Master's thesis project on phage biology

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (www.fraunhofer.com) currently operates 76 institutes and research units throughout Germany and is a leading applied research organization. Around 32 000 employees work with an annual research budget of 3.4 billion euros.

At the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI, we bring together the expertise of our employees to drive medical progress forward. Our focus is on cell and gene therapy, pharmaceuticals and vaccines, molecular and immune diagnostics, as well as other innovative fields. We are home to scientists, engineers, laboratory technicians, and administrative staff who all dedicate their work to advancing health.
Are you ready to put your academic knowledge into practice and gain hands-on experience in cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research? Then you’ve come to the right place!

For our Antimicrobial Biotechnology Unit at our Leipzig site, we are looking for a Master’s student to work on a thesis project starting in 2025 / 2026. The research group isolates and characterizes bacteriophages from the environment that might later be used for biotechnological or medical purposes. In addition, methods for enhancing phage screening are being developed.

What you will do

Depending on your area of interest, various focus topics are available for the master's thesis:

Contribution to the expansion of our phage collection and investigation of those phages that need further characterization
Investigation of phage effects on biofilm degradation
Genetic engineering of phages and prophages
Cloning, expression, and characterization of phage proteins

These exciting tasks await you:

You will apply microbiological techniques to grow bacterial cultures and to isolate, purify, and characterize phages.
Depending on the project you choose, you will use molecular biology methods to extract genomic DNA for next-generation sequencing, genetic modification, or protein biochemistry.
You will work with bioinformatic tools and workflows to analyze sequencing results.
Data analysis will include the use of statistical methods to ensure robust interpretation of results.

What you bring to the table

A Bachelor's degree (B.Sc.) in the biological sciences (e. g. microbiology, biochemistry, biology, biotechnology or a related field) and enrollment as a Master’s student
Practical knowledge of basic molecular biology techniques (pipetting, preparation of buffers, etc.) as well as microbiology
Experience in carrying out data analysis and data presentation using common computer programs
Ideally, strong communication skills in both German and English
You are enthusiastic about learning new practical skills, approach unfamiliar topics with curiosity and quickly penetrate them through your analytical approach.

What you can expect

With our close ties to industry, we combine creative research freedom with genuine value creation – and all of this with a societal benefit. Through your commitment, you help shape the medicine of tomorrow and gain fascinating insights into Europe’s leading organization for applied research.
You will be part of a challenging international and interdisciplinary work environment with access to advanced technologies for biological and biochemical analyses, offering you a high degree of creative freedom.
You will gain valuable experience and preparation for future positions, as you will learn a large number of relevant scientific techniques and expand your skills in planning experimental work in an independent manner.
During your time at the Fraunhofer IZI, you will work closely with your team that consists of 2 PhD students, 1 technician and other Masters students and have contact with other research groups and interactions with industry partners.
With flexible hours that fit your studies, we enable you to manage your time freely and independently.

The duration of the project is flexible and depends on the requirements of your university and your preferred schedule. Please note: We cannot offer remuneration for the writing of theses. However, you can expect an exciting research topic and intensive professional supervision.

We value and promote the diversity of our employees' skills and therefore welcome all applications - regardless of age, gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, ideology, disability, sexual orientation and identity. Severely disabled persons are given preference in the event of equal suitability.

Interested? Apply online now via our career portal. We look forward to getting to know you!

Do you have questions about the position or the application process? We’re here for you:

Dr. Belinda Loh
Research Group Leader Antimicrobial Biotechnology
Email: belinda.loh@izi.fraunhofer.de

Lea-Sophie Fingerhut
Strategic Personnel Development & Recruiting
Email: bewerbung@izi.fraunhofer.de
Phone: +49 341/35536-9224

Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI

www.izi.fraunhofer.de

Requisition Number: 80623 Application Deadline:

Job Segment: Molecular Biology, Biology, Data Analyst, Scientific, Science, Data, Engineering, Research

Apply now »