Postdoc for marine molecular chronobiology (d/f/m) (m/w/d)

The Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) is a member of the Helmholtz Association (HGF) and funded by federal and state government. AWI focuses on polar and marine research in a variety of disciplines such as biology, oceanography, geology, geochemistry and geophysics thus allowing multidisciplinary approaches to scientific goals.

Postdoc for marine molecular chronobiology (d/f/m)

Background
The position will be localized in the BICLOPS group, which investigates “Biological Clocks in Pelagic Systems”. Affiliated with the “Marine Chronobiology” working group, it is part of the AWI section “Polar Biological Oceanography”, which uses a wide spectrum of physiological and genetic analyses to understand biological processes in the open ocean.

The focus of the advertised position is on the mechanistic understanding of the circadian clock system in a North Atlantic key zooplankton species, the copepod Calanus finmarchicus. Like countless other pelagic organisms, the copepods perform diel vertical migrations that directly determine the environmental cycles they encounter. As environmental cycles synchronize clocks and clocks affect migration behavior, this creates a chicken-and-egg paradox. We want to find out how circadian clocks can function in such “self-made” pelagic environments.

Your Tasks

• Analysis of the functional interactions of Calanus circadian clock components, including the use of cell culture assays
• Development of a microinjection protocol for subsequent applications of functional genetic tools, such as CRISPR-based target mutagenesis, as well as a genotyping protocol to identify generated mutants
• Initial characterization of Calanus animals with alterations in core circadian clock function
• Supervision of students and participation in teaching activities

Your Profile

• PhD in either molecular biology, biotechnology, genetics or related areas
• Experience with cell culture work
• Experience with molecular work (e.g. cloning, sequence analysis, gene editing)
• Motivation to familiarize yourself with a new topic (zooplankton chronobiology)
• Ability to work in a team
• Good English knowledge (approximately equivalent to CEFR level B1+B2)

Preferred Qualifications and Skills

• Experience in chronobiology
• Experience with non-model organisms
• Experience with in situ stainings (FISH, immunohistochemistry, HCR)
• Experience with physiological and/or behavioral analysis
• Experience with marine biological field work and/or eDNA

Further Information

• Contact in day-to-day work: Collaboration mainly with up to 5 people
• Communication: Almost equal share (internal/external)
  in the following ways
• By telephone: Occasionally (several times a month)
• E-mail: Frequently (daily or several times a week)
• Video conferencing (e. g. Webex): Occasionally (several times a month)
• Personal contact in presence: Frequently (daily or several times a week)
• Movement around the workplace: Regularly within the building (e.g. between departments or floors)
• Business trips: Almost never (less than once a year) or never
• Expeditions: Do not occur

Please note that the general conditions listed serve as a guide and may vary depending on the specific area of application.

For any questions you may have, you are very welcome to get in touch with Dr. Sören Häfker (soeren.haefker@awi.de; +49 471 4831-2360).

This is a full-time position, limited to 3 years. It is also suitable for part-time employment. The salary will be paid in accordance with the Collective Agreement for the Public Service of the Federation (Tarifvertrag des öffentlichen Dienstes, TVöD Bund), up to salary level 13. The place of employment will be Bremerhaven.

All postdocs will register with AWI's postdoc office PROCEED and thus gain access to a set of tailor-made career development tools.

The AWI is characterized by

• Our scientific success - excellent research
• Collaboration and cooperation - intra-institute, national and international, interdisciplinary
• Opportunities to develop – on the job and towards other positions
• An international environment – everyday contact with people from all over the world
• Flexible working hours
• Health promotion and company fitness with Hansefit and Wellhub
• Support services and a culture of reconciling work and family
• Occupational pension provision (VBL)

AWI values diversity and actively promotes gender parity, as well as an open, inclusive environment that provides equal opportunities. We are convinced that diverse teams and a variety of perspectives enrich our work and our daily collaboration. In a continuous process of learning and reflection, we aim to ensure that all our employees can be themselves and feel a sense of belonging. We welcome applications from qualified people regardless of binary and non-binary genders, race and nationality, ethnic and social background, religion, age, physical abilities, neurodivergence, sexual orientation, and other identities.

Applicants with disabilities will be given preference when equal qualifications are present.

AWI fosters work-family compatibility in various ways and has received several awards as a result of this commitment. And as a new international member of our team, you can be sure that we will help you settle in. Our Family Office and International Office will be glad to support you, even before you start at AWI.

We look forward to your application!
Please submit your application by December 2nd, 2025 exclusively online.
Reference number: 25/110/D/Bio-b