Senior Scientist Universität Wien

Job description:

At the University of Vienna, almost 11,000 people work together on the big questions of the future. Approximately 7,700 of them are academic staff members. These are individuals who, with their curiosity and their continuous pursuit of excellence, engage in international cutting-edge research and teaching. With us, you will also find space to unfold your potential. We are looking for a/an ...

Senior Scientist

Explore and teach at the University of Vienna, where over 7,500 brilliant minds have found a unique balance of freedom and support. Join us if you’re passionate about groundbreaking international research and academic excellence. Ready to be part of our team? Let’s shape the future together!

The Max Perutz Labs bring together the groups working in molecular biology at the University of Vienna. In order to intensify the collaboration with the Medical University of Vienna in the field of molecular biosciences, the Max Perutz Labs were founded in 2005. We maintain high-tech research infrastructures at two neighbouring locations, where around 450 scientists from more than 40 nations work in basic biomedical research in more than 45 research groups.

Your personal sphere of play:

The Matos laboratory is looking for a highly motivated and experienced Senior Scientist with strong expertise in DNA repair, protein biochemistry and biochemical reconstitution, ideally complemented by experience in structural biology.
The Matos lab is an internationally competitive and collaborative research group investigating the molecular mechanisms that control meiotic chromosome organization and homologous recombination. We are particularly interested in understanding how recombination intermediates are formed and processed, how meiotic crossovers are generated, and how chromosome architecture and recombination are coordinated to ensure accurate chromosome segregation during gametogenesis. To address these questions, we combine genetics, molecular and cell biology, biochemistry, genomics, structural approaches and advanced imaging in budding yeast and mammalian experimental systems.
The successful candidate will take a leading scientific role in the laboratory, developing and conducting mechanistic research projects in the areas of DNA repair, homologous recombination and chromosome biology. A major focus will be on the biochemical and molecular mechanisms of DNA repair and recombination proteins and protein complexes, including their purification, functional characterization and reconstitution in vitro. Experience with structural approaches to understand the organization and regulation of protein and protein–DNA complexes is highly desirable.
We are looking for an experienced scientist who combines deep technical expertise with broad scientific curiosity and who enjoys developing new approaches to answer challenging biological questions. Importantly, the successful candidate should not be defined by a single methodology or research question. Research directions in the laboratory evolve as new biological insights, technologies and opportunities emerge. We are therefore particularly looking for someone who can adapt to new scientific developments, learn and establish new methodologies, critically evaluate emerging technologies, and redirect experimental strategies when unexpected findings open new avenues of research.
In addition to their own research, the Senior Scientist will contribute to the scientific development of other members of the laboratory, including the supervision and training of undergraduate, Master and PhD students. The position also includes teaching and a limited contribution to laboratory organization and management.

Your future tasks:

The successful candidate will actively participate in research, teaching and supervision and will take a leading role in the scientific development of projects within the laboratory.
A central responsibility will be to develop and conduct mechanistic research projects addressing fundamental questions in DNA repair, homologous recombination, meiotic crossover formation and chromosome biology. The Senior Scientist will independently plan, execute and interpret experiments and contribute intellectually to the development of new research directions within the group.
A major component of the position will involve protein biochemistry and biochemical reconstitution. This includes the expression and purification of recombinant proteins and multi-protein complexes, development of quantitative biochemical assays, reconstitution of molecular reactions in vitro, and analysis of protein–protein and protein–DNA interactions. The successful candidate will use these approaches to dissect the molecular mechanisms, regulation and organization of DNA repair and recombination machineries.
Depending on expertise and research questions, the Senior Scientist will also contribute structural approaches to the study of protein and protein–DNA complexes. Experience in structural biology, including cryo-electron microscopy, X-ray crystallography or related approaches, is therefore particularly valuable. The position provides opportunities to integrate biochemical and structural approaches with genetics, cell biology, advanced microscopy, proteomics and genome-wide methodologies available within the laboratory and the wider Vienna BioCenter environment.
An important expectation of the position is the ability to adapt experimental strategies as projects develop. The Senior Scientist will be encouraged to identify and establish new methodologies when required to address emerging biological questions, to critically assess technological developments in the field, and to follow unexpected findings when these suggest important new research directions. The aim is not simply to apply established techniques, but to identify the most appropriate experimental approaches for answering the biological question at hand.
The Senior Scientist will contribute broad scientific and technical expertise to projects across the laboratory. This includes discussing experimental strategies, helping with troubleshooting and data interpretation, developing or optimizing experimental workflows, and transferring expertise between projects and laboratory members.
The successful candidate will contribute to scientific publications, presentations, collaborative projects and grant-related activities and will present research findings at national and international scientific meetings.
The position also includes practical and theoretical teaching of undergraduate and graduate students in molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics and chromosome biology. The Senior Scientist will supervise and mentor Bachelor and Master students and contribute to the scientific and practical supervision of PhD students and other junior researchers.
While this is primarily a scientific position, the successful candidate will also contribute to selected aspects of laboratory organization. This may include coordination and maintenance of specialized biochemical or structural biology workflows and equipment, development and documentation of protocols, training of laboratory members in specialized techniques, and contribution to laboratory safety and good scientific practice.
Together with the group leader and other senior members of the laboratory, the Senior Scientist will contribute to maintaining a rigorous, collaborative, supportive and scientifically ambitious research environment.

