PhD Position in Biochemistry / Biophysics: Enabling Unique Dynamic Molecular Imaging Experiments (m/f/div)

Jobbeschreibung

At the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, one of the 84 institutes of the Max Planck Society for the Advance­ment of Science, physicists, chemists, and bio­logists create know­ledge of long-term rele­vance to life and basic medi­cal sciences. Currently, our around 270 employees are divi­ded into four depart­ments and two Max Planck Research Groups. In addition, the insti­tute is part of the Health + Life Science Alliance Heidelberg Mannheim – an associa­tion of the leading life science research institutions in the region.

PhD Position in Biochemistry / Biophysics: Enabling Unique Dynamic Molecular Imaging Experiments (m/f/div)


The Department of Prof. Dr. Stefan W. Hell invites applications for a PhD position at the inter­sections of optical science, molecular imaging, and biophysics to start as soon as possible. Opportuni­ties are available in Heidel­berg and Göttingen for highly motiva­ted physicists who are interested in working in a world-leading, multi­disciplinary research group. The success­ful candidate will be able to apply for ad­mission to the Max Planck School of Photonics or Göttingen Graduate Center for Neurosciences, Biophysics, and Molecular Bio­sciences (GGNB).

The MINFLUX (Balzarotti et al., Science 2017) and MINSTED (Weber et al., Nature Photonics 2021) concepts have unlocked the door to mini­mally invasive, low-light-level analy­sis of the struc­ture and dynamics of macro­molecules at the nano­meter scale (Wirth et al., Science 2023; Schleske et al., PNAS 2024). This includes experiments at 1-nm resolution and with Ångström measure­ment precision (Sahl et al. Science 2024). The successful candi­date will work on next-generation MINFLUX optical instru­men­tation.


  • candidates should have earned (or expect to complete soon) a Master's degree in in biochemistry, biophysics, biotechnology, chemistry, or a comparable quali­fication
  • a willingness to learn and master new challenges
  • confidence and the ability to work indepen­dently and within a team
  • a strong attention to detail and high level of critical thinking
  • previous experience with related techni­ques (photo­nics, fluores­cence, imaging methods) is helpful but not essential

  • interesting, diversified tasks with self-responsibility
  • flexible working hours
  • highly motivated team
  • internationally oriented institute with an outstanding working environment

The payment is based on the TVöD guidelines (“Promotionsfördervertrag”). The PhD positions are limited to three years with a possibility of extension.

The Max Planck Society is committed to increasing the number of individuals with disabilities in its workforce and there­fore encourages applications from such qualified indivi­duals. The Max Planck Society strives for gender and diversity equality. We welcome appli­cations from all back­grounds. Furthermore, the Max Planck Society seeks to increase the number of women in those areas where they are under­represen­ted and therefore expli­citly encourages women to apply. A daycare center for children is located near the institute.

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