Doctoral Researcher

**Center of Applied Space Technology (ZARM)**: **Fachbereich 4 - Produktionstechnik - Maschinenbau und Verfahrenstechnik**: **Entgelt - / Besoldungsgruppe E 13 -**Vollzeit** **Kennziffer**:A157-25 **Bewerbungsfrist**:01.06.2025 Öffentliche Ausschreibung The Center of Applied Space Technology (ZARM) at the University of Bremen is looking for a **Doctoral Researcher (f/m/d) in Space Microbiology** **Salary Scale (German) 13 TV-L** with a full working time (39.2 hrs) at the next possible date. The project is funded by the European Research Council and the position is for 3 years (according to - 2 WissZeitVG), starting at the latest in January 2026. Part-time work is generally possible. Details may need to be agreed with the advertising department. **Stellenbeschreibung**: **The project**: The researcher recruited for the advertised position will be involved in ERC project MarCyano. This project stems from a goal, shared by the world’s major space agencies, of sending humans to Mars within the next few decades. A sustainable human presence there, akin to today’s presence in Antarctica, could indeed generate paradigm-shifting knowledge at an unprecedented pace. One major challenge lies in providing the food, oxygen and other necessary consumables: these cannot be shipped from the Earth over the long term. They should instead be produced on site and for this, Nostocaceae cyanobacteria can be instrumental: fed with materials available in the Martian ground and atmosphere, they could provide feedstock for a range of bioprocesses which, in turn, could produce a wide range of consumables. However, fundamental knowledge is lacking to turn this concept into practical solutions: the physiology of cyanobacteria in the foreseen cultivation conditions is poorly understood. These conditions combine low total pressures, low partial pressures of dinitrogen, interactions with a basaltic substrate from which nutrients are leached, and high concentrations of chaotropic salts. In project MarCyano, our team will enable a deep understanding of cyanobacterial physiology in these conditions. For this we employ a unique approach combining cultivation assays in unique hardware previously developed in-house, adaptive laboratory evolution, cutting-edge “omics” technologies, the development of a mathematical model which can predict the productivity and efficiency of cyanobacterium cultivation from Martian resources, and the construction of a testbed for the experimental validation of this model. We will use the generated knowledge and tools to design, characterize and demonstrate the viability of bioprocesses which dramatically improve the odds that Mars exploration is done in a sustainable way. Finally, we will adapt the concepts developed for bioproduction on Mars to open new avenues for sustainability on Earth. **Your tasks include**: - Conducting, and analyzing the results of, experiments aimed at assessing the effects on diazotrophic cyanobacteria of unnatural atmospheric conditions, using hardware previously developed in-house. - Conducting, and analyzing the results of, experiments aimed at assessing the interactions between rock-weathering cyanobacteria and regolith akin to that found on Mars. - Conducting, and analyzing the results of, adaptive laboratory evolution experiments. - Preparing microbial samples for “omics” studies. - Contributing to routine laboratory tasks (e.g., maintaining microbial cultures). - Contributing to the training and mentoring of less experienced students. - Elaborating your own scientific work, such as preparing a doctoral thesis and scientific publications. **Voraussetzungen**: - A University Degree (Master of Science/ Uni - Diploma) in microbiology, cellular and molecular biology or a related field. Students who are still writing their Master thesis and do not yet have a certificate are also invited to apply. The degree certificate must be issued prior to employment. - A strong desire to contribute to space exploration. - A willingness to engage in interdisciplinary work. - A good spoken and written English. - An ability to work independently and a taste for teamwork. **Allgemeine Hinweise**: Today, around 23,000 people learn, teach, research and work on our international campus. In research and teaching, administration and operations, we are firmly committed to the goals of sustainability, climate justice and climate neutrality. Our Bremen spirit is expressed in the courage to dare new things, in supportive cooperation, in respect and appreciation for each other. With our study and research profile and as part of the European YUFE network, we assume social responsibility in the region, in Europe and in the world. **The University of Bremen offers among other things**: - Annual special payment ("Christmas bonus"), regular automatic collective salary increases, and additional pension benefits from the public sector (VBL) - A secure, interesting, and varied workplace at an open-minded uni