Master's thesis in the field of metabolic engineering of methylotrophic bacteria in Straubing

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 Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB, we combine biology and technology across competencies in our business areas of Health, Sustainable Chemistry, and Environment. For more than 70 years, we have been developing processes, technologies, and products and successfully bringing them to industrial application. We conduct research at our sites in Stuttgart, Leuna, and Straubing in close cooperation with numerous universities and research institutes in Germany and abroad.

We offer you the opportunity to get hands on an exiting project in the framework of your master´s thesis. The project targets to optimize a methylotrophic microbial producer strain (Methylorubrum extorquens) to produce a small organic acid from methanol by means of Metabolic Engineering.

Suitable for students majoring in biochemistry, biotechnology, technical biology, systems biotechnology, and bioprocess engineering.

What you will do

Microbial strain development of Methylorubrum extorquens
Genetic engineering to optimize the methanol-based overproduction of a small organic acid
Cultivation of microorganisms (Escherichia coli and Methylorubrum extorquens)
Physiological analysis of microbial metabolism
Fermentation up to 10 L scale
Scientific literature investigation to reveal state-of-the-art
Evaluation, discussion and written summary of the results
Self-reliant and creative work environment

What you bring to the table

Experiences in microbiology (cultivation and characterization of microorganisms) and molecular biology (cloning and gene expression) are required
Experience with bioanalytics and associated machines like HPLC, GC and GC-MS are advantageous
Suitable for students of the courses Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Technical Biology, Systems Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering
Participation within a timely project with clearly defined targets
Independent working style, creativity, flexibility and ability to work in a team
Confident command of the German and English languages, both written and spoken
A high degree of initiative and personal responsibility
Fun with technical innovations

What you can expect

Flexible working hours
Cooperation in a collegial and sympathetic team
Good working atmosphere, open and friendly interaction with each other
Varied activities
Versatile opportunities for further training

We offer you an environment that gives you the opportunity to gain a broad spectrum of experience in a short period of time by working on interesting and varied industrial projects with our partners in various industries.

In our teams, creative approaches to solutions are combined with an economic and structured approach.

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.

The weekly working time is according to agreement. The position is initially limited to 6 months.

With its focus on developing key technologies that are vital for the future and enabling the commercial utilization of this work by business and industry, Fraunhofer plays a central role in the innovation process. As a pioneer and catalyst for groundbreaking developments and scientific excellence, Fraunhofer helps shape society now and in the future.

Interested? Apply online now. We look forward to getting to know you!

Questions regarding the application process anwers Mrs. Manuela Göttig-Fickert.

Phone +49 (0)9421/ 9380-1000.

Please apply only by using our Fraunhofer internet portal.

Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB

www.igb.fraunhofer.de

Requisition Number: 51704 Application Deadline: 04/15/2025

Job Segment: Biology, Molecular Biology, Scientific, Field Engineer, Science, Engineering, Research

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