Postdoctoral Researcher - Fungal Infections and Natural Product Biology

About the Role

The Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI) in Jena is recruiting several postdoctoral researchers across departments studying fungal pathogens, their natural products, and host-pathogen interactions. HKI is a Leibniz Association member embedded in the Beutenberg Campus, a life science cluster in Jena shared with Friedrich Schiller University and the Fraunhofer Institute.

Positions are full-time for two years, extendable by one year. Salary follows the German public sector scale at TV-L E13/100%, approximately EUR 4,000 to 4,600 per month gross depending on career stage.

Responsibilities

• Conduct independent research in one of the following areas: pathogenicity of Aspergillus, Candida, or Fusarium species; biosynthesis of antifungal natural products; host immune evasion mechanisms; or fungal secondary metabolomics
• Establish and maintain model systems (cell culture, mouse infection models, or zebrafish larvae, depending on department)
• Publish first-author papers in peer-reviewed journals and contribute to collaborative manuscripts
• Supervise one or two Masters or PhD students
• Present at international mycology conferences (ICFP, ISHAM, or similar)

Requirements

• PhD in microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, or a related life science, awarded within the past five years
• At least three first-author or co-first-author publications in peer-reviewed journals
• Experience with standard molecular biology techniques (cloning, CRISPR, flow cytometry, confocal microscopy)
• Excellent written and spoken English; German is an advantage but not required

Nice to Have

• Specific hands-on experience with filamentous fungi or Candida species
• Training in mass spectrometry or NMR for natural product characterisation
• Experience with mouse or zebrafish infection models
• Prior co-supervision of graduate students

How to Apply

Browse current open positions on the HKI careers page at leibniz-hki.de and apply online by 31 July 2026. Required: cover letter (one page, identifying the target department and research area), full CV, list of publications, degree certificates, and contact details for two referees. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis; early submission is recommended.