The Jena School for Microbial Communication is opening a doctoral position on the gut microbiome, based in Prof. Gianni Panagiotou’s Microbiome Dynamics group. It runs three years on Germany’s TV-L E13 scale at 65%, and the deadline to apply is 20 August 2026, with a start date around 1 December of the same year.
Summary details: PhD in metagenomics at JSMC Jena
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Position | Doctoral Researcher (TV-L E13, 65%) in Metagenomics |
| Field | Metagenomics, multi-omics, microbiome-host interactions |
| Institution | Jena School for Microbial Communication (JSMC) / Leibniz-HKI, Jena, Germany |
| Funding | TV-L E13, 65%, per German public-sector pay scale, plus annual special payment |
| Duration | 3 years, fixed-term |
| Application Deadline | 20 August 2026 |
| Degree required | MSc in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Systems Biology, Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related field |
About the position
This is a computational project under Prof. Gianni Panagiotou, run through the JSMC and the Cluster of Excellence “Balance of the Microverse,” with the employment contract held at the Leibniz-HKI. The project looks at the gut microbiome’s role in human health, but it moves past simple disease labels. Instead, the student works with large-scale multi-omics data to connect microbial function to host biology, tracing how age and diet reshape that relationship, with the eventual goal of pointing toward more personalized health interventions.
Research areas and focus
| Area | Focus |
|---|---|
| Metagenomics | Analysis of large-scale microbial community sequencing data |
| Multi-omics integration | Linking microbial function to host biology across data types |
| Host-microbiome interactions | Effects of age and diet on microbiome-host relationships |
| Computational biology | Statistical and computational methods for high-throughput biological data |
What you will do
- Integrate multi-omics datasets from microbial communities and the host, working independently on your doctoral project
- Analyse results, generate figures, and write manuscripts for publication
- Present your work at local, national, and international meetings
- Collaborate with experimental and computational researchers in the group and across the Cluster
- Help train and supervise other researchers, such as student assistants and BSc students
- Contribute to a collaborative, welcoming team environment
Who can apply
- MSc in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Systems Biology, Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related field (final-stage MSc students may apply)
- Knowledge or experience analysing metagenomics, untargeted metabolomics, or other high-throughput biological datasets
- Understanding of statistical methods for biological systems
- Programming experience in Python, Perl, C++, or R
- Curiosity, self-motivation, and attention to detail
- A cooperative, interdisciplinary working style
- Excellent written and spoken English
What is offered
- A three-year doctoral position (TV-L E13, 65%), funded through JSMC and the Thuringian State government (2026-2028), then the Excellence Strategy of the German Federal and State governments (2029)
- A structured, interdisciplinary PhD training program with mentoring and soft-skills courses
- A base in Jena, a compact German city built around its science community
- Support from a dedicated management team on onboarding, family life, and career development, plus events on topics like mental health and communication
- 30 days of vacation per year, plus December 24 and 31 off
How to apply
- Prepare a cover letter/letter of motivation, CV, publication list (optional at doctoral level), and scans of certificates and diplomas.
- Submit these through JSMC’s online application platform for this specific project (linked via QR code and application link in the official job ad PDF).
- If shortlisted, you’ll have an initial interview with the PI, followed for top candidates by a Zoom recruitment event in September 2026, where you’ll give a 10-minute talk introducing your work to the JSMC and Microverse community.
Deadline: 20 August 2026. The application platform opens 20 July 2026.
Related opportunities
Source: Jena School for Microbial Communication (JSMC) recruitment 2026