About the opportunity
The working group of Marine Microbial Biogeochemistry at the Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology of the University of Vienna is seeking an enthusiastic, curious, and communicative colleague. As a predoctoral scientific project assistant, you will join the research team around Dr. Thomas Reinthaler in the FWF-funded project “Variability of Ecologically Relevant Bacterioneuston (VERA)”. The project investigates which bacteria are active in the sea-surface microlayer, the boundary layer between ocean and atmosphere, and how they vary over a seasonal cycle and along an Atlantic transect by combining single-cell activity measurements with metagenomics and metatranscriptomics. You will aim for a doctoral thesis comprising three papers within the Vienna Doctoral School of Ecology and Evolution (VDSEE).
Salary and benefits
- Employment duration of 3.5 years at 30 hours per week (75%), with doctoral training and degree-related activities additional to contracted hours.
- Basic salary corresponding to the collective agreement for employees of the universities under §48 VwGr. B1 basic level (praedoc), approximately EUR 2,832 gross per month (14 times per year) at 2026 rates.
- Flexible working hours and opportunities for partial remote work outside of fieldwork and cruise periods.
- Access to state-of-the-art facilities for microbial ecology, the Life Science Compute Cluster, and structured doctoral training.
- Access to over 600 free internal further training and coaching courses.
Who can apply?
- Completed Master's degree or equivalent qualification in marine biology, microbiology, biological oceanography, biogeochemistry, or a closely related field by the employment start date.
- Experience in molecular or microbiological laboratory methods and fluorescence microscopy, alongside skills in bioinformatics (e.g., R, Linux command line).
- Excellent command of written and spoken English.
- High social and communicative skills with a collaborative team spirit.
- Willingness to travel to Kiel for monthly sampling (about 3 days per month) during the first project year and to join the RV METEOR research cruise in 2028.
Required documents
- A short motivation letter of 1-2 pages explaining fit with the project and research, including a brief AI-use statement at the end.
- A concise tabular CV of no more than 3 pages, including education, relevant research or employment, methods and software skills, and publications or presentations.
- Copy of the Master's thesis.
- Contact details for two referees.
When to apply
- Application deadline: 2026-11-20.
How to apply
- Prepare all required application documents including the motivation letter with an AI-use statement, CV, Master's thesis copy, and referee contact details.
- Submit your application through the official University of Vienna job portal using the 'Apply now' button by the deadline of November 20, 2026.
Additional information
- The start date of the contract is 1 February 2027.
- Fieldwork sampling at GEOMAR in Kiel takes place during the first project year only, for about 3 days per month starting in February 2027.
- The RV METEOR research cruise across the tropical and subtropical Atlantic is scheduled for February and March 2028.
- The position involves roughly 85% laboratory and field work, and 15% bioinformatics.
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Ideal for early-career researchers holding a Master's degree in marine biology, microbiology, or biogeochemistry who want to pursue a structured PhD.
- Strong fit for candidates with hands-on molecular laboratory experience and a keen interest in combining field campaigns, oceanographic cruises, and single-cell biology.
- Well-suited for independent researchers who thrive in collaborative, international multi-institutional scientific environments.
What should you think carefully about?
- Requires regular travel and fieldwork periods during the first year in Kiel, Germany, as well as participation in an extended ocean research cruise in 2028.
- The position is contracted for 30 hours per week (75% employment), which requires careful time management to balance research tasks and doctoral studies.
- Fixed-term employment contract limited to 3.5 years.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This predoctoral position directly supports the goal of completing a structured doctoral degree (PhD) within a recognized European doctoral school while producing high-impact publications in marine microbial ecology. It provides valuable international networking, sea-going research experience, and advanced technical skills in both wet-lab molecular methods and bioinformatics.
Our take
This is an excellent opportunity for aspiring marine microbiologists and biogeochemists seeking fully funded doctoral training within a prominent research group. Candidates unwilling to undertake regular travel during the first year or participate in shipboard research should carefully evaluate the fieldwork requirements before applying.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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