Postdoc Biology - Medical Biotechnology, Sequencing Library (m/f/d)

Beschreibung

Job opening in the Genomics Core Facility of the Department Medical Biotechnology of the Paul Ehrlich Institute at the next possible starting date:

Postdoctoral Scientist (m/f/d) for the development and laboratory automation of high-throughput sequencing library construction methodologies



About the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut

We are a senior federal authority responsible for vaccines and biomedicines that performs scientific research in the field of life sciences. Our institute networks with national and international players which makes it a competent partner for the general public, science, medicine, politics, and economics.

About the project

This project is part of a third-party funded research project on establishing an artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted virus surveillance system using next-generation sequencing and metagenomics. Metagenomic high-throughput sequencing (mNGS) enables the discovery of new viruses in biological materials, such as in plasma pool products or tissue culture. Detection of blood-borne viral sequences in plasma pools could be an early and first indicator of a possible new viral threat. This allows continuous monitoring of known and unknown infection risks in a representative population cross-section. Another aspect is to identify the specific pattern of coding transcripts and specifically non-coding host RNAs (ncRNAs) in plasma and cell cultures using NGS/AI as a prospective biomarker for early detection of novel viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2.Your Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Development, optimization and troubleshooting of automated library preparation processes for massively parallel nucleic acid sequencing using Illumina technology within the Genomics Core Facility of the PEI
• Programming a Biomek FXp NGS library construction workstation through its graphical user interface to create library preparation workflows of various types with the help of a company service engineer
• Establishment of novel in-house NGS library preparation methods and automation of existing targeted and non-targeted RNA and DNA sequencing protocols with robotic liquid handling
• Pursuing a high-throughput sequencing methodology oriented research project
• Close collaboration with other researchers of the PEI in high-throughput sequencing related projects

Your Education and Experience

• Ph.D. degree in biology or related sciences; or areas of (laboratory) automation
• Expertise in high-throughput sequencing technologies, especially in the Illumina technology
• Experience with liquid handling automation is a plus
• Strong language skills in English and German, written and spoken
• Being able to work efficiently in a team as well as individually
• Structured and analytic way of thinking, curiosity, dedication for research
• Good communication skills

Our Working ConditionsA multifaceted, and challenging position centrally located in the Rhine-Main area (Frankfurt) with good public transport connections. Being an employer in the German public service, we offer the usual social benefits.

The successful candidates (m/f/d) will be employed on a fixed-term contract until December 31, 2024. Part-time working is possible in principle. The payband is E14 TVöD Bund. The assignment to a payband is made based on the consideration of your individual professional experience. Disabled candidates will be given preference if their skills and qualifications are equivalent to those of non-disabled candidates. The Paul-Ehrlich-Institute encourages gender equality and life-work balance, especially in respect to the family. For this purpose, we have various employment models to offer including flexible working hours (part-time work, flexible working from home, teleworking, no core time), child care facilities and various opportunities for further professional training.