Postdoctoral Researcher in Natural Product Bioanalytics (f/m/d)
Date: 31 Mar 2026
Location: Saarbrücken
Company: Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung GmbH
Job Offer No. 662
The department Microbial Natural Products (MINS) at the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) in Saarbrücken,
is seeking to fill the position of a
Postdoctoral Researcher in Natural Product Bioanalytics (f/m/d)
The HIPS in Saarbrücken was founded jointly by the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Saarland University as the first German research institute explicitly dedicated to pharmaceutical research in 2009. Scientists at HIPS develop and employ experimental and computational techniques to provide new active substances against infectious diseases, optimise them for use in humans and investigate how they can best be transported to their site of action in the human body. A special focus of the institute is on microbial natural products from soil bacteria and the human microbiota including their mode of action and production as well as innovative medicinal chemistry-driven approaches. HIPS is currently undergoing both a thematic and spatial expansion and is expected to grow to around 330 employees within the coming years.
Researchers in the department Microbial Natural Products are aiming to identify, investigate and optimize novel natural product based actives, applying diverse approaches and methods mainly from the fields of biotechnology, microbiology, molecular biology and biochemistry. A major research focus of the department is the structural elucidation of complex biologically active natural products using NMR to make them accessible for the development into novel antibiotic agents for human therapy.
Responsibilities:
- Research in the field of natural product structure elucidation using NMR
- Maintenance of NMR equipment, including setting up new experiments and training employees
- Maintenance and further development of the in-house scientific databases at HIPS
- Scientific writing and presentation
Requirements:
- A university degree and a doctorate in (organic) chemistry or a related field
- Broad training in natural products, organic chemistry, and bioanalytics, with a focus on NMR and the structural elucidation of complex natural products
- Extensive experience in the maintenance and operation of NMR equipment
- Experience in the development and design of databases
- The ability to work both independently and within a highly interdisciplinary international team covering the fields of chemistry, biology, pharmacy, and biotechnology
- Several years of experience independently managing research projects
- Strong verbal and written communication skills in English and German
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office as well as relevant professional analysis and database software such as Topspin, ACD/Labs, and ChemDraw
We offer you:
- An attractive and varied job in a future-oriented research institute
- A state-of-the-art infrastructure and the latest technologies
- Flexible working hours, part-time models as well as home office
- A corporate culture of appreciation and promotion of equal opportunities
- Extensive training and continuing education opportunities to develop professional knowledge and personal skills
- A family office to support family and career as well as childcare offers
- Interesting additional public service benefits
- Possibility of an employer subsidy for the job ticket
People with severe disabilities and equivalent professional qualifications who are suitable for the position are given preference. In order to protect your rights, we ask you to provide us with a clearly recognizable reference to the existence of a degree of severe disability in your cover letter or resume.
The position is held at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research GmbH (HZI) in Braunschweig. The place of employment is Saarbrücken.
The HZI is actively committed to equality, diversity and integration. For this reason, the HZI pursues the goal of professional equality between women and men and expressly welcomes applications from qualified women. The position is suitable for part-time work.
For further information please contact Christina Decker, phone +49681988063001, email: office.mueller@helmholtz-hips.de.
Please apply via our career portal.
Please include a cover letter, resume, (employment) references, certificates, and (if available) work samples or reference projects with your application materials. Please refrain from sending a photo.
We look forward to receiving your application!