Hannes Link

The Link Lab at the Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine, University of Tübingen, is offering a PhD position in Synthetic Biology and Metabolic Engineering. This opportunity is ideal for candidates interested in cutting-edge research at the intersection of biotechnology, microbiology, and chemical engineering. The position is funded at E13 TV-L, 65% for three years, providing a standard German PhD salary and social benefits. Led by Prof. Dr. Hannes Link, the research group focuses on metabolic engineering of E. coli to produce the bio-plastic cyanophycin from sustainable substrates. The project involves engineering thermo-switches to dynamically control microbial growth and production in two-stage bioprocesses. You will integrate targeted and untargeted metabolomics to identify and overcome metabolic bottlenecks, guiding strain engineering for improved cyanophycin titers and yields. The development and optimization of temperature-controlled bioprocesses at the 1-liter scale is a key aspect of the research. As a PhD student, you will prepare manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals, present your findings at conferences, and actively collaborate within an interdisciplinary team. The lab encourages innovation and teamwork, offering a stimulating environment for fundamental and applied research in biotechnology and microbiology. More information about the group can be found at linkmetabolism.com . Eligibility requirements include a Master’s degree in biotechnology, microbiology, molecular biology, or a related field. Candidates should have a background in metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, or microbial physiology. Experience with molecular cloning, bacterial strain engineering, or fermentation is advantageous. Data analysis skills (Python, MATLAB) or experience with metabolomics and mass spectrometry are a plus. Excellent English communication skills and strong motivation are essential. The University of Tübingen is committed to equal opportunity and diversity. Qualified female scientists and applicants with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. The hiring process is managed centrally by the university administration. Applications should be submitted as a single PDF file containing a cover letter, CV, and relevant certificates. The deadline for applications is April 28, 2026. For further details and to apply, visit the official job advertisement here or contact Prof. Dr. Hannes Link at hannes.link@uni-tuebingen.de.

The Link Lab at the Cluster of Excellence "Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections" (CMFI) at the University of Tübingen is offering a PhD position in Genome Engineering and Host-Pathogen Interactions. This exciting opportunity is part of a collaborative project with the Mager Lab (immunology) and aims to systematically identify bacterial genes that control immune evasion in ESKAPE pathogens. The successful candidate will use CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) libraries in E. coli and S. aureus, combined with high-throughput immune assays and metabolomic profiling, to discover novel targets that enhance the immune visibility of pathogenic bacteria. Key tasks include the construction and screening of CRISPRi libraries in ESKAPE pathogens, metabolomic and chemical characterization of bacterial mutants using LC-MS/MS, and analysis of surface structures such as LPS and wall teichoic acids. The candidate will collaborate with the Mager Lab to screen bacterial mutants using high-throughput dendritic cell reporter assays for immune activation. Additional responsibilities involve preparing manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals, presenting at conferences, and actively collaborating with an interdisciplinary team in microbiology and immunology within the CMFI cluster. The position is initially limited to three years and is funded at E13 TV-L, 65%, offering a standard German PhD salary and benefits. Applicants must have a Master's degree in biotechnology, microbiology, molecular biology, or a related field, with a background in microbial genetics, molecular biology, or infection biology. Experience with CRISPR-based methods, molecular cloning, or bacterial genetics is advantageous, as is experience with metabolomics, mass spectrometry, or data analysis (Python, R). Excellent communication skills in English and strong motivation to work at the interface of microbiology and immunology are essential. The University of Tübingen is committed to equal opportunity and diversity, and encourages applications from qualified female scientists and individuals with disabilities. The hiring process is managed by the central administration of the university. For more information about the Link Lab, visit linkmetabolism.com . To apply, send your application as a single PDF file (cover letter, CV, and relevant certificates) by email to Prof. Dr. Hannes Link at hannes.link@uni-tuebingen.de by April 27, 2026. The application link and further details can be found here .

PhD position at the Cluster of Excellence Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections (CMFI) , University of Tübingen, in the Link Lab. The project focuses on genome engineering , host-pathogen interactions , microbiology , and immunology . The successful candidate will use CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) libraries in E. coli and S. aureus to identify bacterial genes involved in immune evasion, then combine high-throughput immune assays , metabolomic profiling , and LC-MS/MS analysis to discover targets that increase immune visibility of pathogenic bacteria. This is a collaborative interdisciplinary project with the Mager Lab (immunology), including dendritic cell reporter assays and analysis of bacterial surface structures such as LPS and wall teichoic acids. The position is initially limited to three years and is to be filled as soon as possible. Eligibility highlights: a Masters degree in biotechnology, microbiology, molecular biology, or a related field; background in microbial genetics, molecular biology, or infection biology; and strong English communication skills. Experience with CRISPR methods, cloning, bacterial genetics, metabolomics, mass spectrometry, Python, or R is advantageous. How to apply: email one PDF containing a cover letter, CV, and relevant certificates to hannes.link@uni-tuebingen.de. Applications are reviewed from 2026-04-01 until the position is filled.

PhD position in Synthetic Biology and Metabolic Engineering at the University of Tübingen , in the Link Lab at the Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine and within the Cluster of Excellence CMFI (Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections). The project focuses on engineering E. coli to produce the bioplastic cyanophycin from sustainable substrates. Research topics include synthetic biology , metabolic engineering , microbiology , CRISPR-based strain engineering , metabolomics , and bioprocess optimization . The work involves thermoswitches, two-stage bioprocesses, and temperature-controlled production at the 1-liter scale. Applicants should hold a Master’s degree in biotechnology, microbiology, molecular biology, or a related field. A background in metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, or microbial physiology is expected; experience with molecular cloning, bacterial strain engineering, fermentation, Python/MATLAB, metabolomics, or mass spectrometry is a plus. Strong English communication skills and motivation for fundamental and applied biotechnology research are required. The position is initially limited to three years . Applications are reviewed starting 2026-04-23 and accepted until the position is filled. To apply, send one PDF with a cover letter, CV, and relevant certificates by email to hannes.link@uni-tuebingen.de .