Technician in “Microbiology” (f/m/d)

The mission of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) as a nationally and internationally active research institute is to deliver solutions for an ecologically, economically and socially sustainable agriculture – together with society. ZALF is a member of the Leibniz Association and is located in Müncheberg (approx. 35 minutes by regional train from Berlin-Lichtenberg). The institute also maintains locations in Dedelow and Paulinenaue.

The project „Biologische Kontrolle durch Optimierung des Mikrobioms mit Eschen-assoziierten Bakterien (FraxProMic3)" is part of the national project consortium „Erhalt und Wiedereinbringung der Gemeinen Esche – FraxForFuture 2 „FraxRecovery" (funded by Fachagentur für Nachwachsende Rohstoffe, FNR). The project is committed to optimize bacterial SynComs to treat efficiently the fungus-mediated ash dieback disease that threatens European ash trees. The project is part of the research and innovation activities on microbiome management in the research group Microbial Biogeochemistry (MicGeo) at RA Landscape Functioning (ZALF).

We are offering a fulltime position (40h/week) for 30 months at our campus in Müncheberg (start 01.02.2026) as a

Technician in “Microbiology” (f/m/d)

Your tasks:

• to organize daily laboratory work in the project FraxProMic3
• to support the research tasks of scientists in the project, by setup of field trials, sampling, cultivation of bacterial isolates and maintenance of the strain collection as well as DNA extraction, qPCR and sample preparation for microbiome analysis
• to document the lab work and the results
• to provide knowledge and expertise regarding cultivation techniques to the MicGeo team
• to contribute to the technical maintenance and further development of laboratory facilities

Your qualifications:

• very good previous working experience and training as a biological technical assistant (BTA) or similar qualification
• proven hands-on experience with sterile cultivation of bacteria and fungi, co-cultivation assays, light microscopy as well as DNA-based molecular techniques
• good knowledge in required documentation of the work and results
• english proficiency (spoken and written)
• a high personal motivation achieving goals
• we expect an open-minded and intercultural attitude to teamwork
• a high encouragement for independence and a self-reliant structured work mode

We offer:

• a young, dynamic and international team – MicGeo – with focus on microbial ecology
• working in an international leading agricultural research institution with disciplines from natural, social, and data sciences
• classification according to the collective agreement of the federal states (TV-L) up to E9 (incl. special annual payment)
• a collegial, international and open-minded working atmosphere
• company ticket for public transport
• institutional support for career development and training

ZALF promotes equality among all employees and welcomes applications regardless of ethnic, cultural, or social background, age, religion, ideology, disability, gender, or sexual identity. The filling of the position in part-time is possible in principle. Please send your application preferably online (see button online application below). For e-mail applications, create a PDF document (one PDF file, max. 5 MB; packed PDF documents, archive files like zip, rar etc. Word documents cannot be processed and therefore cannot be considered!) with the usual documents, in particular CV, proof of qualification and certificates, stating the reference number 67-2025 until 15. November 2025 to (see button e-mail application below).

https://jobs.zalf.de/jobposting/5cfab41c1ceff8a4fd51b907d8ab82a4ad04d54e0

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us: Prof. Dr. Steffen Kolb, Tel. +49 (0) 33432/82 326, Email Steffen.kolb(at)zalf.de. , Valentin Burghard, Email: Valentin.Burghard(at)zalf.de

For cost reasons, application documents or extensive publications can only be returned if an adequately stamped envelope is attached.

If you apply, we collect and process your personal data in accordance with Articles 5 and 6 of the EU GDPR only for the processing of your application and for purposes that result from possible future employment with the ZALF. Your data will be deleted after six months.