Research Assistant (PhD position) (f/m/d) in the research group Organic Geochemistry within the[...]

Position

Research Assistant (PhD position) (f/m/d) in the research group Organic Geochemistry within the ERC Synergy Project “Archean Park”

Employer

MARUM - Center for Marine Environmental Sciences / University of Bremen

Location

Bremen, Germany

Sector

Academic

Relevant divisions

• Biogeosciences (BG)
• Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Petrology & Volcanology (GMPV)
• Hydrological Sciences (HS)

Type

Full time

Level

Entry level

Salary

German pay scale 13 TV-L (75%)

Required education

Master

Application deadline

19 March 2026

Posted

23 February 2026

Job Description

The position is part of an EU-funded program, the ERC Synergy Projekt „Archean Park“. In this project, the closely collaborating teams of the Universities of Bremen, Duisburg Essen, Münster and from Helmholtz Center for Geoscience (GFZ) Potsdam aim to gain insights into life under early‑Earth conditions and to identify previously unknown metabolic pathways that enabled life for microorganisms during the Archean, 4,000 to 2,500 million years ago ( We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with expertise in organic geochemistry and microbial biogeochemistry, who is interested in research in a multi‑site, interdisciplinary, and international team. The PhD will be conducted at the Faculty of Geoscience of the University of Bremen.

The Specific Tasks Mainly Include

• Analysis of the compositional diversity of natural organic compounds (dissolved compounds and lipids) in enrichment cultures as well as in environmental samples from volcanic CO2 vents
• Conducting stable carbon isotope tracer experiments on enrichment cultures, followed by isotopic analyses of metabolites to characterize potential new chemoautotrophic metabolic pathways
• Participation in sampling campaigns in Germany and other European countries
• Close collaboration with other internal and external members of the Archean Park project
• Interpretation of results, integration of published data, preparation of scientific manuscripts, and presentations at international conferences

Requirements

• Successfully completed scientific university degree (master's/university diploma) in geosciences, chemistry, or biology
• Solid knowledge in organic geochemistry and/or microbial biogeochemistry, ideally combined with practical experience
• Experience in mass spectrometry and gas and/or liquid chromatography is desirable
• Good command over spoken and written English
• Ability to work in a team
• Ability to communicate in an international research environment

We Offer

• Annual special payment (‘year‑end bonus’), regular automatic salary increases in line with collective agreements and additional public service pension scheme (VBL)
• A crisis‑proof, interesting and varied job in an open‑minded university
• 30 days" holiday per calendar year
• A diverse, future‑orientated and open corporate culture
• Support from a collegial, motivated team with a positive working atmosphere
• Personalized induction training
• The opportunity for further and advanced training
• Compatibility of family and career through flexible working hours (‘flexitime’) and the option of mobile working (subject to the general conditions)
• Free social and family counselling services
• Active company health management, including the option of discounts at local sports clubs, gyms and swimming pools (EGYM WELLPASS)
• The option of using a job ticket for local public transport
• Numerous sports and cultural activities
• Varied catering options in the student union canteens

General information

Open to unconventional approaches in research and teaching, the University of Bremen has retained its character as a place of short distances for people and ideas since its founding in 1971. With a broad spectrum of subjects, we combine exceptional performance and innovative potential. As an ambitious research university, we stand for research‑based learning approaches and a pronounced interdisciplinary orientation. We actively pursue scientific cooperation in a spirit of global partnership.

Today, around 23,000 people learn, teach, research, and work on our international campus. In research and teaching, administration and operations, we are strongly committed to the goals of sustainability, climate justice, and climate neutrality. Our Bremen spirit is expressed in the courage to try new things, in supportive cooperation, in respect and appreciation for each other. With our study and research profile and as part of the European YUFE network, we assume social responsibility in the region, in Europe, and in the world.

The university is family‑friendly, diverse and sees itself as an international university. We therefore welcome all applicants regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion/belief, disability, age, sexual orientation and identity.

As the University of Bremen intends to increase the proportion of female employees in science, women are particularly encouraged to apply. In the case of equal qualifications, women are given priority, unless reasons relating to the person of a competitor prevail.

Disabled applicants will be given priority if their professional and personal qualifications are essentially the same.

How to apply

For general questions about the personnel selection procedure and for questions about the content of the advertised position, please contact: Prof. Dr. Kai‑Uwe Hinrichs (phone +49 421‑218‑65700) or Dr. Florence Schubotz (phone +49 421‑218‑65724).

Application procedure

Please send your application with your complete documents (cover letter, your CV, copies of transcripts and qualification certificates, statement of research interests in the context of project, your master thesis, and contact information of two references) to be emailed as a single PDF file to: (un‑encrypted) or by mail to:

Prof. Dr. Kai‑Uwe Hinrichs
MARUM – Universität Bremen
Leobener Str. 8
28359 Bremen

Quote the reference number A021-26 until March 19th 2026 . Please note that no photos are to be attached to the application documents. We kindly ask you to send us only copies (no portfolios) of your application documents, as we cannot return them. They will be destroyed after the selection process has been completed.