Doctoral Researcher in Viral Ecology (m/f/d)

Job advertisement

Vacancy ID: 244/2026

Closing date: 2026-10-02

The Friedrich Schiller University Jena is a dynamic and innovation-driven university centrally located in Germany. With a broad range of disciplines, it shapes the future through excellent research and teaching. Its scientific excellence is reflected in the profile areas Light – Life – Liberty, which provide pioneering insights and sustainable solutions for the society of tomorrow. Through close collaborations with leading research institutions, innovative companies, and renowned cultural organizations, it advances interdisciplinary developments. With around 17,000 students and approximately 10,000 employees, it defines Jena as a vibrant, internationally connected city of science and innovation.

The Institute of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution at the Faculty of Biological Sciences seeks to fill the position of a

Doctoral Researcher in Viral Ecology (m/f/d)

commencing on 01 December 2026. We offer a part-time position (65%, 26 hours per week), with a fixed-term employment until 30 June 2030.

The DFG-funded Collaborative Research Centre 1768 “VirusREvolution: Decoding tools for virus research” is a highly ambitious research centre at Friedrich Schiller University with the joint goal to develop novel tools for virus discovery, characterisation, regulation, interaction, and visualisation ( ). Its integrated research training group is educating doctoral researchers in a structured, interdisciplinary training program and invites applications for doctoral and postdoctoral researcher positions in various fields of research.

In this doctoral project “Do viruses exploit their quasispecies for host range evolution?”, you will investigate how host range and environmental conditions shape virus diversity and virus–host interactions in natural and experimentally manipulated microbial communities.

Your responsibilities:

Conduct experimental work and analyses on virus–host interactions in soil and groundwater ecosystems, including host-range assays, environmental sampling, and targeted microcosm experiments

Analyse metagenomic and viromic data sets from soil and groundwater samples to identify broad- and narrow-host-range viruses to characterize their quasispecies characteristics

Participation in the Collaborative Research Centre VirusREvolution and close collaboration with the tandem project partner

Engage in regular discussions with other group and project members

Collaborate with BSc and MSc students working in associated projects

Publish papers and present your work at national and international scientific meetings

Your profile:

A highly motivated candidate with a Master of Science or equivalent degree in biology, microbiology, microbial ecology, virology, bioinformatics, or a related discipline

Experience in experimental microbiology, microbial ecology, and molecular biological methods; knowledge of sequencing-based bioinformatic approaches (metagenomics, viromics); experience with virus–host interactions are desirable.

Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving

Ability to work independently and in a collaborative team

Excellent skills in English are required, both written and spoken

We offer:

Embedding in a cross-disciplinary, experienced research group and a large, ambitious research consortium

Affiliation to an Integrated Research Training Group, offering close support and a comprehensive education program for hard skills and transferable skills, sup