Research Technician; Osterman Group – Metabolism-driven immunity

Research Technician Position at EMBL Hamburg

EMBL Hamburg / CSSB

The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is Europe's flagship life sciences organization, with more than 110 independent research groups across Heidelberg, Hamburg, Grenoble, Rome, Barcelona, and Cambridge. EMBL performs fundamental research in molecular biology, develops advanced technologies, trains scientists at all levels, and provides cutting-edge services to the scientific community.

We are seeking a research technician with strong experimental expertise in structural biology and biochemistry to join the Osterman Group at EMBL Hamburg.

Our group investigates how metabolism shapes immunity, with a focus on phage–bacteria conflict systems, enzymatic counter-defense mechanisms, and metabolite-driven molecular arms races, including NAD⁺-centered pathways and phage-encoded metabolic innovations.

The successful candidate will contribute to ongoing structural and biochemical projects and is expected to take ownership of technically demanding experimental workflows. Depending on experience, there is scope to develop independent sub-projects within the group's research framework.

Your role

• Execution and optimization of protein production pipelines, including expression system selection, purification strategy design, and quality control.
• Support and development of biochemical and enzymatic assays, including kinetic and functional characterization of proteins.
• Support of molecular biology and microbiology experiments relevant to protein function and pathway reconstitution.
• Participating in lab organization and management, including ordering, inventory, and general maintenance of laboratory infrastructure
• Contributing to collaborative projects and, depending on experience, developing independent experimental sub-projects.

You have

• A diploma or master's degree in biochemistry, structural biology, molecular biology, biophysics, or a closely related field (PhD is an advantage; salary will reflect experience level).
• Strong hands-on experience in protein expression and purification, including multi-step purification strategies and purity/quality assessment.
• Demonstrated experience with biochemical characterization of proteins, ideally including enzymatic assays and mechanistic analysis.
• Solid understanding of protein biochemistry and structure–function relationships.
• Ability to work independently on complex experimental tasks while contributing effectively to collaborative projects.
• Strong motivation and scientific curiosity in molecular mechanisms of enzymes and protein systems.
• Proficiency in English (spoken and written).

You may also have

• Experience in protein engineering or construct optimization.
• Practical experience in structural biology sample preparation, with exposure to at least one of the following:
• X-ray crystallography workflows
• Cryo-EM sample preparation and grid screening
• Experience with reconstitution of enzymatic pathways in vitro.
• Interest in phage biology, metabolic immunity, or enzyme discovery.

We offer

• A highly interdisciplinary environment at EMBL Hamburg / CSSB, integrating structural biology, biochemistry, and microbiology.
• Access to state-of-the-art infrastructure for X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, protein biochemistry, and microbial systems.
• Close interaction with international researchers working at the forefront of molecular mechanisms in host–pathogen systems.
• Opportunity to contribute to mechanistically driven discovery projects at the interface of metabolism and immunity.
• Possibility to develop technically independent research directions within ongoing projects.

Contract length: 5 years

Salary:
Grade 5 (salary starting from EUR 4,147.92 after tax, and before 12.99% EMBL social security deductions, plus other paid benefits)

Why join us

EMBL is curiosity-driven, community-oriented and international. As an inclusive, equal opportunity employer, we believe that diversity enables us to collaborate more effectively and be innovative in our approaches. We are, therefore, committed to creating an inclusive and flexible culture - one where everyone can realize their full potential and make a positive contribution to our organization.

We…