Research Associate in Coastal Wetland Ecology (m/f/d)
With about 15,000 students, more than 300 professorships and around 160 degree programs, the RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau is the technical university of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. As a place of top international research, it offers excellent working conditions and career opportunities. Those who study, research or work at RPTU experience a cosmopolitan environment and shape the future.
We are offering a fixed-term, part-time position (65% FTE) in the research groups Functional Plant Ecology (Prof. Peter Müller) and Functional Aquatic Ecotoxicology (Prof. Mirco Bundschuh) at the Institute for Environmental Sciences (iES) in Landau. The position is available for 36 months, starting on 1 December 2026 - subject to final approval of third-party funding.
The project will investigate how microbial processes regulate the stability and fate of carbon stocks in high-latitude coastal wetland sediments in response to climate change and pollution. By integrating molecular microbial ecology, biogeochemistry, and ecotoxicological approaches, the project will advance our understanding of the mechanisms controlling long-term carbon preservation and potential climate feedbacks in these vulnerable ecosystems.
The position is part of the international **JPI Oceans C-SCALE** research project, providing an excellent opportunity to work within a collaborative international team and to interact with leading research groups in Norway, Canada, and Poland.
Your area of responsibility:
The position primarily involves research activities and provides the opportunity to pursue an academic qualification, in particular the completion of a doctoral dissertation.
We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with a strong interest in molecular biology, ecotoxicology and biogeochemistry and documented expertise in at least one of these fields. The successful applicant will work in an interdisciplinary research environment and will be responsible for a range of laboratory, field, and analytical tasks, including:
- Collection, processing, and chemical analysis of sediment samples
- DNA extraction from environmental samples and quantitative PCR
- Analysis of DNA sequencing-derived data sets to assess microbial community structures and functional genes
- Design and execution of laboratory-based sediment incubation experiments with the aim to understand the impact of climate change and contaminant exposure on carbon cycling
- Application of analytical techniques, including gas chromatography (GC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and mass spectrometry (MS)
- Opportunity for national and international field campaigns, including sampling in high-latitude coastal wetlands
The project offers the opportunity for extended research stays at partner institutions in Europe and Canada.
Your requirements profile:
We are seeking a candidate who meets the following qualifications:
- A Master of Science degree in Biology, Environmental Sciences, or a related field
- Strong background in molecular (microbial) biology, biogeochemical analyses, and/or ecotoxicology
- Interest in designing and conducting laboratory-based experiments
- Advanced skills in data analysis, statistics, and scientific programming
- Excellent communication skills in English; proficiency in German is desirable
- A valid driving license for participation in field campaigns
RPTU stands for diversity among all employees. We welcome applications from all interested parties, regardless of their ethnic and social origin, age, religion, gender, disability and sexual orientation or identity. Preference will be given to severely disabled persons and persons equivalent to them if they have the appropriate qualifications and suitability.
The RPTU aims to increase the proportion of women in areas where women are underrepresented. Applications from researchers from abroad are expressly encouraged. The appointment will be subject to the German law on fixed-term contracts in science (WissZeitVG).
More informations given on our homepage:
https://jobs.rptu.de/jobposting/f63b421c695d34976c26795737447edfcd8a9a5a0