PhD position – microbial metabolic engineering

Last date to apply: 31.01.2026
Number of Positions: 01

Our Profile

We, the Institute of Applied Microbiology at RWTH Aachen University, are seeking a talented and motivated individual who is interested in pursuing a PhD in the field of microbial metabolic engineering as part of the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Joint Doctoral Network ‘Better BioBased Polymer Network’.

The B3PO-educational network comprises nine academic laboratories with core competencies in biotechnology, organic polymer synthesis and materials science, world-leading industrial companies that manufacture enzymes and polymers, and four high-tech-KMU to form an interdisciplinary, cross-sector consortium.

The doctoral project (DC08) offered here focuses on pathway rewiring for novel compound biosynthesis, dynamic regulation strategies to balance growth and production, and tolerance engineering to overcome stress from product accumulation.

Your Profile

• Completed university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in biotechnology or related fields
• Backroud/Experience in molecular biology or yeast microbiology as well as in the field of metabolic engineering is beneficial
• No doctoral degree should have been obtained at the time of recruitment
• At the time of recruitment, the researcher should not have lived in Germany or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) for more than 12 months in the last three years prior to the date of recruitment. (Military service and/or short stays such as holidays are not taken into).
• Willingness to be sent on secondments to network partners
• You are fluent in spoken and written English

Your Duties and Responsibilities

• Independent laboratory and research work under the guidance of an academic supervisor and in collaboration with other B3PO-DCs.
• Writing scientific publications and presenting results at workshops, conferences and training courses.
• Active participation in B3PO training activities and collaboration within the network.

What We Offer

The successful candidate will be employed under a regular employment contract.
The position is to be filled by 3/1/2026 and offered for a fixed term of three years.
The fixed-term employment is possible as it constitutes one of the fixed-term options of the Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz (German Act on Fixed-term Scientific Contracts).
This is a part-time contract position.
The standard weekly hours will be 25,89 hours.
This is a part-time contract position (65 % of the standard weekly hours for full-time employees).
The successful candidate has the opportunity to pursue a doctoral degree in this position.
The salary is based on the German public service salary scale (TV-L).
The position corresponds to a pay grade of EG 13 TV-L.