Jobs & Positions
As a service to the molecular life science community, we offer free advertising of academic vacancies (postdoctoral positions, PhD positions, fellowships, etc.) on this webpage. Alerts to new postings are shared via . See guidelines on how to post a vacancy at the end of this section.
positions
Last update: 24 February 2026
Junior Research Groups (m/f/d) Infection Biology
(The Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research)
The Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) is a member of the Helmholtz Association, Germany鈥檚 largest research organization. We cooperate with our regional University partners, the Technical University of Braunschweig (TU-BS), the Hannover Medical School (MHH), and the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (TiHo). HZI is a key member of the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF).
Within the newly established聽HUMAN program听(), we seek exceptional researchers to join us on our journey to understand the complex interplay of humans and microbes in the fight against infectious diseases. We are recruiting early-career scientists to develop independent programs committed to research excellence and translation in the following areas:
- Pioneering foundational infection research
- Breakthrough technology-oriented research
Research and technology areas of particular interest include, but are not limited to, microbiology, phage biology, virology, immunology, vaccinology, spatial OMICS, drug research, digital epidemiology, precision infection medicine, OneHealth, RNA-biology, human tissue engineering, or synthetic viral and bacterial engineering. Your group will be embedded within the vibrant scientific environment of HZI with access to multiple University partners, human cohort studies and human tissue samples, and help create and drive the next generation of infection research in Europe.
Requirements:
You are a highly qualified junior scientist holding a PhD or PhD equivalent. Postdoctoral training and early-stage independent research are welcome, but we will also consider outstanding applicants immediately post-graduation. You have an exceptional international track record in your field of research, excellent communication skills in English, enjoy taking on leadership roles, and guide master’s and PhD students through their career paths. Experience in securing third-party funding is welcome, but not required.
We offer some of the most competitive research positions in the world:
Your Junior Research Group will be funded for a period of 5 years initially. Funding covers the group leader鈥檚 salary, depending on the level of experience (鈧�74,300聽– 鈧�91,900 annually), three staff positions (one PostDoc, one PhD student and a lab technician), as well as consumables (鈧�80,000/year), and a generous start-up package to purchase lab equipment (up to 鈧�150,000; negotiable). Based on an external review, successful group leaders will be offered an extension period of up to 4 years, with a subsequent opportunity to securing a permanent position at the HZI (tenure). The position comes with a junior professorship option at one of our partner universities in Lower Saxony.
Benefits at a glance:
- An attractive and multi-faceted job in a future-oriented research institute with an international environment in the city of Braunschweig, Lower Saxony, a highly affordable area of the country in one of Europe鈥檚 most research-dense geographical locations
- Access to cutting-edge core infrastructures, research networks and a variety of support offices
- Dedicated office to support families, including childcare solutions, strategic career support to develop professional knowledge and personal skills, third-party funding acquisition, mentoring and more
- Flexible working hours, home office option
- A corporate culture of appreciation and promotion of equal opportunities
- 30 vacation days plus an annual salary bonus
Candidates with severe disabilities and equivalent professional qualifications who are suitable for the position are given preference. In order to protect your rights, we ask you to provide us with a clearly recognizable reference to the existence of a degree of severe disability in your cover letter or resume.
The HZI is actively committed to diversity, equality, and integration (DEI). HZI pursues gender equality and expressly welcomes applications from qualified women. The position is suitable for part-time work.
Starting date:聽As soon as possible. The contract will initially run for 5 years.
厂补濒补谤测:听E15 TV枚D Bund
Working time:聽39 hours per week
Place of work:聽Braunschweig
Probation period:聽6 months
Closing date:聽30/03/2026
For further information, please contact Dr. Dirk Spitzer, phone +49 (0)531 6181-2066, email:聽[email protected]
How to apply: Please upload聽your application in our career portal.
Please include聽with your application a cover letter, CV, a list of publications, a separate outline of previous achievements and future research interests (max. 2 pages), a completed application form (), an outline of how DEI will be implemented in your future laboratory (max. half a page) and the names, addresses and e-mail addresses of three references. Please refrain from sending a photo.
Junior Research Groups (m/f/d)聽AI in Health and Infection Research
(The Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research)
The Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) is a member of the Helmholtz Association, Germany鈥檚 largest research organization. We cooperate with our regional University partners, TU-Braunschweig (TU-BS), the Hannover Medical School (MHH), the Leibniz University Hannover (LUH), the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (TiHo), and G枚ttingen University.聽HZI is a key member of the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF).
