Head of the Division "Material-Microbiome Interactions" (m/f/d)

To strengthen our team in the department 'Materials and the Environment' in Berlin-Steglitz starting 01.01.2023, we are looking for a

Head of the Division "Material-Microbiome Interactions" (m/f/d)

Salary group B 1 BBesO (Director and Professor) / non-tariff remuneration
Official/permanent employment relationship
Full-time / suitable as part-time employment

The Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und ‑prüfung (BAM) is a federal materials research institute in Germany. Our mission is to ensure safety in technology and chemistry. We perform research and testing in materials science, materials engineering and chemistry to improve the safety of products and processes. At BAM we do research that matters. Our work covers a broad array of topics in the focus areas of energy, infrastructure, environment, materials, and analytical sciences.

The intersection of the fields of microbiome and material research is a topic of scientific and public interest. The division will focus on experimental, data-based and predictive assessment of material-environment interactions and their impact on the microbiome. In the future these processes will be represented through mathematical modelling and laboratory simulations. Join our team of dedicated scientific leaders!

Your responsibilities include:

• Designing and establishing an experimental and data-based system to assess the ways materials impact the microbiome of ecosystems
• Development and identification of criteria to predict and detect changes and hazards imposed on the environment by material introduction
• Development of methods and reference procedures based on biological model systems, with specific relevance to material sciences (e. g. biofilms)
• Provision of reference data and reference procedures for the assessment of material-environment interactions for industry and research, with connection to the National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI)
• Active acquisition of third-party funds for fundamental and applied research to implement a new division focus on microbiome as a new direction for BAM
• Active work in the interdisciplinary context of the BAM focus area "Environment", shaping the field of activity "Environmental Pollutants" in cooperation with the Competence Centre nano@BAM and other BAM focus topics
• Identification of topics and projects for young scientists, including supervision of their research activities in cooperation with universities
• Advancing and strategic organization of the division, including personnel and management
• Leading and motivating a qualified team
• Expansion of the BAM's national and international network in science, industry, administration and politics
• Representation of BAM interests in relevant committees, advisory boards and scientific networks

Your qualifications:
We are looking for a personality of international scientific reputation who conducts research at the interface between biofilm/​microbiome/​environment and anthropogenic material. The successful candidate should be distinguished by

• An excellent scientific university degree in natural science, specialising in microbiology, biology, biogeosciences or comparable with a very good doctorate degree
• An excellent scientific record in biology, ecology, computational biology/data science, microbiology or biogeosciences as evidenced by funding and peer-reviewed publication record
• Extensive independent experience with modern laboratory techniques, method development and data analysis in the field of biofilm research, ecosystem research and/or contaminant transfer
• Several years of international professional experience in the subject areas of BAM's environmental field of research (e.g. microbiome composition, microbial activity and functions, environmental compatibility of materials, biodeterioration, microbiologically influenced corrosion, microplastics or other environmental pollutants)
• Experience in managing staff and in supervision of young scientists
• Team-oriented and communicative leadership behaviour, high empathy as well as integration- and a gender equal work style
• Fluent written and spoken German and English language skills
• A decisive, independent, organized, and goal-oriented team player with critical thinking and assertive negotiating skills

We offer:

• Attractive position intersecting science, business, politics and administration
• Permanent employment or service contract
• Work in national and international networks with universities, research institutions and industrial companies
• Excellent facilities and infrastructure (good core funding and support)
• Various opportunities for further training in internal and external courses
• Flexible working hours, mobile working

Applicants who meet the prerequisites will generally receive a salary according to BesGr. B 1 BBesO. A promotion according to BesGr. B 2 BBesO is possible at a later date provided that the applicant is suitably qualified, competent and performs professionally within the framework of the available positions.

In the case of applicants who do not meet the career requirements for federal officials at the time of recruitment, a non-tariff remuneration shall be agreed upon. The probation period in accordance with § 34 BLV and § 31 TVöD shall apply in this case.

Candidates from the public sector shall be asked for a declaration of consent in order to consult their personal files. At the same time, you shall be prepared to carry out any subsequent inspection that may be necessary in accordance with the German Screening Act (Sicherheitsüberprüfungsgesetz – SÜG).

Your application:
We welcome applications via the online application form by 15.09.2022. Alternatively, you can also send your application by post, quoting the reference number 193/22-P to:

Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und ‑prüfung (BAM)
Referat Z.3 – Personal
Unter den Eichen 87
12205 Berlin
GERMANY
www.bam.de

The President of BAM, Prof. Dr. Ulrich Panne (e-mail Ulrich.Panne@bam.de) and the head of the department 'Materials and the Environment' Prof. Dr. Anna A. Gorbushina (phone +49 30 8104-1400, e-mail Anna.Gorbushina@bam.de) will be glad to answer any specific questions you may have regarding this position.

BAM pursues the goal of professional equality between women and men. We therefore particularly welcome applications from women. In addition, BAM supports the integration of severely disabled persons and therefore especially welcomes their applications. With regard to the fulfilment of the job advertisement requirements, the application documents are examined individually. Recognised severely disabled persons will be given preferential consideration if they are equally suitable.

The advertised position requires a low level of physical aptitude.