technical assistant or laboratory technician (m/f/d)

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 Benthic Geomicrobiology Group within the Marine Geosystems Research Unit investigates microbial communities in the seafloor, from shallow coastal environments to the deep sea. We focus on how environmental changes affect microbial communities and their metabolic processes and how microorganisms in turn influence element cycling in marine sediments. Our research combines microbiological, molecular and biogeochemical analyses with field and ship-based studies.

In the planned project “Research on Alkalinity Enhancement at the Bülk Wastewater Treatment Plant, Kiel”, we investigate the ecological effects of Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE). The aim is to assess its effects on microbial communities and biogeochemical processes and thereby evaluate the potential and possible ecological risks of this marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) strategy.

To support the work within this project the group is seeking a

technical assistant or laboratory technician (m/f/d)

starting 15^th January 2027.

Job description/Project description

You will prepare sampling campaigns with research divers, participate in day trips and short ship-based fieldwork and process sediment and water samples. In the laboratory, you will independently perform microbiological, molecular and biogeochemical analyses, including DNA and RNA extractions and microscopic analyses. You will be responsible for quality control, troubleshoot and contribute to the optimization of established methods. In addition, you will support laboratory organization, equipment maintenance and procurement and work closely with project partners.

Your Qualifications

required:

• Completed training as a biological technical assistant, biology laboratory technician, chemical-technical assistant or chemical laboratory technician (or comparable qualification) 
• Solid practical work experience in microbiological and/or molecular biological laboratory methods
• Willingness and ability to participate in 1-2-day sea-going expeditions
• Very good German and English skills, both written and spoken

desirable:

• Experience in DNA and RNA extraction from sediments or environmental samples
• Experience in preparing DNA/RNA libraries for sequencing
• Knowledge of cell staining methods and practical experience with light, fluorescence or scanning electron microscopy
• Basic understanding of microbiological metabolic processes
• Experience with data analysis using Excel and R, including sequence data analysis
• Practical experience in field and ship-based work, particularly sediment core processing

At a workplace, directly on the Kiel Fjord with many leisure and recreational opportunities, we offer you:

• Good conditions for work-life balance: We offer, among other benefits, the possibility of mobile working and individual working time arrangements, vacation courses for the children of our employees and good support in finding a place in a day-care centre at the Kiel site
• Support services for professional and personal life situations
• An exciting work environment with the opportunity to provide important impetus for the development of sustainable solutions
• Exciting topics in an international environment
• Work in the field of marine and climate research, a forward-looking area with social significance
• 31 vacation days plus additional time off at Christmas and New Year’s Eve
• Company pension plan and capital-forming benefits

The position is fixed-term for 36 months and subject to funding approval. The salary depends on the qualification and could be up to the class E9a TVöD-Bund of the German tariff for public employees. The regular weekly working hours correspond to those of a full-time employee. The position can be split, provided that it is filled on a full-time basis. Flexible working time models are generally possible.

GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel seeks to increase the proportion of female scientists and explicitly encourages qualified female academics to apply. GEOMAR is an equal opportunity employer and encourages scientists with disabilities to apply. Qualified disabled applicants will receive preference in the application process.

Please send your complete, informative application documents, including contact details for one reference, 26^th October 2026, under the following link:

Online application

As soon as the selection procedure has finished, all your application data will be removed according to data protection regulation. 

For further information regarding the position and research unit please contact Dr. Stefanie Böhnke-Brandt (Tel.: 0431 600-1234, sboehnke-brandt(at)geomar.de). For all other questions, send us an e-mail to bewerbung(at)geomar.de. In doing so, please refer to the keyword “TA-Bülk”.

For further information on GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel or the Helmholtz Association, please visit www.geomar.de or www.helmholtz.de.

GEOMAR is committed to an objective and non-discriminatory personnel selection. Our job advertisements address all people. We expressly renounce the submission of application photos.