Within the newly established聽HUMAN program听(), we invite applications from exceptional early-career scientists to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) to address the following focus areas:
- AI-supported Mechanistic Mathematical Modelling and Simulation of biological systems in, but not limited to, infection research聽through e.g. lifecycle-structure discovery and model conception, calibration and data assimilation, uncertainty quantification, surrogate and operator learning to accelerate simulation, optimal experimental design, or model-based control/decision support.
- Computational Network Sciences and AI for Biology and Health聽that combine聽innovative, AI-driven research programs聽through network theory and AI, mechanistic mathematical modeling, Bayesian inference/uncertainty quantification, physics-informed neural networks, or reconstructions, analyses, or predictions of complex biological network behaviors.
The groups will be embedded within the vibrant scientific environment of the聽Braunschweig Integrated Centre of Systems Biology聽(BRICS), which is part of the Lower Saxony聽Center for Artificial Intelligence and Causal Methods in Medicine聽(颁础滨惭别诲;听), providing exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. Moreover, your group will be part of the Helmholtz AI program, one of the premier AI initiatives and data hubs in the world.
Requirements:
You are a highly qualified junior scientist holding a PhD or PhD equivalent. Postdoctoral training and early-stage independent research are welcome, but we will also consider outstanding applicants immediately post-graduation. You have an exceptional international track record in your field of research, excellent communication skills in English, enjoy taking on leadership roles, and guide master’s and PhD students through their career paths. Experience in securing third-party funding is welcome, but not required.
We offer聽some of the most competitive research positions in the world:
Your Junior Research Group will be funded for a period of 5 years initially. Funding covers the group leader鈥檚 salary, depending on the level of experience (鈧�74,300 – 鈧�91,900 annually), three staff positions (one PostDoc, two PhD students), as well as consumables (鈧�16,000/year), and a generous start-up package to purchase equipment (up to 鈧�150,000; negotiable). Based on an external review, successful group leaders will be offered an extension period of up to 4 years, with a subsequent opportunity to securing a permanent position at the HZI (tenure). The position comes with a junior professorship option at one of our partner Universities in Lower Saxony.
Benefits at a glance:
- An attractive and multi-faceted job in a future-oriented research institute with an international environment in the city of Braunschweig, Lower Saxony, a highly affordable area of the country in one of Europe鈥檚 most research-dense locations
- Access to cutting-edge core infrastructures, research networks and a variety of support offices
- Dedicated office to support families, including childcare solutions, strategic career support to develop professional knowledge and personal skills, third-party funding acquisition, mentoring and more
- Flexible working hours, home office option
- A corporate culture of appreciation and promotion of equal opportunities
- 30 vacation days plus an annual salary bonus
Candidates with severe disabilities and equivalent professional qualifications who are suitable for the position are given preference. In order to protect your rights, we ask you to provide us with a clearly recognizable reference to the existence of a degree of severe disability in your cover letter or resume.
The HZI is actively committed to diversity, equality, and integration (DEI). The HZI pursues gender equality and expressly welcomes applications from qualified women. The position is suitable for part-time work.
Starting date:聽As soon as possible. The contract will initially run for 5 years.
厂补濒补谤测:听E15 TV枚D Bund
Working time:聽39 hours per week
Place of work:聽Braunschweig
Probation period:聽6 months
Closing date:聽30/03/2026
For further information, please contact Dr. Dirk Spitzer, phone +49 (0)531 6181-2066, email:聽[email protected]
How to apply: Please upload your application in our career portal.
Please include with your application a cover letter, CV, a list of publications, a separate outline of previous achievements and future research interests (max. 2 pages), a completed application form (), an outline of how DEI will be implemented in your future laboratory (max. half a page) and the names, addresses and e-mail addresses of three references. Please refrain from sending a photo.
Guidelines for posting a vacancy
Advertisements should include the following information听(max. 250 words): a heading stating the position available and聽the name and location of the research institution; a brief description of the position; application deadline and start date; full contact details to which applications and questions should be addressed; a URL/website address where additional information on the position is available. Please send the posting in an email to聽[email protected]聽stating vacancy in the subject line, at least 14 days prior to any of the mentioned dates.
Positions available will be listed according to their application deadline (soonest first).