Job Advertisement HKI-32/2025

The Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Leibniz-HKI) investigates the pathobiology of human-pathogenic fungi and identifies targets for the development of novel natural product-based antibiotics. The research group Microbiome Dynamics invites talented and highly gifted candidates to apply as

Doctoral Researcher position (m/f/div) in Microbiome Systems Biology

The positions are initially limited to four years.

The Microbiome Dynamics (MBD) Department contributes to the development of personalized microbiome-based strategies to aid in the detection, monitoring, treatment, and prevention of human diseases (e.g., Li et al., Nature Metabolism 2024; Ni et al., Cell Metabolism 2023; Leung et al., Science Translational Medicine, 2022; Seelbinder et al., Nature Communications, 2023). MBD is currently coordinating the EU-funded consortium MiCCrobioTAckle (www.miccrobiotackle.eu/) , the BMBF-funded consortium PerMICCion ( www.permiccion.de ) , and is an active participant in the EU-funded consortia FOODGUARD ( www.foodguard-project.eu/ ) and NUTRIMMUNE, the Cluster of Excellence "Balance of the Microverse" ( www.microverse-cluster.de ) , the CRC/Transregio 124 "Pathogenic fungi and their human host: Networks of interaction" ( www.funginet.de ) funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and the consortium SynThera funded by the Carl Zeiss Foundation ( www.synthera.eu/ ).

We are seeking two excellent and enthusiastic Ph.D. students with a strong interest in microbiome research. The specific focus of the Ph.D. projects will be tailored to the candidate’s interests and will align with the objectives of the aforementioned consortia. These projects work at the interface of the gut microbiome, diet, and the immune system to investigate their roles in various diseases, including but not limited to cancer, metabolic disorders, and infections.

As part of this position, you will have the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research aimed at understanding microbiome-driven mechanisms and developing novel strategies for disease prevention and treatment. You will collaborate with renowned scientists in an interdisciplinary and international environment supported by state-of-the-art infrastructure. Together, we aim to advance science and contribute to a healthier, cleaner, and fairer society, fostering academic excellence in a collegial and inclusive setting.

Your profile:

• A strong interest in conducting collaborative research on the topic outlined above is paramount
• Candidates are expected to be interested in working at the boundaries of several research domains
• Master's degree in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Systems Biology, Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline
• Knowledge and experience in the analysis of metagenomics and/or biological high-throughput data
• Knowledge of statistical methods in the context of biological systems
• Experience with programming (Python, Perl, C++, R)
• Well-developed collaborative skills

We offer:

• The successful candidates will be hosted in the Department Microbiome Dynamics of Prof. Gianni Panagiotou of the Leibniz-HKI in an international, dynamic team and an "open-door" atmosphere with access to state-of-the-art computational resources.
• An international and multi-disciplinary environment with strong expertise in the proposed research fields. The group consists of approximately 15 members at different levels of seniority.
• Salary is paid according to German TV-L (salary agreement for public service employees). As an equal opportunity employer, the Leibniz-HKI is committed to increasing the percentage of female scientists and, therefore, especially encourages them to apply.

For further information

Please contact Prof. Dr. Gianni Panagiotou | +49 3641 532 1759 | career@leibniz-hki.de

Applications

Leibniz-HKI is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer and promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace. It aims to increase the proportion of underrepresented groups in case of equal suitability. All qualified persons, regardless of color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other classification protected by law, will receive consideration for employment.

Complete applications in English should include a cover letter, a CV containing a complete list of publications, a brief statement of research experiences, a certificate of study/transcript of records and the addresses of two possible referees and should be submitted via the Leibniz-HKI online application system. The deadline for the advertisement is July 29, 2025 , but applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.