Student Assistant (f/m/d) or Research Assistant (f/m/d)

Student Assistant (f/m/d) or Research Assistant (f/m/d)

The Metabolomics Core Technology Platform (MCTP) at the Centre for Organismal Studies (COS) is seeking to fill the following position starting on November 1st or as soon as possible:
Student Assistant (f/m/d) or Research Assistant (f/m/d)
unqualified, partially qualified, or qualified for 30 hours/month

Do you enjoy working at the interface between cutting-edge analytics and biomedical research?

We are looking for a highly motivated and proactive Student / Research Assistant to support our spatial metabolomics projects.

The Metabolomics Core Technology Platform (MCTP) is supported by the Excellence Strategy of Heidelberg University as well as the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and is located at the Centre for Organismal Studies (COS) Heidelberg. Our platform is a motivated and interdisciplinary team providing state-of-the-art metabolomics for the Heidelberg and Mannheim Life Science Campus and external national and international cooperation partners.

Your tasks:

• Support the development and optimization of sample-preparation workflows for high-resolution spatial metabolomics (MALDI mass spectrometry imaging), with a particular focus on matrix sublimation.
• Support the implementation of on-tissue MS/MS workflows, spectral library searches and data curation.
• Search the scientific literature for suitable protocols and systematically test promising approaches to improve sample preparation.
• Learn to prepare cryosections of biological samples and assist with MALDI imaging experiments and data acquisition.
• Maintain clear, complete, and well-structured documentation of all experiments, protocols, parameters, and results.
• Depending on your availability, interests, and motivation, there will be opportunities to take on additional tasks and become more involved in various projects.

Requirements:

• Interested in MALDI mass spectrometry imaging and spatial metabolomics, ideally with previous experience in mass spectrometry.
• Currently enrolled in chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, pharmacy, or a related field.
• Previous laboratory experience and careful experimental documentation are essential.
• Proactive, reliable, and able to work independently.
• Available to support the project at least 3 days per week.
• Fluent in English.

We offer:

• A dynamic, friendly and highly interdisciplinary team, where collaboration, openness and initiative are genuinely appreciated. We value people who bring in their ideas, challenge routines and help to move the platform forward.
• A state-of-the-art laboratory infrastructure with up-to-date mass spectrometry and chromatography systems, providing excellent conditions for high-impact analytical work and method development.
• A broad and diverse project portfolio spanning basic biology, translational and clinical research – ideal if you like variety and scientific exchange.
• Room to grow: support for further training and additional qualification in mass spectrometry-based analytics, data analysis and related fields.

Employment conditions:

The position is 30h/month and initially limited to 5 months, from 01 November on.

Your application:

We look forward to receiving your application with the usual documents (CV, motivation letter, certificates) in a single PDF document by email to: jakob.meier@cos.uni-heidelberg.de.

Application deadline: 18. September 2026

Contact:

For further information, please contact Dr. Veronika Saharuka veronika-saharuka@cos.uni-heidelberg.de and Jakob Meier-Credo.

Heidelberg University stands for equal opportunities and diversity. Qualified female candidates are especially invited to apply. Persons with severe disabilities will be given preference if they are equally qualified. Information on job advertisements and the collection of personal data is available at www.uni-heidelberg.de/en/job-market.