Postdoctoral Researcher in Bioinformatics for Enzyme Engineering and Biocatalysis at University of Bern

The Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences (DCBP) at the University of Bern is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher in Bioinformatics to join the Buller Laboratory. This interdisciplinary research program focuses on enzyme discovery and engineering for biocatalysis, integrating genome mining, molecular dynamics, machine learning, structural biology, and experimental enzyme engineering. The successful candidate will contribute to the development and analysis of biocatalysts for sustainable chemical synthesis, playing a key role in identifying novel enzymes from genomic datasets, guiding protein engineering strategies, and developing predictive models for enzyme function and performance. The University of Bern is a leading Swiss institution, ranked 104 in the 2025 Times World Universities Rankings, and offers a vibrant academic environment with state-of-the-art facilities, including X-ray, NMR, and advanced mass spectrometry instrumentation. The DCBP emphasizes sustainability and catalysis as central research themes, providing a collaborative and international setting for advanced research in chemical biology and bioinformatics. Applicants should hold a PhD in bioinformatics, chemistry, biochemistry, computational biology, protein design, drug design/discovery, or a Master's degree with at least 3 years of relevant experience. Essential skills include expertise in protein-ligand complex modeling, molecular docking, visualization and analysis of protein structures, molecular dynamics or QM/MM simulations, programming (preferably Python3), and fluency in English. Experience with machine learning frameworks, Rosetta/PyRosetta, NGS data analysis, versioning, package management, containerization, Unix-based systems, and HPC infrastructures are considered assets. The position involves supporting the supervision of internships, Bachelor's, and Master's theses, and offers opportunities for further education and career development. The position is a fixed-term, 80-100% employment with progressive employment and social security provisions according to cantonal guidelines. The University of Bern provides a strong research infrastructure, international network, and individual career support. Applications must be submitted by March 30th, 2026, including a motivation letter, CV, contact details of two references, and a research summary in a single PDF file. For further information or questions, applicants may contact Professor Rebecca Buller-Blomberg at [email protected]. Keywords: bioinformatics, enzyme engineering, biocatalysis, chemical biology, protein design, machine learning, structural biology, genome mining, molecular dynamics, computational biology.