Postdoctoral Researcher (m/f/d) - full-time or part-time, EG 13 TV-AVH – RG Structural Virology

The Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM) is a member institute of the Leibniz Association. With over 400 employees, it is Germany’s largest institution for research, patient care, and teaching in the field of tropical diseases and emerging infections.

The Structural Virology group at BNITM in Hamburg is looking for a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher (m/f/d).

• full-time or part-time, EG 13 TV-AVH –

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate to join our team and contribute to our research. We study the large polymerase proteins of emerging RNA viruses to gain a mechanistic understanding of the enzymatic processes underlying viral RNA synthesis and to develop small‑molecule inhibitors of viral replication.

Your Tasks Will Include

• Molecular biology (PCR, cloning, RNA/DNA handling, etc.)
• Protein biochemistry (expression, purification, biochemical assays, etc.)
• Structural biology (Cryo-EM Single Particle Analysis (SPA), model building, structure validation, integrative modelling etc.)
• Detailed documentation and presentation of experimental results
• Supervision and mentoring of Bachelor’s and Master’s students

Your Profile

Required Skills

• PhD in biochemistry, structural biology, or a related field
• Strong hands‑on experience in protein expression, protein purification and biochemical assays
• Expertise in Cryo-EM SPA (sample preparation and data processing)
• Experience with structural model building and refinement programs (Coot, Phenix, CCP4)
• Proficiency with relevant structural biology and data‑analysis software (PyMOL, Chimera, etc.) and standard Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Excellent written and spoken English
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to plan and execute experiments independently and flexibly
• Strong team spirit, as well as good interpersonal and communication skills
• Creative mindset and strong problem‑solving skills

Additional Skills

• Experience working with radioisotopes is a plus
• Expertise in virology and experience with virological methods is a strong plus
• Experience in small‑molecule drug development is a plus

What We Offer

• An interesting and challenging project in a modern and international research institution
• Integration into an open‑minded, motivated, and highly supportive team
• Excellent structural biology infrastructure at the Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB) on the DESY campus
• 30 days of annual leave (31 from 2027)
• Flexible and family‑friendly working hours
• Childcare subsidy
• Subsidy for public transportation
• Company Bike Leasing
• Company pension scheme
• Opportunities for further education and professional development

The position is available for 24 months, starting at the earliest possible date by agreement, with a latest possible start date of January 2027. Remuneration is in accordance with the German salary scheme for the public service (TV-AVH).

We support our employees in achieving a work‑life balance and promote the professional equality of women, men and non‑binary people. We strive to assist women in their scientific career, increase the number of women in research and reduce under‑representation in all areas and positions in general. We explicitly welcome applications from people with disabilities.

Application Deadline: 16.09.2026.

If you have any questions regarding the application process or selection procedure, please contact Sonja Plesse from HR Department (sonja.plesse@bnitm.de).

For all other questions please contact Prof. Dr. Maria Rosenthal (rosenthal@bnitm.de, +49 40 285380-420) or visit our group homepage (https://www.bnitm.de/en/research/research-groups/pathogen/rg-structural-virology).