Postdoc (f/m/d) Influence of microbiological processes on hydraulic, mechanical and chemical prop...

Area of research:

Scientific / postdoctoral posts

Starting date:

01.12.2026

Job description: Postdoc (f/m/d) Influence of microbiological processes on hydraulic, mechanical and chemical properties of potential backfill materials for the final disposal of high-level radioactive waste

With cutting-edge research in the fields of ENERGY, HEALTH and MATTER, around 1,500 employees from more than 70 nations at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) are committed to mastering the great challenges facing society today.

The Institute for Resource Ecology (IRE) conducts applied basic research into the protection of people and the environment from the effects of of pollutants resulting from technical processes of energy and raw material extraction. An important goal is a better understanding of fundamental processes that influence the transport and the accumulation of radiotoxic elements in the geo- and biosphere including the food chain. This also includes research on microbial activity in potential repositories for high-level radioactive waste.

The Group Deep Biosphere is looking for a Postdoc (f/m/d) for experimental research on the Influence of microbiological processes on hydraulic, mechanical and chemical properties of potential backfill materials for the final disposal of high-level radioactive waste , subject to project approval.

Microorganisms are naturally present in geotechnical barrier materials (backfill materials) and in the geological barrier of final repositories for high-level radioactive waste and, under certain conditions, can be metabolically active, interact with their environment in various ways and thus influence the properties of the barrier materials. The aim of the project is to investigate whether the natural microbial communities in the backfill materials influence its hydraulic, mechanical and chemical properties. This is being investigated through three parallel experimental approaches: microcosms, long-term observation cells and oedometer cells. This involves investigating the effects of microbial activity on the mineralogy and chemical composition of clays and clay pore solutions, swelling behaviour and permeability of clays; reaction behaviour of a container material at the interface with the clays and the effect of corrosion of a container material on the clay and the clay-pore solution.

Your tasks

# Conducting and evaluating experiments in microcosms and long-term observation cells under anoxic conditions in the presence of one type of backfill material and one type of container material
# Analysis of the gas phase by gas chromatography, and of the liquid phase by sensors, HPLC, HPIC and ICP-MS and the solid phase by XRD und RAMAN
# DNA extraction from the backfill material followed by 16S rRNA gene analysis
# Cultivation of anaerobic bacteria
# Conducting literature review, writing scientific publications, and presenting research results
# Supervising scientific supporting staff
# Supervision of (under)graduate and doctoral students as well as student courses

Your profile

# Completed university studies (PhD) in the field of Geosciences as geomicrobiology or geochemistry, Biology and Chemistry
# Relevant professional experience in the specified area
# Many years of experience in experimental laboratory work, high motivation and initiative
# Willingness to work with open radioactive materials in a radiation-controlled laboratory is required
# Excellent knowledge of a broad range of molecular biological (DNA extraction, 16S rRNA gene analysis), geochemical and analytical as well as spectroscopic (HPLC, HPIC, ICP-MS, XRD, SEM-EDX und RAMAN) methods are an advantage
# Strong planning, project and time management, and organizational skills are required
# Ability to communicate and carry out work in an interdisciplinary research team (radiochemistry, biochemistry, geochemistry, physical chemistry) and willingness to participate in scientific conferences and workshops
# Independent, structured, and solution-oriented way of working
# Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English

Our offer

# A vibrant research community in an open, diverse and international work environment
# Scientific excellence and extensive professional networking opportunities
# Salary and social benefits in accordance with the collective agreement for the public sector (TVöD-Bund) including 30 days of paid holiday leave, company pension scheme (VBL)
# Depending on the personal qualifications, the candidate may be classified in salary group 13 according to TVöD-Bund
# We support a good work-life balance with the possibility of part-time employment, mobile working and flexible working hours
# Numerous company health management offerings
# Employee discounts with well-known providers via the platform Corporate Benefits
# An employer subsidy for the "Deutschland-Ticket Jobticket"

We look forward to receiving your application documents (including cover letter, CV, diplomas/transcripts, contact details of two references, e.g. former superiors, etc.), which you can submit via our online-application-system.

This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over € 5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific organisation.

Company

The Helmholtz Association contributes to solving major challenges to assure the future of our society. With more than 47.500 people on staff in 18 national Research Centers and an annual budget of more than 6 billion euros, the Helmholtz Association is Germany’s largest scientific organization. The name Helmholtz stands for concerted research, in which networks form the key principle behind inquiring thought and action.

The profile of the Helmholtz Association

The Helmholtz Association performs cutting-edge research which contributes substantially to solving the grand challenges of science, society and industry. To succeed in meeting these responsibilities, Helmholtz concentrates its work in six research fields: Energy, Earth and Environment, Health, Information, Matter, as well as Aeronautics, Space and Transport. Within each of these fields, research programs are developed by our scientists and regularly evaluated by renowned international experts. Their evaluation forms the basis for the program-oriented funding that is allocated to Helmholtz research. Within the six research fields, Helmholtz scientists cooperate with each other and with external partners – working across disciplinary, organizational and national borders.

Moreover, Helmholtz specializes in large-scale research infrastructures – from accelerator facilities, earth observation satellites, research ships to supercomputers. They form the basis for scientific advances in tackling global societal challenges. Managing national research infrastructure is part of the Helmholtz Association's mission.

Promoting young academics

Helmholtz scientists, a high-performance infrastructure and modern and efficient research management are the ingredients to the Helmholtz Association‘s success and global impact.
Promoting young researchers is a major priority for the Helmholtz Association. Its qualification schemes for young researchers are geared mainly towards PhD students, postdocs and young managers. The Helmholtz Association has set high standards for its talent management. Its strategy begins with targeted recruitment of highly qualified staff at all levels, followed by comprehensive support aimed at further developing their potential. Ensuring equal opportunities is an essential element in all talent management activities undertaken by the Helmholtz Association.

The Helmholtz Graduate Schools and Research Schools at almost all Helmholtz Centers provide doctoral students with the general and specific skills and training they need, as well as ample opportunity to network. The period following a doctorate is decisive in determining the direction and success of a scientific career. For this reason, we established Career Development Centers for postdoctoral researchers in the Helmholtz Centers. This equips young researchers with the skills they need to go on to head a Helmholtz Investigator Group , for example. As an Investigator Group leader, junior scientists can independently set up their own group to conduct research in their specialist field and acquire management skills.

Within its talent management strategy, the Helmholtz Association pays special attention to the increased recruitment of talented female scientists both from Germany and abroad. To this end, there are currently two funding programs supporting this policy: and Helmholtz Distinguished Professorship – Funding for the recruitment of leading international female scientists (W3) .

The increasing complexity of the content, structures and framework conditions of scientific work today requires researchers to organize their projects, their employees and, of course, themselves in a highly professional and effective way. In response to these demands, we have set up the Helmholtz Leadership Academy to provide leaders in science with professional management training. Furthermore, the Helmholtz network provides a platform for the alumni of the Helmholtz Leadership Academy to come together and share their experiences of leadership, career development and lifelong learning.

All of this combined makes the 18 Research Centers of the Helmholtz Association a highly attractive environment for talented researchers from all over the world.

Company info

Telephone

0049-30-206329-0

Location

Anna-Louisa-Karsch-Str. 2
Berlin
Berlin
10178
Germany