Research Associate (m/f/d) at the Institute for Integrated Natural Sciences, Department of Physics, Materials Physics Research Group

Universität Koblenz

The full-time position (currently 39 hours/week) is initially limited to three years. It is based in the Material Physics research group within Faculty 3 – Mathematics/Natural Sciences. Employment is subject to the provisions of the German Academic Fixed-Term Contract Act (WissZeitVG). Scientific further qualification is strongly supported. Your Responsibilities:

• Participation in research projects of the Material Physics group, with a focus on experimental polymer physics at the interface between biology and medicine.
• In particular, the use of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS):
  • to investigate the release kinetics of nanoparticulate drug carriers, focusing on natural substances for cancer therapy and their transport and release in the digestive tract and bloodstream.
  • to study the formation of biofilms on polymer surfaces, with emphasis on medical and biotechnological applications (e.g. implants, bioreactors), the degradation of biopolymers, and interactions between biofilms and nanoplastics.
• Conducting dynamic measurements using light scattering, as well as structural and spectroscopic analyses using atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-VIS spectroscopy, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), as well as the application of dynamic mechanical methods (e.g. to assess biofilm stability).
• Laboratory responsibility, including maintenance of the experimental equipment in the Material Physics group; in particular, maintenance and further development of an in-house built fluorescence correlation spectrometer.
• Participation in securing third-party funding.
• Regular compilation and presentation of research results in reports and project meetings.
• Active participation in scientific exchange with colleagues and at conferences.
• Extensive opportunities for further education and training.

The University of Koblenz welcomes applications from all age groups, regardless of gender identity, disability, ethnic or cultural background, religion, ideology or sexual orientation. We aim to increase the proportion of women and are therefore particularly interested in applications from women. In the event of under-representation, women with equivalent aptitude and qualifications will be given preferential consideration. Severely handicapped persons will be given preferential consideration if their professional and personal qualifications are otherwise equal.