The
Postdoctoral Researcher (f/m/d) -Computational Microbiome Science / Metagenomics-
Operational area: Institute of Medical Microbiology -Selkrig Lab of Host-Microbe Interactomic-
Working hours: 100% of the full working hours in the collective agreement (currently 38.5 hours/week)
Duration/Term of employment: the position is limited till 30.06.2028 in accordance with the WissZeitVG (German Academic Fixed-Term Contract Act) with option of prolongation.
Start date: 01.07.2026
Remuneration/Rates: EG 13 (TV-L)
Tasks:
The postdoctoral researcher will lead the computational analysis and integration of metagenomic datasets from human cohorts and animal models to uncover microbiome-driven mechanisms underlying chronic pain within an international, multi-site research consortium.
* PhD in Bioinformatics/Computational biology, Microbiology or Microbial Ecology (with strong emphasis on computational analysis of microbiome and sequencing data), Systems Biology, Biostatistics
* Lead the analysis of shotgun metagenomic datasets from human cohorts and animal models to identify microbiome signatures associated with chronic pain
* Develop, implement, and maintain reproducible bioinformatics pipelines for processing, integration, and interpretation of multi-source microbiome data
* Integrate microbiome data with clinical, phenotypic, and experimental datasets to enable translational insights within the project
* Coordinate and collaborate across international project partners (UK, Switzerland, Romania), contributing to joint analyses, publications, and data harmonization efforts
Profile:
* Advanced metagenomics and microbiome data analysis, including processing and interpretation of shotgun sequencing datasets
* Strong programming and computational skills, particularly in languages such as Python and/or R, and experience with bioinformatics workflows
* Experience with high-throughput sequencing data and reproducible analysis pipelines, including workflow management and data handling
* Solid understanding of microbial ecology and host–microbiome interactions, ideally in the context of translational or biomedical research
* Desirable:
o Experience in multi-omics data integration, particularly in combination with clinical or phenotypic datasets
o Familiarity with clinical cohort data analysis, including data structuring and statistical evaluation
o Knowledge of reproducible research practices and data management standards, such as version control, workflow management, and FAIR principles
o Experience working in international and interdisciplinary research environments, ideally within collaborative consortia
* Proactive and self-driven working style, with the ability to independently identify problems and develop solutions
* Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the capacity to handle complex, multi-source datasets and deadlines
* Excellent communication and collaboration skills (both within the lab and with external partners), enabling effective interaction across international and interdisciplinary teams
* Adaptability and problem-solving mindset, with the ability to navigate challenges in a dynamic research environment
Why choose us?
We offer…
* 30 days of vacation
* A bonus of 3,000 euros for employees who help recruit employees in the care sector
* An attractive company pension scheme from VBL
* Education opportunities, including updating and upgrading
* Access to public transport
* In-house kindergarten (places subject to availability)
* Staff residences (places subject to availability and by arrangement)
* An onboarding app for new employees
* Extended opening hours in the staff restaurant