EMBL-HZI Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme

EMBL-HZI Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme

This programme leverages the expertise of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in the field of human microbiota research. Postdoctoral Research fellows will be granted salary funding for two years to carry out research projects between at least one group at EMBL and one group at HZI, located at the multiple sites of both institutes. Fellows will have a main host lab at EMBL or HZI, where they will be employed, and spend at least a total of 3 months at the partner institution. Research activities must address the following topic:

“The human microbiome: From molecular understanding to exploiting these microbial ecosystems for human health”

Humans are hosts to diverse and dynamic assemblages of microorgansims. Alterations in these communities have been linked to many human diseases, including the susceptibility and treatment outcome of infectious, metabolic-, immune-mediated diseases and cancer. Understanding the causal molecular elements and underlying mechanisms of these associations is instrumental for developing novel interventional strategies based on rational and effective microbiota editing. To address this challenge, scientists from EMBL and HZI will work together to understand the functional diversity of microbes living in these communities, to dissect the interactions and properties of the complex communities they assemble, and to study the molecular interactions with the host. The two institutes will combine their expertise in bacteriology, genetics, molecular and cell biology, multi-omics approaches and systems biology, immunology, natural product research, bioinformatics and modelling. 

Successful postdoctoral fellows will have a primary lab (at EMBL or HZI), but will be jointly mentored by scientists from both institutions to harness the complementary expertise of the research centres. They will also have access to state-of-the-art core facilities for sequencing, imaging and omics approaches, and cutting-edge expertise in a number of areas related to microbiome research, including the generation of disease-specific gnotobiotic models, advanced genetic tools for commensal bacteria, automated platforms for the high-throughput phenotyping of microbes and their communities, and computational resources and tools for leveraging the large amounts of data being generated.  

You are invited to propose a project of your own design with at least one PI per institute. Please contact the participating groups beforehand to discuss and formulate a successful project. Application deadline is 15.06.2021. For more information on application process and dates, please visit our webpage:
https://www.helmholtz-hzi.de/en/career/embl-hzi-fellowship/
https://www.embl.org/info/embl-hzi-fellowship/

EMBL is an inclusive, equal opportunity employer offering attractive conditions and benefits appropriate to an international research organisation with a very collegial and family friendly working environment. The remuneration package comprises a competitive salary, a comprehensive pension scheme, medical, educational and other social benefits, as well as financial support for relocation and installation, including your family and the availability of an excellent child care facility on campus. 

EMBL is Europe’s flagship research laboratory for the life sciences – an intergovernmental organisation performing scientific research in disciplines including molecular biology, physics, chemistry and computer science. We are an international, innovative and interdisciplinary laboratory with more than 1900 employees from many nations, operating across six sites, in Heidelberg (HQ), Barcelona, Hinxton near Cambridge, Hamburg, Grenoble and Rome. We aim to provide a collaborative and supportive work environment which emphasizes diversity and inclusion.

HZI offers very good training opportunities, flexible and family-friendly working hours and additional public service benefits. 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 HZI strives for professional equality between women and men. Therefore, women are especially encouraged to apply. The position is suitable for part-time work. The positions at HZI in the context of this program are salaried with E14 TVÖD Bund.

HZI is a member of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers, Germany’s largest scientific organization. With more than 800 employees at six locations (Braunschweig, Hamburg, Hanover, Saarbrücken, Würzburg and Greifswald), it addresses the global challenges posed by infectious diseases.