This is part of your personality:

• PhD degree in biochemistry, molecular biology, structural biology, genetics, cell biology or a related field.
• Strong scientific background in DNA repair, homologous recombination, chromosome biology or related areas of molecular biology.
• Extensive hands-on experience in protein expression and purification, protein biochemistry and biochemical reconstitution.
• Experience in developing and applying quantitative biochemical assays to investigate molecular mechanisms, including protein–protein and/or protein–DNA interactions.
• Experience working with multi-protein complexes and mechanistic biochemical systems.
• Expertise in structural biology is highly desirable. Experience with cryo-electron microscopy, X-ray crystallography, structural characterization of macromolecular complexes or related approaches is particularly beneficial.
• Strong publication record and demonstrated scientific track record appropriate to the career stage.
• Demonstrated ability to independently develop research questions, design experiments, troubleshoot technically challenging projects and critically interpret experimental results.
• Broad scientific curiosity and the ability to understand and integrate findings from different experimental approaches.
• Scientific versatility and a willingness to move beyond established areas of expertise when required by the research question.
• Ability and motivation to learn, develop and establish new experimental methodologies as projects and technologies evolve.
• Ability to recognize important unexpected findings and adapt research questions and experimental strategies accordingly.
• Interest in emerging technologies and the ability to critically evaluate whether new methodological developments can provide meaningful biological insight.
• Ability to integrate biochemical and structural approaches with complementary methods in genetics, molecular biology, cell biology, microscopy, proteomics and/or genomics.
• Previous experience in meiotic recombination is beneficial but not essential.
• Experience in mentoring and practical supervision of undergraduate, Master and/or PhD students.
• Strong motivation to support the scientific development of junior researchers and to provide constructive scientific and practical feedback.
• Experience in teaching undergraduate and/or graduate students is beneficial.
• A high degree of independence, reliability, scientific rigor and sense of responsibility.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and enthusiasm for working in a collaborative and international research environment.
• Excellent spoken and written English skills; German skills are beneficial.
• Experience in science communication and public outreach is beneficial.

We are particularly looking for a scientist who combines deep mechanistic expertise with scientific breadth and adaptability. The successful candidate should enjoy hands-on experimental research but should not see themselves as restricted to a particular technique, experimental system or predefined research question. They should be motivated by the underlying biology and willing to develop new expertise, adopt emerging technologies and change direction when this provides a better way to address an important scientific problem.

What we offer:

Fixed-term contract and fair salary: We offer a full-time (40 h/week) contract with a basic salary according to the applicable collective bargaining agreement. The basic salary for Senior Scientists (postdoctoral) is EUR 5.079,50 gross per month, paid 14 times a year, and may increase depending on creditable professional experience. The position is initially offered for 3 years, with the possibility of extension to a permanent contract based on a qualification agreement.

Scientific independence and development: The position offers substantial scientific freedom within the overall research programme of the Matos laboratory. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to develop mechanistically ambitious projects and to contribute to new research directions at the interface of DNA repair, recombination, chromosome biology, biochemistry and structural biology.

Outstanding scientific environment: The Max Perutz Labs and the wider Vienna BioCenter provide an internationally competitive research environment with access to state-of-the-art infrastructure in molecular and structural biology, advanced imaging, proteomics, genomics and computational biology, as well as extensive opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.

Work-life balance: Our employees enjoy flexible working hours, remote/hybrid and/or part-time work upon agreement and where compatible with the responsibilities of the position.

Inspiring working atmosphere: You will be part of an international academic team in a collaborative, stimulating and fair working environment.

Good public transport connections: Your workplace in Vienna is easily accessible by public transport.

Internal further training & Coaching: You will have the opportunity to continuously develop your professional and personal skills. The University of Vienna offers more than 600 internal training courses free of charge.

Get off to a great start in your new job: the  Welcome Compass helps you settle into your new role at the University of Vienna and life in Vienna.

Equal opportunities for all: We look forward to diverse personalities joining our team!

It is that easy to apply:

Please submit:

• Your scientific curriculum vitae and letter of motivation
• Your list of publications
• A short summary of your previous research and future scientific interests (max. 1 page)
• Proof of your doctoral degree
• Contact details of persons who could provide reference letters
• Via our job portal/ Apply now -  button

If you have any questions, please contact:

Joao Matos  

joao.matos@univie.ac.at

We look forward to new personalities in our team! 
The University of Vienna has an anti-discriminatory employment policy and attaches great importance to equal opportunities, the advancement of women and diversity. We place particular emphasis on enhancing women’s representation among the academic and general university staff, particularly in leadership roles, and therefore expressly encourage qualified women to apply. Given equal qualifications, preference will be given to female candidates.

University of Vienna. Space for personalities. Since 1365.

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​Application deadline: 11/13/2026 

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