Fully Funded PhD Position in Microbial Ecology and Evolution at University of Osnabrück University of Osnabrück in Germany

A fully funded PhD position is available in the research group of Professor Christian Kost at the University of Osnabrück, Germany. The position is part of a DFG-funded project titled 'Synergistic coevolution in mono-specific and multi-species microbial consortia.' The successful candidate will participate in long-term coevolution experiments to study the evolution of metabolic cooperation among microbes, generate and characterize bacterial mutants, perform coculture experiments, analyze bacterial fitness, and investigate multicellularity using advanced techniques such as fluorescence microscopy, microfluidics, flow cytometry, and mass spectrometry. Statistical analysis and programming (Python or R) are also part of the research activities.

The project is situated within the Department of Ecology at the School of Biology/Chemistry, offering access to state-of-the-art infrastructure (CellNanOs) and participation in excellent graduate education programs (ZePrOS). The research team is international and supportive, and the university is committed to equality and family-friendly policies.

Applicants should have a master's degree in biology or a related field, practical experience in microbiological techniques, and strong English skills. Desirable qualifications include molecular biology expertise, experience in evolution experiments, ecological and evolutionary theory, mass spectrometry, fluorescence microscopy, statistical analysis, and programming. Motivation, curiosity, teamwork, and independence are valued.

The position is funded for three years (E 13 TV-L, 65%). Applications should include a motivation letter, CV, certificates, and contact details of three referees, submitted as a single PDF to [email protected] by January 11, 2026, with reference number 'SKE' in the subject. For questions, contact Prof. Christian Kost ([email protected]) and visit the group website at www.kostlab.com.

Research keywords: microbial ecology, coevolution, metabolic cooperation, bacterial multicellularity, evolutionary biology, microbiology, fluorescence microscopy, mass spectrometry, microfluidics.