About us:

The Merrow Lab at the Institute of Medical Psychology studies the circadian clock in prokaryotes using a foundation of chronobiological primciples and a powerful genetic model system, Bacillus subtilis. We ask questions not only about clock mechanisms but, in the tradition of Tinbergen, the ‘Why’ of the clock in this primitive organism. We are this interested also in how B. subtilis uses its clock to establish connections with its neighbours. The lab is supported with DFG and ERC funding for this pioneer project.

We are looking for you:

Postdoc position in Chronomicrobiology (Circadian Biology and Microbiology) (m/f/x)

in Munich

Your tasks and responsibilities:

We are hiring a post doctoral scientist to join our ERC-funded team of chronomicrobiologists, representing a new field that bridges microbiology and circadian biology. This project follows up on our novel discovery of a circadian clock in Bacillus subtilis, a finding that opens a new frontier in these fields. This position, based at LMU Munich, concerns cracking the molecular mechanism of the B. subtilis clock via implementation of a mutant screen. The scientist will use the outstanding toolkit afforded by B. subtilis to perform a genome-wide mutant screen. The work will be performed in close collaboration with our consortium partners at Leiden University (Netherlands) and The John Innes Centre (United Kingdom), thus requiring international travel and social skills consistent with cooperative working arrangements. The scientist will learn chronobiological principles and experimentation and will play a key part of discovering this novel clock mechanism. 

The application material of shortlisted candidates will be shared and assessed within the MicroClock leadership team.

Your qualifications:

• Experience in molecular biology of bacteria, Bacillus subtilis or other model species
• Skills in computer programming related to bioinformatics methods
• Affinity for quantitative data analysis
• Ability to think critically and work independently
• Ability to work in a highly collaborative (international) project.

Benefits:

• Project consistent with career development with a high degree of responsibility.
• Excellent infrastructure.
• A fully-funded position, salary conforms to TV-L E13, including end-of-year bonus.
• Professional career development resources within LMU.
• Participation in research consortium (MicroClock) and attendance of national and international conferences.
• Excellent public transportation.
• Lively neighbourhood and world class culture.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds and we appreciate diversity.

Also possible in a part-time capacity.

Contact:

Please send application materiatls to Professor Martha Merrow, Ph.D.: merrow@lmu.de

We look forward to receiving your complete application as a single PDF file (max. 2MB), including the following requirements:

1. Curriculum Vitae (max. two pages, written in English).
2. Short statement of your research interests and why you choose to apply for this (max. one page)
3. Contact details from three referees and how they interacted with you (one referee should be your PhD supervisor)

The application call closes on 30th January 2025.

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