Research Associate (Doctoral Researcher / PhD Candidate) in Space Microbiology
PhD opportunity in Space Microbiology at the University of Bremen
The University of Bremen’s Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM) is offering a full-time, fixed-term Research Associate / Doctoral Researcher / PhD Candidate position in the field of Space Microbiology. The successful candidate will join the ERC-funded MarCyano project, which investigates how cyanobacteria could be used to support sustainable human exploration of Mars.
The project focuses on understanding cyanobacterial physiology under Martian-relevant conditions, including low pressure, limited nitrogen availability, basaltic substrates, and high chaotropic salt concentrations. The team combines cultivation experiments, adaptive laboratory evolution, omics technologies, mathematical modelling, and the development of experimental testbeds and photobioreactor hardware. The role is highly interdisciplinary and sits at the intersection of microbiology, engineering, modelling, and space systems research.
Main tasks include conceiving photobioreactor hardware for cyanobacterial cultivation on Mars, developing a mathematical growth model, conducting and analysing experiments on cyanobacterial behaviour in extreme environments, and helping to design and build a testbed with support from ZARM engineers. The position also involves routine laboratory work, mentoring junior students, and producing doctoral research outputs such as a thesis and scientific publications.
Applicants should hold, or be near completion of, a Master’s degree or equivalent in Biology, Engineering, Mathematics, or Physics. The ad explicitly welcomes candidates in the final stage of their Master’s degree, provided the degree certificate is submitted before employment begins. Essential experience includes bioprocess modelling and hardware development. Good written and spoken English at CEFR B2 level is required, while German is not required.
The appointment is based at the University of Bremen in Germany and is funded through the European Research Council project MarCyano. The role is paid under the TV-L collective agreement, with a gross annual salary range of €57,112 to €81,176 depending on qualifications and experience. The post runs for three years and ends no later than 31 January 2030.
Applications must be submitted by 18 August 2026. Candidates should provide a CV, degree certificates, references if applicable, two referees’ contact details, and a motivation letter of up to two pages. The application should be sent as a single PDF by unencrypted email to Prof. Dr. Cyprien Verseux at [email protected], quoting reference A146-26. A postal option is also given for applicants who prefer to apply by post.
