PhD Position

Doctoral Researcher Position (TV-L E13, 65%), University of Greifswald, Germany

A fully funded doctoral researcher position is available at the Zoological Institute and Museum of the University of Greifswald. The start date is February 1st, 2026.

The position is funded for up to three years by the German Research Foundation (DFG FI 2963/2-1).

The successful candidate will participate in a research project investigating the chemical ecology of the Mediterranean Black Widow spider, Latrodectus tredecimguttatus. The work will primarily involve conducting behavioral experiments and applying LC/MS and GC/MS based metabolomics approaches to comprehensive explore the pheromonal communication between and within the sexes.

Read more about the project here

We seek a motivated candidate who can work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Requirements:

  • A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Biology, Chemistry, or a related field.
  • A strong interest in evolutionary biology, behavioral ecology, and chemical ecology.
  • Excellent communication skills in English, as it is the working language of the lab.

Desired skills

  • Experience with analytical chemistry (LC/MS, GC/MS) and behavioral assays
  • Experience with animal husbandry and colony maintenance.

The Research Environment & Location:

The successful candidate will be based in the Animal Metabolomics & Ecology lab (Dr. Fischer) within the Department for General and Systematic Zoology (Prof. Uhl). The department provides a stimulating international environment and excellent research infrastructure, including on-site GC/MS, climate chambers and dedicated laboratory space. The project benefits from established collaborations across Germany with experts for high-resolution mass spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy, and chemical synthesis.

The University is located in Greifswald, a historic city on the Baltic Sea coast. Its large student population contributes to a vibrant and dynamic social atmosphere. Greifswald offers a high standard of living with affordable costs, with most destinations reachable by bicycle.

How To Apply:

To apply for the position, please provide the following materials as a single PDF file via email to Dr. Andreas Fischer (andreas.fischer(at)uni-greifswald.de):

  1. A letter of motivation detailing your research interests, relevant skills, and experience.
    The letter must be self-written without the use of LLMs.
  2. A Curriculum Vitae, including a full list of scientific contributions
    such as publications or congress contributions.
  3. Academic transcripts and degree certificates
  4. Contact details of two professional referees (e.g., previous supervisors or mentors).


The application deadline is September 24th, 2025.

We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic community.
We particularly welcome applications from international students and candidates from all backgrounds.

For further information, informal inquiries may be directed to Dr. Andreas Fischer.

The official job posting (German only) may be found here: 25/Wi27.