Postdoctoral Researcher in Natural Product Research (w/m/d)
Date: 31 Mar 2026
Location: Saarbrücken
Company: Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung GmbH
Job Offer No. 661
The department Microbial Natural Products at the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) in Saarbrücken, is seeking to fill the position of a
Postdoctoral Researcher in Natural Product Research (w/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 genetic engineering of microbial natural product producing microorganisms to enhance product diversity and yield. To this end, we develop and apply innovative molecular biology- based tools.
Responsibilities:
- Research in the field of natural product biosynthesis and molecular biology
- Development and application of molecular biological tools for the genetic manipulation of bacterial natural product producers
- Production, isolation and characterization of bioactive natural products, with a focus on actinobacteria and myxobacteria
- Application of analytical methods, particularly chromatography and mass spectrometry
- Genome editing using programmable nucleases such as CRISPR-Cas systems
- Scientific writing and presentation
Requirements:
- A completed university degree in the natural sciences and a Ph.D. in molecular biology or a related field
- Broad training spanning natural products, molecular biology and bioanalytics
- Extensive experience in the development of molecular tools for the heterologous expression of bioactive natural products
- Experience in the cultivation and genetic modification of actino- and myxobacteria
- Solid knowledge in analytical techniques, particularly liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, including experimental design and data analysis
- The ability to work independently as well as in a highly interdisciplinary international team covering chemistry, biology, pharmacy and biotechnology
- Good oral and written communication skills in English and German
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 Dr. Yannic Nonnenmacher, phone +49681988064500, email: yannic.nonnenmacher@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!