University of Würzburg and Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research, GERMANY
1 PhD student & 1 Postdoc Position
Specialized metabolite functions during gut microbial interactions in Fusobacterium nucleatum
Applications are invited for Postdoctoral and PhD positions in the laboratories of Professor Franziska Faber and Professor Jörg Vogel to identify specialized metabolites and study their genetic regulation and functions during gut microbial interactions in Fusobacterium nucleatum (see, for example, Ponath F et al. 2021 Nature Microbiology, Ponath F et al. 2022 PNAS, Cosi V et a. 2025 mBio). This project is funded by the DFG priority program SPP2474, which aims to discover new gene functions in human microbiome members (see More information about ongoing research in the Faber and Vogel labs can be found at .
PhD applicants should have an equivalent of a Master’s degree. All applicants should have a background in molecular biology, biochemistry, microbiology, or computational science. Further information about available projects can be obtained by email to Prof. Franziska Faber ( franziska.faber@uni-wuerzburg.de ) and Prof. Jörg Vogel ( joerg.vogel@uni-wuerzburg.de ).
The position can be filled as soon as possible and will be available for three years with the possibility of extension. Salary will be based on the pay scale for the public sector in Germany (TV-L) and comply with qualification. The university aims to increase the proportion of female employees, therefore applications from qualified women are particularly encouraged. Preference will be given to handicapped persons in case of otherwise equal aptitude.
Please email your application by January 11th, 2026, including a short letter of motivation, CV, and publication list, copies of relevant documents and certificates, as well as contact information of two academic references, all in a single PDF file with the reference “SPP2474” in the subject line to imib1-sekretariat@uni-wuerzburg.de .
Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
Institut für Molekulare Infektionsbiologie
Monika Schraut
Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, D15
97080 Würzburg
Please send copies only. For cost reasons, application documents cannot be returned. They will be destroyed shortly after the selection process has been completed. If you enclose a stamped envelope, your application documents will be returned to you three months after the selection process has been completed.