Open position: Research Scientist for Algal Ecology and Applications – Deadline 11 September 2025

The Marine Algae Ecology and Applications group studies the role of marine algae in the carbon and nutrient cycles in the ocean and their potential applications for carbon dioxide removal, materials and biofuels. You will have an important role in the group, supervising PhD and Master students, helping with the planning and execution of experiments, supporting data analysis, writing scientific manuscripts and proposals, publishing in peer-reviewed journals and helping with budget and project management. The topics researched by this research scientist will range from basic carbon and nutrient uptake rates, carbon cycling in the ocean, microbiome analysis to provides estimates of the potential of marine algae for carbon dioxide removal and the use of their biomass for products that support the blue bioeconomy. Active collaborations with diverse stakeholders (academic scientists, entrepreneurs, local communities, politicians and business people) are expected.

You will reseach on the following topics:

• The role of phytoplankton and macroalgae in the carbon cycle in the subtropical Atlantic
• The role of macroalgaes microbiome in nutrient cycling
• The potential of off-shore macroalgae aquafarming for carbon dioxide removal
• Potential applications to store macroalgal carbon in diverse products
• Developing monitoring, reporting and verification tools for carbon dioxide removal in the ocean

• PhD in Marine Biogeochemistry
• Two years of Postdoctoral experience working with macroalgae
• Expertise in macroalgae research, particularly Sargassum
• Experience with field work and experimental planning
• Good knowledge of methods to monitor carbon and nutrient cycling in the ocean such as stable isotope incubations
• Knowledge of molecular ecology tools
• Expertise in marine carbon dioxide removal strategies
• Substantial experience (planning, organization etc.) and willingness to participate in (inter)national and sea-going (cruises) fieldwork
• Very good knowledge of the English language (approximately equivalent to CEFR level C1)
• Native speaker competence in German (approximately equivalent to CEFR level C2)

• Good project management skills
• Good publication track record
• Engagement in science outreach and technology transfer activities\
• Experience in student supervision
• Experience in molecular analyses (DNA/RNA, (q)PCR etc) and bioinformatics (sequencing, meta barcoding, metagenomics, metatranscriptomics)

For any questions you may have, you are very welcome to get in touch with Dr Mar Fernandez Mendez (mar.fernandez-mendez@awi.de; +49(471)4831-1895).

This is a full-time position. It is initially limited to 3 years, and, pending positive evaluation of the candidate, may be converted to a permanent position. The salary will be paid in accordance with the Collective Agreement for the Public Service of the Federation (Tarifvertrag des öffentlichen Dienstes, TVöD Bund), up to salary level 14. The place of employment will be Bremerhaven.

The AWI is characterized by

• our scientific success – excellent research
• collaboration and cooperation – intra-institute, national and international, interdisciplinary
• opportunities to develop – on the job and towards other positions
• an international environment – everyday contact with people from all over the world
• flexible working hours and the possibility of mobile working up to 50% of regular working hours
• health promotion and company fitness with Hansefit and Wellhub
• support services and a culture of reconciling work and family
• occupational pension provision (VBL)

AWI values diversity and actively promotes gender parity, as well as an open, inclusive environment that provides equal opportunities. We are convinced that diverse teams and a variety of perspectives enrich our work and our daily collaboration. In a continuous process of learning and reflection, we aim to ensure that all our employees can be themselves and feel a sense of belonging. We welcome applications from qualified people regardless of binary and non-binary genders, race and nationality, ethnic and social background, religion, age, physical abilities, neurodivergence, sexual orientation, and other identities.

Applicants with disabilities will be given preference when equal qualifications are present.

We strongly encourage qualified women to apply for the advertised position at AWI to reduce the underrepresentation of women.

AWI fosters work-family compatibility in various ways and has received several awards as a result of this commitment. And as a new international member of our team, you can be sure that we will help you settle in. Our Family Office and International Office will be glad to support you, even before you start at AWI.

We look forward to your application!
Please submit your application by September 11^th 2025, exclusively online.
Reference number: 25/86/G/Bio-tt