary, organizational and national borders.
Moreover, Helmholtz specializes in large-scale research infrastructures – from accelerator facilities, earth observation satellites, research ships to supercomputers. They form the basis for scientific advances in tackling global societal challenges. Managing national research infrastructure is part of the Helmholtz Association's mission.
Promoting young academics
Helmholtz scientists, a high-performance infrastructure and modern and efficient research management are the ingredients to the Helmholtz Association‘s success and global impact.
Promoting young researchers is a major priority for the Helmholtz Association. Its qualification schemes for young researchers are geared mainly towards PhD students, postdocs and young managers. The Helmholtz Association has set high standards for its talent management. Its strategy begins with targeted recruitment of highly qualified staff at all levels, followed by comprehensive support aimed at further developing their potential. Ensuring equal opportunities is an essential element in all talent management activities undertaken by the Helmholtz Association.
The Helmholtz Graduate Schools and Research Schools at almost all Helmholtz Centers provide doctoral students with the general and specific skills and training they need, as well as ample opportunity to network. The period following a doctorate is decisive in determining the direction and success of a scientific career. For this reason, we established Career Development Centers for postdoctoral researchers in the Helmholtz Centers. This equips young researchers with the skills they need to go on to head a Helmholtz Investigator Group, for example. As an Investigator Group leader, junior scientists can independently set up their own group to conduct research in their specialist field and acquire management skills.
Within its talent management strategy, the Helmholtz Association pays special attention to the increased recruitment of talented female scientists both from Germany and abroad. To this end, there are currently two funding programs supporting this policy: and Helmholtz Distinguished Professorship – Funding for the recruitment of leading international female scientists (W3) .
The increasing complexity of the content, structures and framework conditions of scientific work today requires researchers to organize their projects, their employees and, of course, themselves in a highly professional and effective way. In response to these demands, we have set up the Helmholtz Leadership Academy to provide leaders in science with professional management training. Furthermore, the Helmholtz network provides a platform for the alumni of the Helmholtz Leadership Academy to come together and share their experiences of leadership, career development and lifelong learning.
All of this combined makes the 18 Research Centers of the Helmholtz Association a highly attractive environment for talented researchers from all over the world.
Company info
Telephone
0049-30-206329-0
Location
Anna-Louisa-Karsch-Str. 2
Berlin
Berlin
10178
Germany