Research Associate position the Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry

Creating knowledge. Doing meaningful work. Shaping the future. This is what the University of Münster stands for – one of Germany’s leading research universities and one of the region’s largest employers. Over 7,000 employees are committed every day to cutting-edge international research and excellent teaching. What unites us is more than just a workplace: it’s the ambition to make a difference together – regionally and internationally. Diversity, openness, and freedom for individual ideas characterize our daily work. Become part of our team in academia, technology, skilled trades, or administration.

The Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry (Prof. Dr. Björn Burckhardt’s research group) in Department 12 at the University of Münster is seeking to fill the following position starting August 1, 2026:

Research Associate (E 13 TV-L)

The position is to be filled. A part-time position (50%) is offered, limited to a term of 3 years.

The Burckhardt research group focuses on the mass spectrometric investigation of key, pathophysiologically relevant peptide cascades in humans. A particular focus is the kallikrein-kinin system, which is closely linked to the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, the complement system, and neurokinins, but whose complex interplay remains insufficiently described. The kallikrein-kinin system plays a significant role in widespread diseases such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and cancer, as well as in rare diseases like hereditary angioedema and inflammatory conditions such as sepsis and malaria. A better understanding of these cascades and their interactions is expected to lead to new therapeutic approaches. Furthermore, (pre)clinical studies of new drugs are being conducted to optimize existing treatment concepts for these diseases.

Your tasks:

• Using state-of-the-art (imaging) mass spectrometry, research is conducted on peptide/protein cascades in the body’s own regulatory circuits in healthy and diseased individuals.
• Development, validation and application of mass spectrometric methods to biological samples (plasma, urine, tissue, etc.) for (pre-)clinical research questions
• The position involves carrying out a doctoral research project.
• Supportive collaboration in multicenter clinical trials
• Writing scientific texts regarding the results obtained during research activities and publishing them
• Imparting specialist knowledge to students and instruction in the application of scientific methods

Our expectations:

• A university degree in a natural science field, such as pharmacy, chemistry, biochemistry, biomedicine, bio/pharmaceutical technology and related disciplines, completed with above-average grades is required.
• Proven experience in applying basic and advanced scientific technologies to transfer research into industrial practice
• Relevant internships in academia or the pharmaceutical industry are welcome.
• Experience with mass spectrometry and HPLC is advantageous.
• Great interest in questions in the field of pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics
• Willingness and ability to work in interdisciplinary and international teams
• Excellent German and English skills, both spoken and written.
• Furthermore, an independent work style, teamwork skills, good communication and organizational skills are expected.

Your benefit:

• Scientific work with the aim of obtaining a doctorate in a very active and very well-connected research team
• Appreciation, commitment, openness and respect – these are values ​​that are important to us.
• Whether it’s caregiving or childcare – our Family Service Office offers you concrete support services to help you balance your private and professional life.
• Your individual, tailor-made training and further education is not only important to us as an educational institution, but a matter close to our hearts.
• From Aikido to Zumba – our sports and health offerings from A to Z ensure your work-life balance.
• They benefit from numerous public service perks such as an attractive company pension scheme ( VBL ), an annual bonus payment and a workplace that is hardly affected by economic fluctuations.

The University of Münster is committed to equal opportunities and diversity . We welcome all applications regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic or social origin, religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual orientation or identity. Providing family-friendly working conditions is a matter of course for us.

Applications from women are expressly encouraged. In cases of equal suitability, qualifications, and professional performance, women will be given preferential consideration unless there are overriding reasons related to a male applicant.

If you have any questions beforehand, please feel free to contact Prof. Dr. Björn Burckhardt ( burckhardt@uni-muenster.de ).

Have we sparked your interest? Then we look forward to receiving your application by May 31, 2026 , exclusively as a single PDF file to burckhardt@uni-muenster.de . Please note that we cannot accept other file formats.