GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel is a foundation under public law jointly financed by the Federal Republic of Germany (90%) and the State of Schleswig-Holstein (10%). It is one of the internationally leading institutions in the field of marine research.

Through our research and our commitment to the transfer of knowledge and technology, we contribute significantly to the preservation of the function and protection of the ocean for future generations.

The research unit Chemical Oceanography of the research division Marine Biogeochemistry is offering the following position, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and starting on June 1st, 2026 (start date is negotiable). The position offers the possibility to attain a doctoral degree in natural sciences.
Project Description

Photosynthetic microorganisms in the oceans drive biogeochemical cycles, sustain the aquatic food web, and regulate climate through carbon cycling. However, the health and productivity of these microbes is under threat by disturbances in their marine environment. For example, shortages of the essential nutrient phosphorus have increased during the last decade, and are predicted to worsen in the future. To cope with phosphorus scarcity, marine phytoplankton produce metal-dependent enzymes to fulfill their nutritional requirements from alternative phosphorus sources. Therefore, understanding the biochemical mechanisms of these metalloenzymes in microbial nutrient metabolism is key to predicting marine productivity under global change and to illuminating the future of our global earth system.
The advertised doctoral project will contribute to this research question by a) investigating the growth of marine phytoplankton under different nutrient availabilities, including phosphorus and trace metals; b) studying the molecular mechanisms of microbial metalloenzymes, including cofactors, substrates, and kinetics; and c) integrating these results into global processes using (meta)proteomics and metallomics in the laboratory and environment.
This doctoral position will be part of the research group “Metalloenzymes” led by Dr. Viktoria Steck, funded by the DFG under the Emmy Noether grant “Coupled Phosphorus and Manganese Controls on Ocean Ecosystem Fertility”. The candidate will be working in close collaboration with the PI, the team members of the research unit Chemical Oceanography, and other researchers at GEOMAR and at international partner universities. Enrollment into the FYORD program (Foster Young Ocean Researcher Development) offers doctoral career development opportunities as well as interdisciplinary networking with over 100 peers and professionals within the center “Kiel Marine Sciences” including Christian Albrechts University.

Job Description


Sterile culturing of marine microorganisms (eukaryotes and prokaryotes)
Recombinant expression, purification, biochemical characterization of metalloproteins
(Meta-)proteomics and metallomics analyses via mass spectrometry and bioinformatics
Experiments under trace-metal clean conditions in a certified clean room
Field sampling aboard oceanographic research vessels and at time series stations
Presentation of research findings in scientific journals and at conferences
Engagement in scientific collaborations with local and international partners
required:

M.Sc. in (Bio-)Chemistry, (Micro-)Biology, Molecular Biology, Biogeochemistry, Earth Sciences, Oceanography, Microbial Ecology, Genomics or related field of study, to be obtained close to the doctoral project start date
Laboratory experience in biochemistry (e.g., microbial culturing, molecular cloning, protein purification, enzyme activity assays, ‘omics (proteomics, transcriptomics, genomics and similar techniques))
Experience in data handling and statistics (e.g. excel, R, python)
Good English language skills (written and spoken)

desirable:


Laboratory experience in instrumental analytics (e.g., mass spectrometry, sp...