Scientific project assistant predoctoral

The working group of Marine Microbial Biogeochemistry at the Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology of the University of Vienna investigates how microorganisms shape carbon cycling and biogeochemical processes in the ocean, from coastal waters to the deep sea.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, curious and communicative colleague who enjoys working in the laboratory, in the field and at sea as part of an international team. Does that sound like something for you? Apply to join our team!

Your personal sphere of influence:

As a scientific project assistant (predoctoral), you will join the research team around Dr. Thomas Reinthaler in the FWF-funded project “Variability of Ecologically Relevant Bacterioneuston (VERA)”. The project is carried out in collaboration with the University of Oldenburg and is embedded in a larger research group with prominent German universities and research institutes.

You will investigate which bacteria are active in the sea-surface microlayer, the boundary layer between ocean and atmosphere, and how they vary over a seasonal cycle and along an Atlantic transect. By combining single-cell activity measurements with metagenomics and metatranscriptomics, you will identify the traits that allow key taxa such as SAR11 and Roseobacteraceae to thrive at the air-sea interface.

The start of the contract is 1 February 2027. The employment period is 3.5 years from the beginning of the contract.

As a team, an open, collaborative and respectful working environment is important to us.

Your future tasks:

You actively participate in research and teaching, which means:

• You sample the SML and the underlying water in northern Germany together with our project partners at GEOMAR in Kiel, during the first project year only (about 3 days per month, first sampling in February 2027).
• You take part in the research cruise of RV METEOR across the tropical and subtropical Atlantic (February/March 2028), including sampling and shipboard experiments.
• You measure the activity of specific bacterial groups at the single-cell level using CARD-FISH, BONCAT and Redox Sensor Green (RSG), combined with flow cytometry and microscopy.
• You extract nucleic acids, prepare metagenomic and metatranscriptomic samples and analyse the data bioinformatically (about 85% laboratory and field work, 15% bioinformatics).
• You co-supervise MSc students in the laboratory; teaching can be added at a later stage if you wish.
• You aim for a doctoral thesis comprising three papers within the Vienna Doctoral School of Ecology and Evolution (VDSEE) and present your results at international conferences and project meetings.
• You collaborate closely with the project partners at the University of Oldenburg and GEOMAR Kiel.

This is part of your personality:

• Completed Master's degree or equivalent qualification in marine biology, microbiology, biological oceanography, biogeochemistry or a closely related field by the employment start date
• Experience in molecular or microbiological laboratory methods and in fluorescence microscopy, and skills in bioinformatics (e.g. R, Linux command line) together with the motivation to expand them
• Excellent command of written and spoken English, as English is the working language of our laboratory
• You are a team player with high social and communicative skills, as you will work closely with colleagues and partners in Vienna, Oldenburg, Kiel and on board ship
• Willingness to travel to Kiel for monthly sampling (about 3 days) during the first project year, and to join the RV METEOR research cruise in 2028
• Desirable: experience with CARD-FISH, flow cytometry or omics data, sea-going experience, scientific presentations

What we offer:

Employment: The employment duration is 3.5 years at 30 hours per week (75%). Doctoral training and degree-related activities are additional to the contracted hours.

Work-life balance: Our employees enjoy flexible working hours and can partially work remotely, apart from fieldwork and cruise periods.

Inspiring working atmosphere: You are part of an international academic team in a healthy and fair working environment, with access to state-of-the-art facilities for microbial ecology and to the Life Science Compute Cluster of the University of Vienna.

Good public transport connections: Your workplace is easily accessible by public transport.

Internal further training & coaching: Opportunity to deepen your skills on an ongoing basis. There are over 600 courses to choose from, free of charge. As a member of the Vienna Doctoral School of Ecology and Evolution you also have access to structured doctoral training.

Fair salary: The basic salary corresponds to the collective agreement for employees of the universities according to §48 VwGr. B1 basic level (praedoc). At 2026 rates, the 30-hour position corresponds to approximately EUR 2,832 gross per month (14 times per year); the applicable collective-agreement rate at the 2027 start date will apply.

Equal opportunities for all: We welcome every additional/new personality to the team!

Get off to a great start in your new job: the  Welcome Compass helps you settle into your new role at the University of Vienna and life in Vienna.

It is that easy to apply:

• A short motivation letter of 1-2 pages explaining your fit with the project and research. At the end of the motivation letter, please include a brief AI-use statement indicating whether generative AI or other AI-assisted tools were used in preparing any part of the application materials and, if so, for which purpose(s). Applicants remain fully responsible for the accuracy, authenticity and content of all submitted materials. If no such tools were used, a one-line statement to this effect is sufficient.
• A concise tabular CV of no more than 3 pages, including education, relevant research or employment, methods and software skills, publications or presentations where applicable
• Copy of the Master's thesis
• Contact details for two referees.
• Via our job portal / Apply now button.