PhD student studying Chloroplast Protein Import in the Caspari Lab (Uni Bonn)

PhD student studying Chloroplast Protein Import in the Caspari Lab (Uni Bonn)

The Rhenish Friedrich Wilhelm University of Bonn is an international research university with a broad range of subjects. With 200 years of history, some 31,500 students, over 6,000 employees and an excellent reputation at home and abroad, the University of Bonn is one of the most important universities in Germany and has been recognised as a University of Excellence.

For the DFG-funded project ‘Exploring Transit Peptides through Photosynthetic Restoration in Chlamydomonas ’, Dr. Oliver Caspari ’s lab at the Institute for Microbiology and Biotechnology is recruiting a PhD student for a 3-year research assistant position (65% TV-L E13, ideal starting point in May/June 2025).

In our group, we are interested in the role of protein import for establishment and maintenance of endosymbiotic organelles, which are fundamental to the biology of complex life. In this project, we specifically aim to elucidate how different transit peptides determine chloroplast protein import in the model green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by using peptide variants to complement a photosynthetic mutation.

Responsibilities:

• Identifying and reviewing relevant scientific literature
• Designing and performing wet-lab experiments
• Storing, analysing and visualizing data using coding (e.g. R, python)
• Presenting findings internally in lab meetings and externally at conferences
• Preparing research publications in peer-reviewed journals and as doctoral thesis
• Supervising Bachelor/Master students

Your Profile:

• You combine high intrinsic motivation and ambition with high work ethics
• You have strong analytical and reasoning skills and are scientifically literate
• You take ownership of your research, managing your own time and resources as well as those of any students you supervise, and seek out support as needed
• To overcome set-backs, you problem-solve and show emotional resilience
• You are able to work well both independently and cooperatively /in a team
• You engage empathically and communicate effectively with coworkers/students
• You are keen to learn new skills, complemented by relevant prior experience in areas such as Molecular Biology (PCR, cloning), Biochemistry (Western Blots), Cell Biology (fluorescence microscopy), Microbiology (microbial handling, transformation), Plant Sciences (photosynthesis, chloroplast biogenesis, algae), data analysis/computational biology (coding, sequence analysis, modelling)
• You hold relevant Bachelor and Master degrees from reputable institutions
• You are proficient in English

We Offer:

• The chance to do your PhD in a young and dynamic group that you can help grow, that will mentor you and that will be invested in your academic success
• A supportive , collegial and international atmosphere in the team and the institute
• A world-class research environment at one of Germany’s top universities
• Possibilities to cooperate with other research groups locally and internationally
• Uni Bonn perks , e.g. sports clubs, career workshops, day care, subsidized transport
• High quality of life in Bonn with easy access to nature, culture and Cologne
• A varied, challenging job with one of the largest employers in the region
• An international, stimulating, well-equipped working environment with an open and constructive atmosphere and the necessary infrastructure for high-quality research
• Access to the extensive university sports program
• Easy access to the public transport system due to the central location in Bonn as well as the possibility to use inexpensive parking facilities
• Remuneration in accordance with TV-L pay grade 13.

The University of Bonn is committed to diversity and equal opportunities. It is certified as a family-friendly university. Its aim is to increase the proportion of women in areas in which women are underrepresented and to promote their careers in particular. It therefore strongly encourages applications from suitably qualified women. Applications will be treated in accordance with the State Equal Opportunities Act. Applications from suitable people with proven severe disabilities and persons of equal status are particularly welcome.

If you are interested in this position, please send a cover letter in which you explain your motivation as well as how your research and other relevant experiences demonstrate your suitability to the role; a CV naming two referees (incl. email & phone); and your official academic transcripts in a single PDF to by 14.03.2025 , quoting reference 3.3/2025/09 . For further information, please contact Dr. Caspari via email or by phone (+49 228 73 8261).

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